Asian fusion, funky cocktails in the least likely of places

October 28, 5:24 PMHartford Nightlife ExaminerEmily Neumann

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shrimp tempura roll

Since we're on the theme of date night, I'll let you in on my little secret of what to do for a unique, romantic dinner on any given night.

Asian Bistro is a small, chic Hibachi and sushi restaurant with two locations, Mansfield and Shelton.

I stumbled across this place on a date (the first of many "date nights" at the Bistro with a special someone) this past December. The one I frequent is tucked away in the least likely of places--the back corner of the East Brook strip mall in Mansfield. The food is amazing--I've never had a bad plate of food or an unsatisfying drink at the Bistro.

Try any of the shrimp tempura sushi rolls. They are phenomenal! The crunchy texture combined with the creamy, spicy sauce on top is a combination to die for.

When it comes to cocktails, the drinks menu is one-of-a-kind. I highly recommend the green tea margarita. It's a delicious drink, with just a hint of sweet, green tea flavor courtesy of ZEN Green Tea Liquor. It sounds a bit strange, but it's amazingly refreshing. I even bought a bottle of green tea liquor to experiment with drinks at home.

If you're in the mood for something stronger, go for the Sake Cosmopolitan (sake instead of vodka) or the Zombie. Fruit juices mixed with light and dark rum are topped off with a layer of floating 151. This drink is a killer!

Despite the odd location of the restaurant, the atmosphere inside is relaxing and chic. The left dining room is beautifully furnished and decorated. Although the back room leaves something to be desired, the hibachi tables, flanked by a neon-lit full-service bar, is the flagship room of the Bistro.

The service is inconsistent. Some nights, you can't get a waiter if you stand up and scream. Other nights, they won't stay away long enough. Overall, the food and decor make the dining experience well-worth it.

Asian Bistro conveniently shares a lobby with a movie theater (reasonable ticket prices)--just the cure for a few too many strong drinks. My advice? Take in a movie while you sober up for the drive home.

Asian Bistro takes reservations. Give them a call on a weekend night just to make sure you'll get a prime table.You can check out the inside of both restaurants, as well as a gallery of their dishes on the locations' respective Web sites (links below).