October 30th, 2010
1-95 South, Gourmet Corridor?, For Real?, Another Road Trip, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Florida…
This, actually, could have been for me a very boring dinner, except for the fact that….okay, I will tell you.
It was another road trip; to Florida this time. I was prepared mentally for the drive. Every time I have made this trip I am never prepared for the kind of food on this corridor.
My cooler was filled up with sandwiches, fruit, yogurt and everything, gluten free, of course. Is bad enough trying to find edible food when you are driving south on I-95 but it is even worse when you have to take into consideration a food allergy.
We were near Lumberton, North Carolina when my husband decided that eating Japanese would be a great idea. There was an ad in one of the many billboards that we passed by, suggesting a Japanese restaurant in Lumberton.
Mind you that I had been driving for many hours and the time was around 7:30 p.m. on a Sunday night. I had seen plenty of cotton fields, peanuts for sale, Virginia hams for sale, as well as so many firework stores.
I had never been to Lumberton and probably was not even in Lumberton since this was an exit only. Lumberton is in Robeson County, North Carolina. This city is located on the Lumber River; part of the NC National and Scenic River System. Canoeing, boating, fishing and hunting are among the many fun things to do, including fossil and artifact hunting.
The Lumbee indians are from this area. They are a Native American tribe recognized by the State of North Carolina but not fully Federally recognized as of yet. Lumbee indians are known to work the high steel structures.
The Japanese restaurant was advertised on the billboard as sushi, take out or dine in with hibachi cooking.
The term hibachi cooking needs to be revised because in reality it is Japanese teppanyaki cooking; gas heated hotplates integrated into tables where many people can sit and eat at once.
Mikoto was closing at 8:00 p.m. but we went in anyway and there were a few people still there. To tell you the truth it did not look bad at all; friendly wait staff.
Our chef came to the table and started to prepare the hotplate. We told him about the gluten allergy and offered him our gluten free soy sauce.
I proceeded to tell him that I did not want too much rice. He proceeded with his cooking and was very gracious.
This type of cooking is a bit theatrical but not so much on this particular evening.
Steak and scallops for my husband. I was surprised; the meat was very tender.
Chicken over vegetables for me. Very good, as well.
We looked around and we were the only people there and already everything was cleaned up. So, we paid and thanked the wait staff who was waiting by the entry door for us to leave.
I found myself by the car looking around in this desolate parking lot. Should I take a picture of the outside? Maybe not; there were letters missing.
Then 2 police cars were right next to me. The wait staff got in the cars and they took off with one of the cars flashing its lights.
I ran into my car, looked at my husband who was as baffled as I was. And, high tailed out of there.
I had never been in a restaurant where the wait staff was escorted by the police. I felt like I was in a Seinfeld episode; still don’t know what happened….My husband suggested that I did not have to encourage you to go there…and on the road again we went….
But, I had to tell you…talk to you later…
Tags: I-95 South, Japanese Restaurant, Lumberton, North Carolina, Restaurants, review, Road Trip, teppanyaki cooking
Gloria,
You have the most exciting life!!! Think I’ll skip this place and go for the Smokin Pig..
I think the barbecue place should be a must stop for you and Randy.