James Parker Sushi & Sake — Restaurant in Northbridge

Environment: next to Russell Square, need time to find free carpark. Modern Japanese style decorating. Fine dining setting. Not packed. Reservation is recommended. We walked in without booking before 6pm on Sunday, able to sitting at sushi bar only. Chairs are comfy. Soft lighting. Clean and tidy. --- 8/10 Service: have Japanese greetings when guests come in. The Japanese Sushi chef will bow to guests when you arrive or leave. At first, no staff except sushi chef come to take our orders. The main sushi chef will talk to you and ask if you have any needs, or help you to order food. He always smiles. Japanese waiter pulled chairs and opened the door for us. Sometimes waitperson will refill green tea. The sushi chef introduced the sashimi/sushi when he served food to us directly. The waitress also introduced the dippings for Tempura. Basically, polite staff. Acceptable waiting time as food served one by one. So, didn't feel wait long. Sushi and Sashimi served faster. --- 8.3/10 Food: good presentation. Price on high side as good service. Unfortunately, sea urchin wasn't available. The prices weren't printed on the menu clearly. Sashimi, 5 variations, 2pcs@, $38: very fresh, sweet seafood, pretty chilled. Normal thickness. Scallops, Kingfish, Octopus, Tuna, and Salmon. Only Octopus was very chewy- let me down. --- 7.8/10 Volcano Roll, $18/4pcs: Too much mayonnaise. Hard to taste every elements. Only mayo and fish roe --- 6.5/10 Ebi Anago Yasai Tempura, $28: There are 2 prawns (small) and vegetables (e.g. asparagus, eggplant, sweet potato, enoki mushrooms, Oyster mushroom). --- 8/10 Aburi Wagyu roll, $18/4pcs: gorgeous presentation. Good combination. Well balance of rice, the sauce, beef and vegetables. Wagyu beef wasn't very aburi. --- 8.5/10 Charcoal Grilled Octopus, $24 (a la carte): super tender. ! The side dish/garnish covered up the octopus. Octopus itself was very yummy. The Capsicum Miso Puree was good. --- 8.5/10 Gion Dessert, $17: Warm chocolate cake was moist, and well balance with the flavor of sake paste. Soy sauce ice cream was ok. Three fried pine nuts elevated the flavor. Cream was light and...

Disappointing is an understatement and one star is generous.

I seldom leave a poor review on any food establishment but I felt I had to as the service and treatment our group received at James Parker was abysmal.

From the moment our group walked in we were greeted by a lady with short hair. Her shirt had the name Mayumi on it but for all I know, her name could have been Karen. “Mayumi” seemingly couldn’t find our booking.

Once she found it she proceeded to take us to our table. We asked to be seated at the table next to us which was free for the duration of our short stay but was met with a stern “no” from Mayumi. We put the unsavoury greeting aside and ordered.

There was a mix up with our drinks and we kindly brought this to the waitresses attention. What happened next was really the cherry on top and something I have never experienced at any restaurant. Mayumi stormed out of the kitchen and preceded to shout out us, and started accusing us of ordering incorrectly.

We had already ordered food (albeit, Entrees) at this stage and so we promptly had our Entrees and left discretely.

Mayumi, I gave you the benefit of the doubt with your poor behaviour early on but you really proved yourself to, in my opinion, provide:

“The Worst Hospitality Service Experience (I have ever had) in all of Perth”. Well done.

I will not be recommending this establishment to any my friends and extensive networks.

I am not sure why we were treated this way. Was it because we were people of colour? I am not quite sure. In any case Mayumi, may I suggest to please learn a thing or two about hospitality and how to run a restaurant. This is not how you treat paying customers. I’ve only seen behaviour like yours on Gordon Ramsay Kitchen Nightmares.

I also found the food was also substandard and the oysters did not taste fresh. In my opinion, there are far better Japanese restaurants in Perth for a fraction of the price. After tonight’s experience, I’d much rather see myself to a McDonald’s. at least I’d get better...

As a passionate foodie and frequent visitor to Japanese restaurants, I can say with complete confidence that James Parker Sushi and Sake is truly in a league of its own. From the moment you step through the doors, you are enveloped in a delightful atmosphere of peace and comfort that sets the stage for an exceptional dining experience.

The staff at James Parker are nothing short of remarkable. They are consistently attentive, ensuring that your every need is met with the utmost care and professionalism. Their thorough knowledge of the menu and genuine passion for the cuisine shines through in every interaction, making the dining experience all the more enjoyable.

But what truly sets James Parker apart is their commitment to going above and beyond. Whether it's offering personalized recommendations, accommodating special requests, or simply anticipating your needs before you've even had a chance to ask, the staff here demonstrate an unparalleled level of proactivity and amazing customer service.

And of course, the real star of the show is the food. The chefs at James Parker take great pride in their craft, meticulously sourcing the freshest ingredients and preparing each dish with the utmost care and attention to detail. The result is a culinary masterpiece – beautifully presented, bursting with flavor, and truly the best sushi and sake experience you'll find in all of Perth.

Whether you're a long-time sushi aficionado or simply looking to embark on a new culinary adventure, I cannot recommend James Parker Sushi and Sake highly enough. With its delightful atmosphere, exceptional service, and truly outstanding food, this restaurant is a true gem in the heart of Perth's vibrant dining scene.

Nao, Ayumi, JP, Sho, Rocelle and Ayden are an incredible team! I specifically loved Sho's matcha dessert creation! Sho is a Star! Aiden looked after our table. Such a delightful young man who was extremely attentive throughout the...