Dining Out: Good food, big portions and lots of fun at Kyoto

Whoever said that restaurants are having a tough time in this economy obviously hasn't been to Kyoto.

Here it was, an early midweek evening, and it was almost a full house. By the time we left, people were standing in line, waiting for seats.

Kyoto has a lot going for it. The food is good, the portions are generous and the price is right. Plus, it's a lot of fun. Not only do you get to meet new people at the communal grill table and watch your food being prepared before your eyes, but your chef puts on a culinary juggling show worthy of Cirque du Soleil.

In addition to the steak house operation, there's a...