Nijo Castle Japanese - Newark

The restaurant features its own sushi area as well. I ordered the filet mignon and shrimp with fried rice. The salad that started the meal was surprisingly good, topped with Thousand Island dressing—just your typical Japanese restaurant salad. The fried rice was outstanding; even if you order steamed rice, you still get a little sample of the fried rice, which was absolutely delicious with butter and egg, along with the chef's special techniques. The filet mignon was incredibly tender, and the shrimp was expertly cut into a specific shape that made it both easy to cook and enjoyable to eat. Two delectable sauces were provided—one for seafood and another for meat—each enhancing the flavors beautifully. The chef also prepared some bean sprouts, which was a lovely addition. I particularly enjoyed the chef's entertaining tricks, such as the volcano formation and the classic teppanyaki fire display, all while he passed on his skills to the newer chefs. I visited for my birthday, so I benefited from a $30 discount and complimentary ice cream in matcha and vanilla flavors, which was a delightful touch! That said, there were a few drawbacks; our wait time after placing the order was nearly an hour, largely because the chefs were busy serving and cooking at multiple tables. Some reviews mention issues with billing and the mandatory 18% tip, so just keep that in mind. Overall, this is an amazing experience that definitely justifies its price. It's hard to believe that a classic establishment like this is set to be demolished for a hotel—possibly a Marriott, though I'm not entirely certain. Many employees and locals are quite saddened by this news, but they’re committed to making the most of their final days until they close next Wednesday. The chef who served us tonight will retire with full benefits. I'm grateful I had the chance to visit this restaurant that sparked my curiosity when I drove past it often as a child. As for parking, finding a spot can be tricky on busy nights.

Nijo Castle has been our birthday go-to place. My son just turned 21 and chose Nijo Castle for his birthday dinner. We waited over 1/2 hour to place our order. We were seated first. Second group was seated with us. They were served appetizers before we could even order. The server rushed us through the whole order process. She blew us off when we said we were there for a birthday. She never applied a birthday discount. 18% gratuity was applied to our tab, for the worst service! For a dinner that cost over $200 I expected decent service. If this had been our first visit, we never would have returned. As we were leaving, I saw a sign that they are closing. I'm not surprised.

Good food and great staff! Too bad they are closing foe good..

Came for an early dinner and had no issue finding a seat as the restaurant is quite roomy. they have both sushi and teppanyaki (you decide upon entry which experience you want as they are seated in different areas). we got several rolls and the seafood yaki udon. all were pretty good and we left full!

The food here is delicious! The staff are friendly and helpful! Went here for a birthday dinner for teppanyaki, and there was so much food! They serve miso soup and salad as an appetizer and then the meal (whichever you choose). It costs a little extra for the fried rice but worth it! The only negative thing is if there is a large group at the table, it gets tight. They have 8 chairs at the table, but it is too tight to sit there with adults. More comfortable with 6 people.