I went to the Teppan Hibachi Steakhouse with my family about 2 weeks ago for the celebration of our nephew's graduation. The high reviews for the restaurant had us all excited, especially since we were going for a special occasion.
When we entered the steakhouse, we were definitely impressed with the exquisite interior design and the overall layout that set an intimate yet casual mood. But what does it matter if the setting of your restaurant reaches your expectations when the service/food is highly below what you anticipated?
My first complaint would definitely be geared towards the waitresses and chefs. The waitresses were unfriendly and it just seemed like they were unhappy to be working. Not only were they unfriendly, but they also got a little snappy at us when we asked questions about certain items on the menu which only led our group to rush to ordering because she was becoming impatient. It took forever for our appetizers and salads to come out and we waited even longer for the chef. Now, this is completely understandable when the restaurant is busy, but other than our group, there were only 3 other tables occupied, another at hibachi and 2 in the dining section. I guess the chef was a bit more friendly than the waitress, but the show that he put on was not really enthusiastic, and it followed with many mistakes.
By the time I realized the service was not at top notch, I put that past my worries and just awaited for the food. I was extremely disappointed from the start with the salad and the sushi I ordered for an appetizer. The salad seemed a bit old especially the lettuce, which was more brown than green. The Teppan Special Roll that I ordered looked delicious, but as soon as I tasted it, I spit it out. I'm not sure what was wrong with it, it might have been the eel. I tried another piece, which seemed a bit better, but I was only able to eat two more pieces and left the rest untouched.
I thought the price for the hibachi was reasonable, until I received my food. I definitely feel like I did not get enough food for the amount I paid for. Overall, the experience was a let down, especially when it was for a family reunion. Maybe I will attempt this restaurant again in the future, but this seems to be unlikely because I have recently went to another Hibachi Steakhouse which went high above my expectation. I hope to see changes made to the service and food if I am ever to visit again.
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