Even rice isn't so hard when you get used to it. Keep in mind Japaneses usually bring their bowl of rice to their mouth and they only use the chopsticks to push the rice in.
I had recalled several scenes like such in anime, but I didn't want to embarrass myself if that was only an at-home eating style, as the restaurant was quite classy.
As far as my tablemates go, there was an attractive young lady across from me (I sat on the left side of the grill, her the right).
Alas, she was with who I presume to be her boyfriend D: