Gyu-Kaku
34 Cooper Square
Manhattan, NY 10003
212-475-2989

Review
Looking for a collaborative first-date? Then look no further than Gyu-Kaku, a Japanese BBQ restaurant where the diners do all the cooking. Think hibachi without the chef.
Each table at Gyu-Kaku has a sunken barbecue pit in the middle. You order a few 4-ounce portions of meat, seafood, and veggies, and just grill away. It’s gimmicky, for sure, but it’s also a lot of fun, and Zagats gives the food a 23, so you know it’s tasty fare. Prices are reasonable — for example, a 4-ounce portion of steak is only $8. A meal for two with alcohol and dessert will run you less than $75 including the tip.

Insider tip: If you truly want to make GK a romantic destination, you must request to sit at the tables for two in the front of the restaurant, which will force you to sit close together as you cook for one another. If you don’t request to sit up front, you’ll likely be sent to the back of the restaurant with all the families and huge tables which place your date far, far away from you. We highly recommend GK for double-dates, though, and in these instances, the back tables for 4 people are a wise choice.

We visited the East Village spot, but there’s also another location in midtown with an identical menu.

Do we hook you up or what?

Date-ability Breakdown
Original? Yes
Low-Key? Yes
Collaborative? Yes
Good for Conversation? Yes
Romantic? Yes