With 10 hibachi grills on two levels, Kobe Japanese Steakhouse on Jericho Turnpike on the Jericho/Westbury border is unique among the proliferation of Japanese restaurants on Long Island.
Opened this spring, Kobe is owned by Jericho resident Danny Young, a restaurateur for more than 20 years who previously owned restaurants in Manhattan, Carle Place and Merrick.
“Most local Japanese restaurants promote their sushi dishes…We serve sushi dishes for lunch,” he notes, “but our prices are lower than most for sushi dishes and we have more substantial meals and selections for dinner at the hibachi tables. We make steak and lobster dishes that not many others prepare.”
An upstairs floor has space to accommodate parties of up to 70 people.
“The upstairs covered patio is a feature that some parties enjoy,” he says, adding that the space is already booked for many weekend events through the summer.
Young believes Kobe will succeed where others have failed, in part, because of his prices.
“Some local Japanese restaurants were charging upwards of 20 dollars for lunch,” he says. “We don’t think local residents, even business people in this area, are willing to spend that for a lunch.”
Many of Kobe’s lunches are in the $10 range.
In the future, says Young, he may begin featuring entertainment on select days.
Young has two college-age sons, one attending Yale University and the other attending George Washington University. He also has one son attending Jericho’s Jackson Elementary School. Young’s wife, Susie, who is responsible for the upscale décor of the interior, helps run the restaurant.
Kobe is located at 111 Jericho Turnpike and is open noon to 10 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
