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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine is St. Charles County's
exclusive direct-mailed community newspaper. |
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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine Restaurant Spotlight Archive |
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Ariake Japanese Steakhouse adds new dining optionsBy Mary Ann O’Toole Holley
Gentle oriental chimes call out in the summer air as you open the door to Ariake Japanese Steakhouse. The sizzle of steak grilling on the back room’s hibachi can be heard in the distance and the aroma of roasting onion draws you further into the room. “Yes,” your heart tells you. You have arrived. Ariake Japanese Steakhouse is more than one imagines at first glance. In the past year owner Lou Kumgool added an exciting new option to the already popular St. Peters dining experience. Now, diners enjoy not only the artistry of having their food grilled Japanese-style at their dining table. A new contemporary sushi bar and casual dining room has joined the dining options, and an experienced Thai chef has coupled with the team adding the best of Thai cuisine for Ariake guests. “By adding the new offerings, if one in the party wants grilled steak and vegetables, but the other wants sushi or Thai food, each can be served at the same setting,” said Ariake manager Tony Sayavong. Thai cuisine, Sayavong said, is best described to the uncertain diner as more flavorful, spicy and colorful than traditional Japanese food. Known for its balance of five fundamental flavors in each dish —hot (spicy), sour, sweet, salty and bitter (optional), the food integrates the flavors of fresh rather than dried herbs and spices. Sushi and sashimi selections come in two-piece orders priced at $3.95-$5.95 and offer delicacies like caviar, crabmeat, shrimp, and red and white tuna. Unique rolled sushi like the Volcano Roll features California cod with spicy baked scallops and white tuna. For those with a heartier appetite, selections of six to eight pieces are available ($5.50-$10.50), and an extensive selection of sushi combos with soup are also available. To appeal to those who aren’t quite sure of sushi, Ariake also offers a lightly cooked sushi that is delicately battered and fried, allowing diners to enjoy the flavor of the items with out the stronger flavor of raw fish. Ariake’s Thai food is also offered as a lunch combo with soup of the day in large portions ($7.99-$9.99). Whatever you’re after, Ariake offers fabulous foods served in a variety of ways. Of course the chefs at the hibachi grills will always amaze and amuse you, moving their sharp knives across the stainless steel cook top, slicing and dicing and flipping bites of steak into your mouths while setting fire to a “volcano” of onions. The chefs move like samurais and prepare meals like master chefs in a casual, comfortable environment that’s perfect for a romantic evening or a fun-filled family dinner. Visit the contemporary side of Ariake and you’ll find simple wooden tables with bamboo accents. Drink a cocktail or two from their full bar, try all the sushi options, or drop in and take home a few surprises for your family dinner. Most of all, Ariake invites you to sit and stay awhile. No one will ever rush you. Fun and fabulous foods are paramount at Ariake Japanese Steakhouse, and prices are another plus. Get a full meal, soup, salad, shrimp appetizer, steak and another entrée (chicken, shrimp, salmon, etc.), grilled veggies, lo-mein noodles, freshly made fried rice, and green tea for under $20. Dining at Ariake’s is a party you won’t want to miss.
Ariake Japanese Steakhouse 258 Mid Rivers Center • St. Peters (Off Suemandy Drive across from Mid Rivers Mall) 636-397-1144
Lunch is served daily until 2 p.m. Dinner menu is available from 2 p.m. till closing Hours
Sunday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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