KNOX-HENDERSON. Eclectic global cuisine with Pacific Rim influences encourages diners to try something new. Innovative recipes and fresh seasonal ingredients give dynamic twists to dishes like pan-seared red snapper and lobster shooters. Enjoy Abacus' unique cuisine in a relaxed dining room fashionably appointed with rich woods, metal and glass sculpture, contemporary art, and gleaming geometric designs. An open kitchen provides great views of the master at work.

NORTH DALLAS. Nimble teppanyaki chefs put on a dazzling display of culinary skills at this Dallas location of the famed chain. Fresh seafood, steak, and poultry can be had either in the lively hibachi room or in the dining room. Sushi has been added to the menu since the restaurant's inception; nigiri, maki, hand rolls, and sushi-based entrees add delicious variety. Don't forget about Benihana for lunch ­ smaller, less pricey versions of dinner favorites are served, as well as a bento box that combines teppanyaki and sushi items. Families appreciate the kids' menu.

GREENVILLE AVENUE. Locals love this Lower Greenville favorite's ultra-fresh sushi and extensive sake list. Sashimi and rolls are renowned for their quality and creative presentation, and if you're feeling adventurous, try quail egg sashimi or the Louisiana Roll ­ tempura crawfish tails, avocado, and cucumber in a sweet, spicy sauce. Tempura, donburi, and yaki dishes are also served. Unlike other locations of the local chain, this spot has an expansive patio. Enjoy a sake flight and a plate of sashimi under the stars!

UPTOWN. Whereas John Keats's west wind brought poetic inspiration, the plush East Wind delivers divinely inspired cuisine like grilled Chilean sea bass topped with julienne ginger and sautéed black tiger shrimp with spicy red crabmeat sauce. Located just a few strides off McKinney Avenue in the Quadrangle, this restaurant is convenient to downtown, and its attractive dining room (white linens, fresh flowers, candles, contemporary art) is sure to make a good impression on business clients or that special someone. Best of all, the reasonable price tags make it an attractive option for both lunch and dinner.

NORTH DALLAS. Take a seat, tuck in your napkin, and enjoy the ride: Dinners at Fuji are entertaining, if long-winded, affairs certain to keep you on your toes. Pay careful attention to hibachi chefs manning the grill in front of you ­ a piping hot nibble might fly in your direction at any time. Many diners begin their gastronomic journeys with sushi and sashimi before ordering a hot dish and watching the chefs go to work. Scallops, shrimp, Kobe beef, vegetables, and even rice receive the teppan treatment, only to end up promptly on your plate, steaming and impossibly fresh.