Tentatsu Japanese Restaurant Burnaby — Restaurant in Burnaby

Update Oct 2020 I don't know why I originally gave this place 4 stars when my review was pretty clear that the service was terrible. That sets the tone for the whole meal even if the sashimi was fresh (which it wasn't). Came back here again not by choice but convenience. I have a short term memory span and just forgot. Our go-to joint down the street (Sushi Uomo was at capacity during covid times so we were turned away). This time it was BAD. The main servers gets in your meals and then leaves you alone the rest of the time. The expediters don't even want to make eye contact with you as they stroll along. They even seemed annoyed to help you if you manage to flag them down. The sushi kitchen was the most offensive part. They have two cantonese speaking sushi "chefs". They can be heard screaming the whole time. I didnt pay much attention until it was about our order. I'm not super fluent in Canto but I can tell they were mad at our table. We simply asked for no avocado in the california roll for our bento box. A request that was always accommodated at Sushi Uomo. You can hear the chefs freaking out about this request. Our server approached our table and told me he couldn't make the california rolls without Avo. He said instead of the 6pieces it originally comes with, he'd be able to just give us only 4pieces if we wanted no avo. Head scratcher there?!? I just said forget it and give us with avo. Food came and yes, big portions. Topper was when I asked for a spoon for my kid and it came back with Crusty stuff on it. Sealed the deal to never come back. During corona times it's hard enough to come out and feel safe. We want to support local but when I feel we are just annoying them by ordering, it's time to maybe start some training on how to appreciate the customers. Won't be back.

My usual go to is uomo sushi, just 2 doors over. On this night, uomo was pretty busy and our family was starving. We thought we should be a little adventurous and try something else along the Heights. We stopped by Tentatsu. As long as the little one gets his Chicken Teriyaki on rice, he's happy. I walk in and was not greeted at all. I thought I'd stand by the podium area and wait to be seated. A group of older people came in and budged their way past me. The server helped her right away. Pays to be pushy, I guess. I walked up behind her and told the server we were here first before her. He still gave her the #1 ticket and placed us #2. Ok then. We got seated maybe 7 mins later. After being seated, every server just walked on by. Had to wave down somebody to order after 10 mins. We ordered chicken yakisoba, teriyaki chicken with rice and their Osaka Combo. It's a Friday night and they had a lot of take out orders too. I got my Osaka meal first after about 15 mins. It's chicken teriyaki don, tempura udon, salad and agadashi tofu. 10 mins later came my husband's yakisoba. 15 mins after that finally came the chicken teriyaki for my kid. 35 mins for his meal?!? Kids don't have attention span and neither did mine. We were already here an hour! I do have to say the portions are HUGE. Bonus points for that. Having to ask for a second cup of tea and a take away box and then the bill killed any sort of service points I would have added. Would we come here again? Only if Uomo...

Changing my review of this restaurant. It had great food and staff for a few years after it opened.

However, after the slim built Asian guy with eyeglasses was hired (I see from other reviews his name may be Cyrus?), and unfortunately, he seems to be working there all the time, our interactions with him was very seldom pleasant. He has absolutely no customer service skills nor does he have manners. Never says thank you even after we prepaid a tip for the takeout. Never any greetings, thank-you’s, or goodbyes. That’s fine with me as the food is still decent.

However, my very first negative interaction with him was a few years go when I walked in as the first customer when the restaurant opened in the morning. This young man (Cyrus) took my order. After 45 minutes of waiting and no food (at first I thought the kitchen needed time to warm up the fryer or something so I didn’t say anything). This waiter had been walking back and forth around me serving other customers and never once did he wondered why I was sitting there for so long without food being served. I finally asked him about my order and he came back and told me my ordered was never entered into the system- even though he was the one that took my order - no apologies, nothing.

Fast forward to today, I went in and ordered two takeout items and paid for the food (with tip) - and as expected, no thank you from this guy - that was almost as expected. That was fine. However, again, being one of the first customers and after 30 minutes of waiting and no updates from this waiter, I asked about the food. He simple told me that they just opened up and I had to wait a bit longer.

The moral of the story, don’t bother going in early to beat the crowd because they’ll just make you wait longer for the food. Don’t bother tipping if you’re doing takeout and this guy is doing your order because he doesn’t seem to care about his customers or the tips.

I feel sorry for the kitchen staff because most of the time they make decent food and they work very hard. They could have a bigger share of the tips if the front end servers knew just a little about good...

Stopped in on a Double Mommy-Son special night out kinda date night.

Food: sushi was good. Miso good. Sunomono was great. Bento box tasty and nice variety. Rolls we're good. Tea was lovely.

Parking: street out front on Hastings. Also, down the block along side streets. Free parking

Feel of the place: there is a beautiful tree in the center of the restaurant that sets a nice ambiance

COVID: They are quite Covid-aware and the staff appear nervous. Follow PHO about Vaccination verification and ID checking. Everyone wearing masks.

There is a sign at tables to request masks worn when not seated at table and when being served. *this is where we got into trouble with the service. After ordering our food we removed our masks to chat at the table. The staff then brought items to the table and literally flung the items across the table. We assume it was because we had our masks off and no time to put them on as random items were being delivered. Simple communication could have resolved this situation. "Heads up, we're bringing items to the table" Giving customer the opportunity to mask up. (1 ⭐ docked)

Kids were given plastic glasses with water and they were scratched and didn't feel very sanitized. Maybe they were, but they didn't feel it and the boys were uncomfortable drinking from the cups (½ ⭐ docked)

Service: the boys were seated at a separate table and weren't offered menus. After the adults ordered we checked in with the kids to find they hadn't ordered because they hadn't been given menus. It was a Tuesday evening and there were only a few tables seated. More than enough menu's to go around (½ ⭐ docked)

Restroom: clean. Sink is updated. The rest is worn & doesn't feel exceptionally clean.

We didn't have the best experience. Which is unfortunate, as the...