Tomiko Japanese Steak House — Restaurant in Adelaide

We came down for dinner tonight and there were the 6 of us so we spent quite a bit. The experience was definitely below expectations.

Let's start from the beginning. When we walked in for our 8:00pm booking we were informed that our table is not ready and it would be 5 minutes. We waited outside in the cold for 10 minutes before being told we can come in.

When seated we were given the menu and then took about 10 minutes before anyone came back to ask us if we were easy to order. Once we ordered it took 40 minutes before the chef came out and we got started on the night. It was 8:55 before the chef started cooking which is 55 minutes later than we expected.

The chef was definitely sub par, I understand she was probably a trainee but we a still paying full price for the experience and we did not get an experience. There was no real performance and not what tepenyaki should be.

Food what nice but when spending $120 on food I would expect more.

The wait staff was slow and dis interested, not a single smile.

If you think this was bad, the last two things were the straw that broke the camel's back that really made this experience quite poor.

Firstly, when going up to pay, we found out that the water that the waitresses kept on refilling without asking actually cost per bottle. We would not pay for water and we didn't even drink much of it, just assumed it was free as I have never gone to a restaurant and paid for water. $19.50 for water, ridiculous and we didn't ask for the refills.

Secondly, I only realised this when I got home. We ordered the platinum package for $99. The difference between this package and the gold was the goyazs, sashimi platter, tempura and a different cut of beef. We got the goyas and tempura but the beef was the same as everyone else's and the worst part, when I got home I only just realised we did not get any sashimi. So we paid for it and didn't get it.

Overall, this was a poor experience and I thought I'd do the courtesy to let you respond before I post a google review and as you can see by my message, it won't be a good one. I've been to dozens of Tempenyaki around the world and in cruise ships and this was definitely the lowest I've been to, unfortunately.

Like a said, we were a family of 6 and spent close to $1,000 and were all very unsatisfied with the...

My friend and I went to the steakhouse to celebrate my 40th birthday. We ordered the seafood platter for two, which included lobster, squid, salmon, prawns, and oysters. Unfortunately, the squid was completely inedible—it was rubbery and foul. While we managed to eat the rest of the platter, the overall quality was disappointing. When we raised our concerns, the waitress acknowledged the squid was bad and offered us a complimentary drink instead of replacing the dish with another protein. Her demeanour was aggressive, blunt, and unprofessional—completely out of character for a place that, just a couple of years ago, had impeccable service and food. It’s clear the standards have seriously declined.

About two hours after the meal, both my friend and I began experiencing severe stomach cramps and became violently ill. I've never been this sick in my life. I was bedridden for 46 hours, sweating, unable to move, and on the verge of calling an ambulance. We had noticed that the lobster appeared slightly undercooked—still somewhat translucent—but were reassured it was fine. In hindsight, it clearly wasn't. Whether it was undercooked or spoiled, something on that platter caused serious food poisoning.

The illness forced me to miss work on Monday. When I called the restaurant on Tuesday to report what happened and request a refund, I was met with complete denial. They claimed another seafood platter was served that night without issues and refused to take any responsibility. The dismissive attitude and lack of accountability were shocking.

I’ve been put off seafood for life thanks to this experience—and this restaurant. What was once a place I recommended highly has now become one I would urge others to avoid. The quality, staff, and management have deteriorated badly. Skip it. I’m still not 100%—my stomach is tender and I’m continuing to recover. It’s just not...

Just disappointing. A 1:15pm Sunday table booking had been made well in advance but the greeting server looked at us blankly when we arrived. Asked if we wanted to sit inside or out, we requested inside, it was a 36° day. As the person led us inside they became more confused, there were no inside tables! So they offered to seat us at the bar. We ordered drinks as soon as we sat down (a trick we use to prevent us from just sitting there until they bring the menus) Now, we adore food from all over the world and will and have, tried so many cuisines. Japanese is my all time favourite hands down. We eat cheap and cheerful but once a month or so book somewhere more 'special' So the fact that none of the wait staff were Japanese should have been a warning. Eating high end Japanese food is as much about the experience as the food. The Indian staff brought none of this. They knew nothing of the food and were unable to offer any recommendations. When our order was taken I let the staff member know that we only needed chopsticks but she firmly placed knife and fork in front of me stating "Incase you need to cut your spring roll in half" Ugh! So, $39 for a tasting plate. We also ordered Seaweed Salad and a Garlic and Egg fried rice. The food arrived and we had to ask for chopsticks AND napkins! 😆 The food was bland and nothing. It may as well have come straight out of the frozen McCain section of any supermarket. Literally ANYONE could make this at home Absolutely bland, boring and downright insulting at the price. Our spring rolls tasted strangely like chemicals, we had a bite each. Total bill $99. We cannot recommend. 1 star just to leave this review,...