Mt. Fuji Japanese Seafood & Steakhouse

Hitting the heights of Japanese cuisine.
By Angelina Sciolla

Local restaurateur Alex Yeung has pretty much eliminated the need to trek into the big city for one of those high-priced dining experiences choreographed by a celebrity chef or concept restaurant king. With the new Mt. Fuji in Newtown, there simply is no need for that trip down the highway. He’s brought all that great taste, sophistication and glamour right here to Bucks County.

Alex grew up in the restaurant business and it definitely shows. From his natural talent for hosting and welcoming his guests to the tight ship he runs in all of his establishments, Alex doesn’t just feed people, he allows them to employ all of their senses in order to really experience and enjoy their meal.
Recently Alex added a third establishment to his collection of Mt.Fuji Japanese restaurants. Now, in addition to Maplewood, New Jersey and Southampton, PA locations, Alex has opened another Mt. Fuji in Newtown, just off the Newtown Bypass in the Summit Square Shopping Center.
Comfortable but elegant, city smart but warm and family friendly, Newtown’s 250-seat Mt. Fuji is a triumph for Alex in every way—atmosphere, service and, of course, the cuisine.

The décor demonstrates touches of chic and glamour with a bit of traditional Japanese artifacts punctuating the overall style. (Old fashioned sake jars line the walls of a private dining room available for parties up to 20.) The bar is sleek and long enough to accommodate the happy hour crowd. Alex designed the interiors himself and carefully selected the pieces, from the black cherry wood sushi bar to the Vogue-ish mural photos of beautiful women dining on delicate sushi rolls.

For traditional tempura fans, there is table dining and for those who like a little theater with their stir fry, a hibachi room, where, from time to time, the chef will invite a guest behind the grill for a fun—but brief—turn as hibachi master. Then there is the elegant sushi bar headed by the charming and talented Yoshi, whose humble smile and easy humor devastatingly belie the pure genius of his creations. This is inspired work. Patrons can take their pick from all kinds of sea fare, from meaty Toro wrapped in a sea weed cone, to Kumamoto oysters with cilantro soy sauce and spicy tuna with ginger sauce.

Among all of the dishes, it seems as if the flavors are carefully assembled to complement everything on the plate. And speaking of plates, the presentation is inventive, exciting and indicative of the care and detail that goes into every dish. A live scallop with miso orange wasabi sauce was served over crushed ice and decorated with long bamboo branches adorned by a few delicately placed flowers. The food—whether it’s the Fuji spring roll with tempura flakes, tuna, salmon and yellowtail, or the American Dream, a concoction of rock shrimp and crab—is served exquisitely by attentive and courteous staff.  It’s not everywhere you can get a beautiful and spicy teriyaki followed by a perfectly textured and sweetened crème brulee adorned with tiny fresh berries.

A full wine list complements the menu offerings. There is a great selection of sake and plum wines, served warm or cold. Guests can also sample specialty cocktails like the Mt. Fuji Iced Tea or the Greentini. There are half-price happy hour drink specials from 4:30 to 6:30 Monday through Friday and Yueng says that he will be introducing live piano music on Friday nights very soon.

Despite the elegance of the food, the service and the décor, Mt. Fuji maintains a casual and relaxed ambience. It’s as family friendly as it is suitable for a corporate event. The only thing missing is pretense. And that’s a benefit.

Innumerable stars and well wishes go to Alex and his staff at Mt. Fuji. He’s given us more than just an elegant and diverse dining experience. He’s provided a great night out with friends, a special dinner, or a quick stop after work for some refreshing sake and sushi. Just remember when you go, ask Yoshi to show you the Japanese version of a boilermaker.

Mt. Fuji is located at Summit Square Shopping Center, at Newtown Bypass and Route 413 in Newtown. For more information, call (215) 860-6888.

Angelina Sciolla is a freelance writer and lives in Philadelphia, Pa.