Went last night on the strength of previous HGW reviews.

We had been to Kazu Sumiyaki before and was expecting similiar food. We started with the beef and kimchi soup, which was really just the thing for a cold rainy sat night. We also tried an assortment of grilled items, all pretty good. I liked my garlic fried rice too!

What was really a wow for me was really the ambience! We sat on the first floor, where there were 3 tables (1 for 2 people and 2 for 4 people) as well as 6 counter seats. Everyone sits on the floor, Japanese style. There's really something to be said for sitting huddled up on the floor, cross legged, hunched over the table and having a good long conversation with your husband, while you both drink hot soup and it is pouring outside. I really felt like I was in Japan (if you can just forget all the english that was being spoken).

I think that Kazu, on balance, probably has more food choices and way better desserts (the dessert we had here was strange - some dense tasteless redbean pancake with greenbean ice cream). But I would defnitely choose to return here over Kazu. I really like to have good conversation while having a meal, and it's tough to do so at Kazu. I had a fine time yesterday! And, it really wasn't expensive as well!

Two notes:
1. A previous reviewer had commented that the first salad bowl at Kazu is free, but not so at Satsuma. To be fair, Kazu's salad bowl consists only of cabbage/lettuce. Satsuma gives more stuff (onions, carrot, spring onions etc) and is a bigger bowl.

2. Do make reservations. We saw at least 5 couples turned away for lack of seats.