Jōji Sydney — Restaurant in Sydney

the service and disrespect I received at joji was truly shocking.

firstly we were refused entry as one of our group didn’t fit the dress code, which he was, according to the security, wearing shorts. These pants were past the knee and came half way down his calves, 3/4 pants. We insisted these met the criteria and were not shorts. However they dismissed us and told us to go around the corner and buy pants and they would hold our booking till we got back. The security guard said it was not for negotiation and it was a “strict” policy. If you google the definition of shorts, it says they come above the knee, not sure why these pants were considered shorts. But nevertheless, we went around the corner as they rudely suggested and came back as rules are rules.

So imagine my shock when I go up and immediately am faced with the dj working there wearing actual above the knee shorts. (Pictured). It was honestly a big slap to the face that they were so harsh on us but on their own staff they allowed shorts. Then I saw another male diner wearing above the knee shorts which was another slap to the face. Unsure what happen to this so called strict policy. I noted as well that a lot of women were wearing shorts and were allowed in, which is interesting considering that the rule didn’t stipulate it was only to men. Additionally the rule said no singlets, I saw a staff member and another patron wearing singlets.

After abiding by the rules and purchasing pants it had been about 20min past our original booking time. We thought this was okay as we were told that our booking would be held while we got pants by the team downstairs. Upon arrival, there was confusion between the staff as our booking had been marked as cancelled, despite what were told. Just another example of poor management .

We asked staff on why we were singled out in comparison to the dj wearing shorts and the other male diner wearing above the knee shorts meanwhile our friends pants were only showing half of his calves. The server only replied with i don’t know I don’t know before speaking to another worker, in which they came with an insincere apology back to us and some drinks. Seriously? That is all they could do when they forced us to go buy another pair of pants and cancelled our booking. I have experienced worse situations at other establishments which have been made up from a genuine concern from the manager and action to rectify the situation. The staff here seemed to have no duty of care to their customers.

I understand rules are rules but how can they tell us that building management is strict on dress code and then make us buy pants and change, and not enforce that consistently across the board. It is truly disrespectful to us as patrons.

I have been to every esca group establishments and never experience this sort of disrespect before and quite disappointed as I was expecting the great experience I’ve had at their venues. Not sure if this is unique to Joji. honestly I would have left after being refused at the door if it was not my friends birthday dinner simply on how ridiculous the security were being.

The food was okay and drinks were nice. I found the staff weren’t too good with filling our water up though. The oysters were nice but nothing special. Edamame was okay, maybe get in a big group just as a filler. The lotus chips were nice. Sando was nice. Steak was a bit small considering the price and it was okay. The chicken karrage was crunchy.

However, I cannot in good faith recommend this restaurant to anyone due to the...

The manager was unprofessional and was inappropriate in the way he addressed my fainting spells.

A few friends, my partner and I went to Joji on a Friday night to have a couple drinks and chat. We only drank the usual amount and ordered a few small dishes along with dinner beforehand (2 cocktails and a small complimentary glass of wine as an apology for slow service). Before leaving, our friend went to the restroom, which we later found out was because she was feeling nauseous for an unknown reason, so the rest of us paid and waited for her by the elevator. As we waited, I suddenly felt unwell and fainted. Fortunately, my partner and friends helped me sit up and got me a glass of water but I was still struggling to stay conscious and fainted a second time. Even when I regained consciousness, I was mostly immobile for this duration of time and required my partner to help me stay up.

While all this was happening, the manager repeatedly looked at us without offering any support. Then, rather than thoroughly assessing the situation first (e.g. asking what is going on, if I’m okay, how many drinks we’ve had, etc.), he immediately told us we drank too much and demanded we leave. It was only after our friend explained the situation and that we didn’t drink excessively that the staff gave us a small glass of cola and a piece of gum.

We found this hospitality to be appalling - it was unprofessional and shows the lack of responsibility and consideration they have for their customers. In this situation where we required medical attention, we were instead wrongly accused and told to leave. Even when support was given, it was bare minimum. We won’t be returning to this...

We came last Saturday night to celebrate my partner’s birthday. While the food didn’t disappoint, the service unfortunately did.

We were seated in a quiet corner of the terrace, which we liked because it felt private, but from the beginning, we felt like we were completely ignored. The table next to us was also celebrating a birthday, and they received special attention from the staff: birthday wishes, a dessert with a candle, and friendly service throughout the night. We didn’t even receive a simple “happy birthday,” even though it was noted it in the reservation and on the table. Only the lady at the reception was nice to acknowledge the occasion when we came in.

Also, No one asked us if we wanted dessert or another drink. When we asked for the menu again, they only brought the drinks list, and still no one returned to take an order. We felt like we had to chase down the staff for everything.

The little things added up. Our water glasses were half-empty for most of the night, while the staff regularly refilled the glasses of other tables around us. The outdoor heater near our table wasn’t working, and it was only fixed at the end of the evening. To be fair, the waiter did come and honestly told us he had forgotten about it, which we appreciated.

The food was really good and beautifully presented, but when a restaurant has a dress code and a minimum spend per guest, we expect the service to match that standard.

It’s a shame, because this could have been a great place to celebrate. Instead, we left feeling a bit disappointed. We might return for a drink or a casual evening, but not for a...