A slew of new restaurants have opened at Preston Valley Shopping Center recently. And the folks at Fuji Hibachi & Sushi Bar, which opened there less than a year ago, know it only too well.
They say all the competition is the reason their traffic is relatively slow at lunchtime. But it could also be due to “Hibachi” being in the restaurant’s name. Because while many diners know the entertainment-rich meals are great spots for dinner with family and friends, they might not think of them when looking for a tasty, affordable and not-too-time-consuming lunch.
They should. Many of Fuji’s lunch specials consist of either sushi, tempura or teriyaki combinations, and most are priced between $8-$15. Bento boxes are also available. And if you decide to go for the hibachi-prepared steaks, chicken or seafood, those lunch specials range from $8-$13, in some cases almost half off their dinnertime prices.
Speaking of time, you won’t need a ton of it to eat lunch at Fuji’s. After all, a manager’s cause for chagrin can be a customer’s source of pleasure, as a restaurant anywhere near Preston Road with good food but no lunchtime crowds is indeed a rarity.
Fuji Hibachi & Sushi Bar
12817 Preston (at Forest), #112
972-661-5662
Hours: Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.;
Sun-Thu 5-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 5-11 p.m.
Lunch $; Dinner $$
FB
Banana Tempura (Serves 10)
5 bananas
12 oz. flour
2 egg yolks
9 oz. water
Scrum bread
Juice of 1 orange
Vegetable oil
Mix flour, egg yolks, water and orange juice in a large bowl. Slice bananas in quarters, cutting length-wise then across. Dip bananas in mixture, then roll in scrum bread. Deep fry in vegetable oil for 2-3 minutes or until golden.
Arts & Entertainment
Nasher Sculpture Center Tour Wednesday, Dec. 3, 10:30 a.m. (Make reservations by Monday, Dec. 1) The Dallas JCC invites you to experience the new sculpture center. The tour will be led by a museum docent, followed by lunch in the atrium of the Dallas Museum of Art. Call Judy at 214-739-2737, ext. 215 reservations and more information. Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven.
Pugsley’s Library Live music on Saturdays. Openers 7-8:30 p.m., headliners 9-11 p.m. 2443 Walnut Hill. For information, call 972-243-1111 or visit www.pugsleys.com.
Movie Time Every first, third (and fifth, when applicable) Tuesday of the month, 10:30 a.m. Each session includes an interactive discussion following the film’s conclusion. Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven. For information contact info@jccdallas.com.
Art Classes Thursdays, 10 a.m.-noon. Artist Veronique Jonas leads the class in ceramics and painting. Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven. For information contact scane@jccdallas.com.
Library Exhibit Throughout December. Origami, by Biviama Marin. Preston Royal Library, 5626 Royal.
Community
Dallas White Rock Fitness Expo Saturday, Dec. 13, 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. This fitness expo has grown from an information venue for White Rock Marathon runners to a full-scale consumer event for the fitness-minded. More than 100 booths will be featured, including retail exhibitors, numerous fitness organizations and authors and speakers. Proceeds benefit Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Hyatt Regency Dallas, 300 Reunion. For more information visit www.beloexpo.com.
Photography Club Thursdays, 1 p.m. This class is for anyone who’s ever taken photographs and wondered what they could do to get better results. Some classes include outings to local sites for picture taking. All you need is a camera, film and enthusiasm. Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven. For information contact scane@jccdallas.com.
Health & Fitness
Jazzercise Mondays, 10-11 a.m. Dance and get fit at the same time. $10 for JCC members and $15 for non-members per session. Aaron Family JCC, 7900 Northaven. For information, contact jcohn@jccdallas.com.
Stretching and Exercise Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9-10 a.m. Stretching and low-impact group exercises with instructor Dorothy Gross. Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven. For information contact info@jccdallas.com.
Holiday
Home Sweet Gingerbread Home Tuesday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Dec. 7. Local chefs create fabulous gingerbread houses and other treats which are sold at auction, with proceeds benefiting Shared Housing. Bidding closes at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2003. Located near Neiman Marcus at NorthPark Center. For more information, call 214-361-6345 or visit www.northparkcenter.com.
SMU Informal Courses SMU offers a variety of fun and educational Informal Courses for adults throughout the year. Tuesday, Dec. 2 and Thursday, Dec. 4: Afternoon Tea and Tales of Christmas with Judith Dyer, cost is $49; Thursdays, Dec. 4 and 11: Tune In To Christmas with Glenn Miller, host of the Glenn Miller Show on KERA 90.1, cost is $35. Advance registration is required for all classes. Visit www.smu.edu/informal or call 214-SMU-THINK for registration and information.
Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates Friday, Dec. 5-Sunday, Dec. 21. Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Dallas Children’s Theater presents a musical adaptation of this classic children’s novel. Celebrate Christmas Eve in the land of windmills, wooden shoes and silver skates! Recommended for ages 5 and up. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for children. Call the box office at 214-740-0051 for reservations and ticket information. El Centro College Performance Hall, 801 N. Main at Market.
Salvation Army Angel Tree Through December 13, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Help people in need this holiday season through the Salvation Army Angel Tree. Select a name and grant a wish by delivering a gift to the Angel Tree at NorthPark Center. For more information, call 214-361-6345 or visit www.northparkcenter.com.
Treats of Christmas Saturday, Dec. 20, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. NorthPark Center visitors can select from an assortment of holiday goodies to purchase. This program is presented by Dallas-area chefs, and features cakes, pies, Yule logs, gingerbread houses, cookies and more. Proceeds benefit local children’s charities through For Goodness Sake! On the upper level of the mall. For more information, call 214-691-9411.
NorthPark’s Sensational Scrooge Through Dec. 24, Monday-Saturday, 12:30-7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30-6:30 p.m.; and Christmas Eve, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. This hilariously entertaining Scrooge delights kids of all ages. Free performances daily every hour on the half-hour. Located near Dillard’s at NorthPark Center. For more information, call 214-361-6345 or visit www.northparkcenter.com.
The Best Santa In Texas Through Dec. 24, Monday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30 p.m.-5 p.m.; Christmas Eve, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit a very special Santa with a twinkle in his eye and a ho-ho-ho! Have your picture taken with him in his own Victorian-style sitting room, and don’t miss Santa’s thirty-minute tales about life at the North Pole with the elves and reindeer. Santa’s story-time is free, once daily, Monday-Saturday at 11 a.m., and Sundays at noon. Located on the Upper Level near Neiman Marcus at NorthPark Center. For more information, call 214-361-6345 or visit www.northparkcenter.com.
SPCA Pet Adoption Center Through Dec. 31 (except Dec. 25). Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sundays, noon-6 p.m.; Christmas Eve, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Adopt a dog or cat in need of a loving home at the Texas Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (SPCA) largest remote adoption center in America. Located on the lower level between Neiman Marcus and Lord & Taylor at NorthPark Center. For more information, call 214-361-6345 or visit www.northparkcenter.com.
Library/Literary
Library Live! Mother Goose Tuesday, Dec. 9, 10:30 a.m. A delightful introduction to poetry. Dressed in full regalia, Margaret Clauder uses puppeteering to reinforce the staples of cultural literacy. Preston Royal Library, 5626 Royal.
Readers’ Theatre Mondays, 1 p.m. Sharon Cane leads weekly sessions reading various plays, with one or more performances planned throughout the year. No memorization required. Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven. For information contact info@jccdallas.com.
Seniors
Exercise For Older Adults Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9-10 a.m. A stretching and low-impact group exercise class for seniors, led by instructor Dorothy Glass. For more information, contact aangorina@jccdallas.org.
