Going to HuHot, the new Mongolian restaurant in Manhattan Town Center, is an experience.

Unlike any other restaurant there - or in Manhattan for that matter - the eatery combines elements from all sorts of restaurants to make a truly distinctive dining encounter.

There is a Mongolian theme to the restaurant and everything within it. You are invited to "conquer your hunger," and the first trip to the food bar is called the "first pillage." The sauces, meats, vegetables and drinks are given new, Mongolian-like names that help you get further into the experience.

Food The greatest part of HuHot is the food. After you are shown to your seat, a member of the wait staff comes to the table and explains how to continue with your meal. If you want something for children, there are children's menu items you can order under the "little warriors" section. The only two options are macaroni and cheese or chicken fingers, as the main draw for the restaurant lies with food cooked on the large grill.

If you decide to eat from the food bar, you made the right choice. All the ingredients are placed on a bar, and customers walk down the line, making their own personal meal.

Meats, vegetables and a few fruits can be added together with noodles to make your own dish. Steak, pork, chicken, hot sausage and various types of seafood are available, and you can use as much or as little of each as you want.

The vegetable area of the food bar is something else. I thought the vegetables would be soggy and gross, but they were fresh and delicious and added an interesting texture and flavor to the food. After the vegetables comes the sauce area of the food bar. The only rule for making your dish is you have to use at least five ladles of sauce so there is enough moisture when it is put on the grill.

There are 12 sauces to choose from, and they range from not spicy to very spicy. The possible combinations are as amazing as they are endless. I went up three times, got a new sauce combination each time and was not ever disappointed.

Overall, the food is amazing. It's hard to get something you are not satisfied with because of the many options and the fact that you put the plate together yourself.

Atmosphere The atmosphere in HuHot is different, but in a good way.

It has the casual dining feel of a Chili's or Old Chicago but connects with the mall food court.

Once you are inside and sitting at your table, it is easy to forget where you are. The hustle and bustle of the mall and food court is not carried into the dining area. You aren't rushed through your meal, and the wait staff is quick to refill drinks and get whatever is needed.

The lighting also is very soft, which further facilitates the peaceful, easy feeling as you are eating.

Following with the Mongolian theme, the pictures painted on the walls are very interesting. Upon first glance, the art looks like an artist under the influence of hallucinogenic substances placed it on the walls. After I got over the shock of what I saw and began to look at it closer, I realized it fits well with everything in the restaurant.

There are several particularly interesting paintings, but most are the average abstract shapes found on restaurant walls. The most interesting things are on the back wall near the grill.

The first thing the eye sees is a long, yellow dragon-like animal with his head facing the most interesting art I have seen in a while. There is a mural complete with a lion coming out of flames and a Mongol riding the back of a peacock. While waiting in line for your food to be cooked, you can see a two-legged coyote getting his back leg bitten by a winged insect.

Despite the eccentricity of it all, the art is soft and flows across the walls like it is being blown by the wind.

The only bad aspect of the atmosphere was the choice of music playing on the speakers. Rather than choosing a soft, easy melody to fit the rest of the restaurant, '80s pop music greeted the ears of the customers.

The atmosphere is great for a casual meal shared with friends, family or that special someone.

Overall Overall, HuHot is a great place to eat. The only negative aspects of the establishment is the price and the music. The price problem can be overcome if you go back through the line several times and get your money's worth. The music problem, however, can only be addressed by management.

If they can get their music choices right, HuHot easily could be one of the greatest restaurants in Manhattan.