Arigato-Tampa

How disappointing! My 12 year old daughter chose Arigato on North Dale Mabry for her birthday dinner. We arrived with 10 family members, gifts, cupcakes and a birthday girl banner. They told us about the birthday special ($20 off dinner for the birthday person). Then the manager proceeded to ask if we had ID for my daughter to prove it was her birthday - seriously!? We told him she was 12 and didn't have ID. He said they would not be able to honor the birthday special - then wished her a happy birthday!! After spending over $300 on dinner - the manager still refused. Needles to say, we won't be returning to this location. By the way - when we made the reservation and told them it was for a birthday, we were never told to bring ID for a child! more

the food was great , and the staff was friendly. lots of fun for a group! more

the food was great , and the staff was friendly. lots of fun for a group! more

Excellent dinners, we have always had excellent service. Last night our chef Ken was the best we have had in all these years. more

We had dinner at Arigato's with another couple. We had reservations and only had to wait a short time before we were seated. We ordered and the chef was excellent, friendly, funny and entertaining. Food was plentiful and our glasses were kept full throughout dinner. My only complaint was that I wanted ""Goody"" sauce on my salad, the server didn't know what I was talking about and I ended up with a sauce that wasn't as good as the ""Goody"". It was a minor annoyance and having never been to Arigato before, I didn't know if what I wanted was called ""Goody"" or ""Yummy"" sauce. I also wanted noodles and the waitress didn't get that on the order, but when the chef confirmed our order, he quickly made sure I had my noodles. We'll be back. Food was excellent and I received a little education as to what I want. more

Only first week in operation. Hope service and food quality improves A LOT. Very very slow service, despite only being 1/5th full, and food quality nowhere near the old Arigato location which was across the street. more

I love this place. Great food and servers. more

We have been going to Arigato's for years and have never, ever been disappointed. Everyone we bring wants to go back right away.\r The food is absolutely super and delicious.\r Can't wait to go back myself.\r Gary Williams Pros: Cannot go to a more fun, food and great restaurant Cons: no cons all Pros more

I went to Arigato to celebrate with a few friends. The experience was out of this world! Food is cooked right in front of you, and the chefs are so exciting and outgoing. The one that cooked our table made a huge fire on the table as he cooked our food. \r I eat out at least 3 times a week, but Arigato exceeds all expectations and has no comparision to any other restaurant. They also have a Rewards program that rewards you with Free Birthday and Anniversary Dinner and gives me points for each time I dine there. \r I will definatly be back! I highly recommend this restaurnat to anyone that is looking for a fun place to eat! Pros: Food cooked right in front of you, Atmosphere, Yummi Yummi Cons: If you dont' make a reservations on the weekend - Your the fool! more

What's good- The food is excellent- I loved the fried rice, the chicken was perfectly cooked. The chef really puts on a ""show"" of preparing the food- entertaining to watch. Bottled beer is served very cold- always a plus in my book ! Chef and servers are attentive and polite. Great for a big group. What's not so good- We had a reservation but still had to wait. A bit overpriced. $15 for a chicken dish. The combo meal that includes chicken, steak, and seafood, is $22. Limited vegetarian options- even the fried rice has a chicken stock base. (Plain white rice is available on request, however). All the cooking right at the tables results in a smokey, greasy atmosphere, which some may find offensive. Not a great place for very small children since customers sit so close to the heating element. more

I always enjoy eating at Arigatos. I have been going there for the past 3 years. The food has always been excellent. The soup & salad is always tasty. The steak is mouth watering. I would certainly reccomend it for a very good meal. Pros: Good food, Great drinks, Friendly staff more

Ok, the food isn't as authentic as other restaurants, but Arigato's is a GREAT restaurant. I've been going for the past 11 years, and I honestly cannot recall ever having a bad experience there. The food is absolutely delicious, though the menu is pretty limited. The bar is also worth mentioning: great drinks, especially the Arigato's ""specialties"". (Try a Hari Kari Nut!) One tip, though: MAKE A RESERVATION, and even then, be patient. Never expect to walk in and immediately be seated. But overall, this is my favorite restaurant. I'll miss it dearly when I move away from Tampa. more

I've eaten at a lot of Japanese restaurants and have never been so sad. There was grease on our chairs when we arrived, the chef was unpleasant and the soup and sauces were tasteless - and we got to spend over $20 per meal for the experience. more

I've been eating at Arigato's for about 6 years now. Reviewer's comment on entertainment by the chef. Sure, not every chef is the most comical or entertaining, but I've never been disappointed with a bad meal, and that's what matters most, right? As far as comments of rice being left on the tables, what do you exspect? Your table is the chef's stove. The restuarant is always busy, there's not time to clean every piece of rice off the table when the chef is done cooking each meal. The tables are scraped clean at closing, leaving the tables rice free for the next day. Meals are a little expensive, but you leave satisfied and stuffed. As an ex-employee of Arigato's, now in the Army, I look forward to eating at my favorite restuarant every time I come home, and recommend it to everyone I know. Pros: Great Food, Nice View of Lake Cons: A Bit Expensive, Seating a Bit Tight more