More than 100 customers lined up for the grand opening of Pepper Lunch in Agana Shopping Center on Friday, celebrating the arrival of the Japanese-born restaurant's second location on Guam.
Following the lunch rush, Guam News Network spoke with Shift Leader Krysta Romanes, who has worked with Pepper Lunch for seven years and helped open the restaurant's first Guam location in Dededo.
Management describes Pepper Lunch as an experiential restaurant centered on customer interaction and observation. Romanes said her experience at the Dededo location has helped create a smoother experience for customers at the new restaurant.
"I was here for the grand opening of the first location, so now that I have more knowledge compared to the first location, it makes me really happy," Romanes said. "It's a learning experience. Every day is a learning experience. I like using the experiences from the first location and bringing them to the second location, hopefully making it smoother for everyone coming in, whether they're new customers or regulars."
"We've been waiting for this moment for so long. We've been praying about it. Now that it's here, it's really great. I love being here," she added.
Romanes said one of the unique aspects of Pepper Lunch is that customers complete the cooking process themselves.
"We do have cooks, but our cooks are here to present the food to you. Then you continue the cooking and become your own chef. You can add all the sauces you want, all the toppings you want and customize your meal," she said.
Pepper Lunch is known for its signature do-it-yourself teppan dining concept, featuring premium ingredients served on a patented hot iron plate.
"We always serve our food fresh, and we always focus on quality. Everything is served on a hot plate, so our customers become the chefs of their own dish," Romanes said.
A large glass window allows customers to watch cooks prepare and plate meals before they are served sizzling on hot iron plates, where diners finish cooking them to their preferred doneness.
Romanes said customers are encouraged to experiment with different sauces and flavors.
"It's to your liking," she said. "We have our house sauces, including garlic steak sauce and honey brown sauce. Many customers like to mix them together. We also have curry sauce and teriyaki sauce. Adding different sauces can completely change the flavor of a dish."
In fact, experimentation is part of the Pepper Lunch dining experience.
"You can mix and match, and we don't judge," Romanes said. "We don't judge what sauce you put on."
The menu features a variety of offerings, including a ribeye and salmon premium combo, creamy salmon pasta, and tofu and vegetable curry.
One of the restaurant's signature dishes, the ribeye and salmon combo, is served with pepper paste, freshly cracked black pepper and vegetables on a sizzling hot plate.
Menu items range from $10.99 to $34.99.
Pepper Lunch is owned and operated by GENKI Food Service Inc.
"As a family business, we're excited to continue growing Pepper Lunch in Guam and bring this one-of-a-kind dining experience to even more guests in our community," Operations Manager Jannill Ramos said.