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quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:
Where is the "old Bunyan's barbecue location"? I wouldn't dare venture into Sheffield at night but might give it a try for lunch.


Between La Casa and Southland. Plus, Travis Wammack at Southland on Thurday nights from 6 to 8 is pretty good entertainment for the cost of a meal. Haven't had any trouble in Sheffield at night. But, then I'm used to the streets of DC.
quote:
Originally posted by gbrk:
quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:
Where is the "old Bunyan's barbecue location"? I wouldn't dare venture into Sheffield at night but might give it a try for lunch.


It's not directly across from Georges Steak House but it's within a block and on the opposite side of the street.

Bunyans has not been open in Sheffield for at least the past2years. Closed for remodeling and never re-opened. Just a note: If you are afraid of Sheffield at night, how do you ever get to and from your home in Florence during the day? HA-HA Just a little play on words so don't threaten me with whatever?
quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:
Where is the "old Bunyan's barbecue location"? I wouldn't dare venture into Sheffield at night but might give it a try for lunch.


1st pig on the right, just past the Southland. The Ichiban is in the bldg that Dr Sherrill had his veterinary practice. Think you'll be safe enough after dark.
I don't know about the history of the building but I wasn't impressed on my first visit. Let me start with a positive though. The help, service couldn't be better. They were very friendly and attentive to our needs and desiring to know if we liked it. It reminds me of the Rice Box only cost more, has less room, and doesn't taste as good.

Osaka, in my opinion, remains the only true Japanese dining experience in the Shoals area with cook on your table service. The miso soup was alright but not as good as I've had at Osaka or Shogun or any other Ichiban's restaurant (Birmingham (Hoover), or Chattanooga and came with tofu and seaweed in the soup. Most Japanese soup that I've had is more an onion base with mushrooms and onions mixed in. The Ginger Dressing, on the salad, was heavy with Ginger and kind of hot/spicy to the taste but tasted good. I actually had the Honey Sesame Chicken (off the Chinese selections). It was tasty but wasn't as good as that I've had at the Rice Box, the Mall Chinese store and Wok and Roll. Last we also had the fried rice but it was very difficult to determine if it was actually fried and the amount of rice you got or get with each order is very small compared with the other Chinese/Japanese places in town.

These are very friendly folks, that own and run the restaurant, and they may have killer sushi but I don't eat sushi and they are more expensive than the other similar places (other than Osaka which I consider to be more a Japanese restaurant). I hope they make it and continue in business and I hate giving a more negative report but that's just my wife's and my impression from our first visit. I think it's worth a try but I can't classify it as a Japanese restaurant in the same sense as Shogun, Sirin, Tokyo, and the other Ichibans that are located in Chattanooga, TN and Birmingham (Hoover) Alabama.
My daughter and I at there this past week. The place is very clean and the owner and employees are all very attentive. I had the Shrimp with peppers and onions, miso soup, ginger salad and fried rice. My meal was wonderful, the shrimp were very nice size, soup and salad were great as was the rice (would have liked a little more). Over all-plenty to eat for the price. My daughter had General Tso's chicken with broccoli which was a little spicy for her. For both of us to eat with a glass of tea, our total bill was around $21. Excellent food, excellent service. My daughter and her friends eat at rice box quite often-they have all said they love this place just as much or more actually. We will surely eat there again-Im craving shrimp fried rice as I type....lol. Give them a chance and enjoy!
Now! That is what I call a Dining experience!!

Recently made our first visit and I will attempt to allow you to see and experience what we did during this visit. Saturday had been a long day cutting fire wood and finding the house air leaks to seal before the real cold arrives. I had read several reveiws and thought it was time for us to get the real experience of the new eating place in town so we got on our clean shirts and recently rag wiped shoes and off we went.
We got there 6:30PM and was met at the door by 3 very pretty ladies dressed in very colorful Japanese(Geisha) attire. We were immediately seated and menus along with a sushi list placed before us to review. At that time, they still did not have their license to serve beer or wine so Hot Tea and Sweet Tea was our drinks for the night.
The first thing you are going to notice is the decor is very colorful and pleasant to the eyes.It is apparent the color combination was very well thought out as it had the same warm colors you would want in your home to soothe your nerves after a hard day at work. Instead of real bright lights and unacoustic walls echoing the patron chatter back in your ears as most noisy food places, you hear nothing but a soft sound of tradional japanese instruments and the soft gurgle of the water fountain.

E, ordered the Avocado salad with ginger dressing, the Teriyaki Beef with broccoli. I ordered the Salad with Ginger Dressing, Miso soup and then turned to the Sushi List. Since I travel quite abit, I do get to experience some of the sushi dishes put out by some very well trained Sushi chefs. I was anxious to see if they were going to be the normal run of the mill Sushi places that I have experience in many places including here in the Shoals. The first thing you will notice is the list is quite extensive and it is apparent the New York Experience and years working at some of the best Sushi places there and Huntsville, Alabama has allowed this Sushi Chef to put together a list that will compliment the taste of most Sushi enthusiast.In fact, I found the list exceeds what has in the past been available here, with the prices adjusted to meet the local economy. I ordered different pieces of tuna, salmon, white tuna,then a tuna roll and a dragon roll.
As we were waiting for our dishes to be prepared, the salads were brought to the table. E's, Avocado Salad was huge with a large avocado freshly sliced laying in a neat pattern on top of very fresh crisp lettuce. The Ginger dressing is brought out in a small container so you can adjust just how much ginger dressing you want on the salad ingredients. Now! for those of you who don't now what is a ginger dressing I will take the time to give you some of the ingredients, so you can relate to the blend of the taste, as it marries so well in a fresh crisp salad.
There are many different versions of ginger salads, but the basics of most are : salad oil or peanut oil, rice vinegar or balsamic vinegar, optional orange juice, soy sauce, honey, sugar, freshly ground ginger root, garlic, tomato paste, a little lemon juice, then salt and pepper to taste. Everyone of these ingredients compliment the other in this dressing.
Depending on the cook's syle dictates which ingredients they employ, but this will give you a basic understanding.

Now! to continue, my Salad was a very colorful bowl filled with cold, crisp lettuce served with a side order of Ginger Dressing.The amount was not overflowing but most definitely enough to get your taste buds cleaned and ready to experience the main dishes once they arrive.
The Salads were outstanding in color, presentation, and when the Ginger Dressing was added there was no talking as the lite, slight hint of spiciness spread throughout your mouth and made you want to chew slowly so you could experience the taste as long as your could.
I was just about finished with the Ginger Salad when they set the medium size bowl of hot MISO SOUP on the table.

Miso Soup is a traditional soup served in a lot of Japanese eating places. The ingredients of this is the just about the same everywhere with tofu( A bean curd which is made by coagulating soy milk and cutting it into blocks.It is soft and white in color and absorbs flavors very readily.) Dashi is what forms the soup base for the Miso Soup. (Its made by boiling Kombu or Edible Kelp and Kezunkatsua shaving . The broth is then strained. Most either use a paste or granulated versions of this base. There are many different flavors of the base so each Miso Soup will have a different taste depending on the flavor of Dashi they use.)But where did the soup get its name? It comes from the MISO which is a Japanese Seasoning produced by fermenting rice,barley or soybeans.Salt and Kojikin (fungi) is added and the result is a thick paste.It is loaded with vitamins, minerals and protein. But what does it taste like you ask?
Well! It has a slight salty, earthy taste that blends well with the kelp, Tofu and sometimes scallions added to the soup. These ingredients are not always the same depending on the cook's style.
As for me I like the earthy liquid with the floating ingredients and it is a wonderful opening to the main dishes. Lets just say if you like mushrooms, you will probably like this soup.

The last ceramic spoon full of soup had just disappeared when our main courses were brought out. (I think they were watching to see just about when we were finished with one dish, and delivered the other right on time)

The Teriyaki Beef was slice and layed like ribbons of juicy tenderloin across the broccoli and other ingredients. The meat was tender and not over cooked with the flavors of the brown sugar, honey, garlic, soy sauce complimenting the beef without over powering the natural flavor of the meat. It came with a bowl of fried rice and wok cooked vegetables mixed in it. This dish is a winner and we highly recommend you give it a try.

The Sushi arrived with a display of so many colors characterizing the different species of fresh fish layered across the rolls. The display was superb with the rolls larger than a lot of places I have gotten the same rolls. The flavor of the fish was indeed very fresh as you could tell by the texiture, color and smell of the rolls. If you are a Sushi Lover, then you really need to give this place a try, as I believe it may just be your place of choice the next time you want to meet the Japanese Coccaine desire of fresh Sushi.

We were both full, but we had one more dish we wanted to try and that was the "Green Tea Tempura Ice Cream" This is Green Tea flavored Ice Cream dipped in a batter and then fried to a light golden brown. When it was brought out, the first impression is this thing looks like it just came out of the Gourmet Magazine. The Large piece of Tempura Ice Cream was covered with drizzled strawberry and chocolate sauce. When you bite into this, you get the slight mild taste of green tea with the sweetness of the ice cream, layered with the crunch of the tempura batter and then topped with the mixture of Chocolate and strawberry flavors that say this is a 5 star dish.

The Service of this place far exceeds any eating establishment around here, which you will only see in very upscale restaurants. Make no mistake about it, this is a dining experience with a eating out price. If don't like Japanese they also do THAI (this is the only place in this area you can get those type of dishes) and CHINESE.

This place in our book is a keeper for regular vist.
Last edited by trader
I have to agree with Trader, everything was spot on. Ichiban is not akin to Osaka, Shogun or any other Benihana style restaurant. There is true artistry in the preparation and presentation.
As for the price, you get what you pay for. I found nothing out of line and was actually surprised at how reasonable some of the specialties were. You would have to travel much further than Huntsville to get the same quality and freshness. The Mango Dragon roll is a great example.
The Miso soup is more traditional than you will find at the chains, no dried mushrooms or onion floating about. I believe it is either a Hatchomiso or an Awasemiso, which are more rustic that the chains offer.
The staff is attentive and know their product. The pace is unhurried which is quite a change from the usual Shoals experience. You leave feeling refreshed and lookig forward to your next visit. this restaurant is a keeper.

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