When Lou Bird and George Dia left the popular Yamato chain to start their own restaurant, they looked to their own community of Lexington. In July, in a small strip mall near the center of town, they opened Sumo Japanese Steak House, making their dream a reality. Residing in the former Scott Brothers Restaurant location, the outside appearance of Sumo is simple, like many strip mall restaurants. Oriental screens cover the windows, which prevent passers-by from peering in.
Japanese art adorns the walls.
The hostess told us the wait for a hibachi table would be five to 10 minutes, or we could have a booth immediately. Not wanting to miss the hibachi experience, we opted for a table. True to her word, our hostess seated us within minutes. Sumo's hibachi tables seat eight, which is standard at Japanese Teppanyaki-style restaurants. Teppanyaki is an entertaining method of food preparation and, contrary to what many think, is not a traditional Japanese cuisine.