I bet my wife $20......Help me win.?

Question

My client and his family are visiting us from Japan next month. I'm planning to take them around and do all the touristy things. We really only have three days with them. So the schedule is tight.
When I travel abroad, I tend to go eat at places that offer a variety of foods from that culture. Why would I go to Italy and have a hamburger and fries ? I can get that here anytime.

So, I want to take my client and his family out for dinner at an upscale American cuisine restaurant. My wife thinks that we should go to a upscale Japanese restaurant.
My client is looking forward to the visit and has said he is open to anything we have planned for them. They are very well cultured and have traveled all over the world.
So, what do you think? Non Japanese or Japanese. It not the money, its the bragging rights.

Answer 1

Damn! Your relationship with your wife sux balls, dude. You two are so immature and lame. sux for u

Answer 2

I would say non japanese. They eat japanese food probably every day when they are at home. You can tell them beforehand that you plan to go to an American restaurant and if they don't want to you can always go somewhere else but I think you should plan to bring them to non japanese restaurants. Even if you bring them to some other restaurant like a really good italian place or something that sounds better than japanese- just bring them to whatever your favorite restaurant is in your area.

Answer 3

Non-Japanese, of course. The main reason is that Japanese food here is usually not like Japanese food in Japan. It would seem strange and substandard to them, I would imagine.

Second reason would be that they eat Japanese food all the time at home, so why would they want to eat Americanized Japanese food here?

So, if I'm you I take them maybe to a Brazilian churrascaria or to a Portuguese restaurant for some Paella. You want to take them somewhere that takes a long time to eat, and where you can be entertained by the dinner.

A second option would be like a dinner-theater or something, where there is actual entertainment during dinner. If it's warm where you are, take them on one of those mystery cruise boat rides (where there's a mystery play done while everybody watches during dinner).

Stuff like that.

Answer 4

My vote is for American food. They have Japanese every day - it's what they cook at home most likely & why would the want to go to an American version of a Japanese restaurant & have bad or at least 'Americanized' Japanese food. Since you have 3 days though you could do both. Mexican & or Italian would be good too. Then again, if you have a Benihana in your area it's dinner & a show..

Answer 5

Definitely, upscale American cuisine. Japanese restaurants in America are typically "Americanized" versions, and not very authentic to the Japanese culture. I have a friend from China and he laughed when we ate Chinese food at my house. He said that Americans wouldn't know good Chinese food anyway. So, to save yourself any embarrassment, I would be true to your culture. Your client will appreciate it.

Answer 6

I agree with you. If I am on vacation in another country, I'd want to sample the country's cuisine. Invariably, the food you are used to is not as good in another country. I doubt that Japanese restaurants here will provide food as good as your guests are used to.

But at any rate, providing them with something uniquely American will make their visit all the more interesting. Take them to a really good steakhouse like Smith and Woolensky or Ruth's Chris or Perry's Grill (or whatever is near you). That's what I'd do. And a place like that will probably have an excellent salmon dish, so if they prefer fish, they can have it.

Answer 7

I think they would be disappointed with the Japanese food here regardless of how good or 'authentic' it is. It would still be different to them.
But, if you were to bring them to an American restaurant.. it would be a different kind of different. They would be expecting it to be different than traditional normal everyday food that they eat everyday.
Non Japanese gets my vote.. they may not like the taste, but they will experience some of the culture.. and that is one of the things that makes travel so great.

Answer 8

Even it is the best Japanese food in America will only be "as good" as what your client could have had at home. Of course you should bring him to a restaurant which serves food that is not available where your client originates.

(hey man, can I get $10 of that, since I helped)

Answer 9

I have to agree with your point of view, If I went to another country I would try everything in their custom just for the experiance but if they have been around the work they surely must have tried out food already.

So I would give them a full review of both an American and a Japanese resturant, then let them pick. If they take the American your wife owes you $20 and if they choose the Japanese food you owe her $20. Good luck!

Answer 10

The Japanese LOVE food and love beef. They are the largest importer of American prime beef. Unless you know them to be vegetarians, I would suggest a nice steakhouse, but only if there is a truly good one in your area (I'm not talking Outback Steakhouse - more like Morten's or The Palm). You don't mention where you live - big or little city. Another idea might be an American 'Fusion' restaurant that features haute cuisine-type food that is 'inspired' by the many cultures that influence our cooking - South American, Caribbean, Asian, European + American regional. These can be great restaurants for a dinner between parties that don't know one another well. If you live in a great region with it's own style of cooking, by all means, take them to something with local flair and flavor.

Answer 11

Definitely non Japanese.

You are right, why would they want to eat what they can at home. The adventure of exploring other cuisines is a big part of the fun. And an up scale American restaurant will surly have something they've heard of and longed to try.