A Birthday Wish Fulfilled With HanaZen

Having a birthday dinner with your hubby is one thing, but having him (my husband) decide where to do it is another. My husband is a hamburger and fries fast food kind of guy, and when sophistication gets to him, some steak cooked from the backyard grill will do. So, when he told me he is planning my birthday dinner with just the two of us, I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive with his taste level. I mean, is it too much for a lady to expect a romantic dinner with her husband on her special day?

So, when he broached the topic to me a day before the actual day (so much for planning, and so much for a surprise, eh?), I did tell him I want something intimate, something that we would both remember for years to come. I would like to have some really good food and great views and sights wherever we may eat. A dinner at the water front certainly does not hurt. It would be nice to feel the soft breeze while enjoying delectable food and admiring the seascape. But then, with my husband’s pretty simple tastes, I highly doubted there would be a chance for us to have that kind of moment.
And so, the next day, I braced myself by lowering my expectations while he was driving me to our dinner date. He had a huge bouquet of flowers delivered to me at work, so I was already happy with that. If this birthday date turns out to be a disaster, the entire day wouldn’t be a huge disappointment. He drove to the direction of the Embarcadero, so my hopes for a nice dinner by the bay rose. I hope this will be something I will not be disappointed with.

So, we got to Pier 39, and he led me to this Japanese restaurant called Hana Zen. I was a little apprehensive with his choice. I mean, Japanese food was not exactly the first thing I would think of whenever the subject of romance and intimacy is being talked about. But then, I let him have a chance, and when we walked inside, I have to say I liked the interiors. Well, that’s actually an understatement. I fell in love with the place, with its panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay and the beautiful furniture and just the overall ambiance of the restaurant.

So, we got seated and I read through the menu. There were just so many choices that I let my husband pick. From the mouthwatering Sushi Nigiri and Sushi Rolls to the saucy beef teriyaki, the selections were just so varied that I wanted to try all of them. Of course, we had to settle with what my husband chose, from the fresh Green Salad to the crisp Tempura Moriawase, because I wanted to order one of everything!  The clincher of the night were the sake-infused cocktails the restaurant served. The HanaZen Sunrise, which has organic cucumber vodka, lime juice, and Grenadine mixed with sake, had me wanting for more.

I have to say I was happy and impressed with my husband’s chopice of restaurant for my birthday dinner. Of course, I will definitely pay HanaZen’s other branch in Union Square for  some great casual dining and those delicious-to-the-last-drop cocktails and their talked about scrumptious Yakitori dishes!