Gyubee Japanese Grill (Waterloo) — Restaurant in Waterloo

We were in the area and thought we'd try this place as we've been to many other restaurants of similar manner of AYCE cook it yourself. We looked at the reviews prior, which displayed many poor customer service moreso than anything else. So we figured we would still try it out. We called ahead asking if reservations were required as we've never been here and how long the wait was. When we arrived, they greeted us at the door and took us to a table immediately. You have to scan a QR code to access their menu, so we were browsing for a few moments until our waitress arrived. We asked how to order - no paper or iPad was available, and again mentioned we haven't been here before. Well they take the orders verbally and she mentioned that we have a 2 hr dine-in limit and that the time begins now. So we have a timer start BEFORE we even receive a dish? Definitely makes zero sense. She said she would remind us at the 1.5hr mark of the lack of time remaining (thanks?). The dishes showed up and we felt like we were rushing instead of enjoying our experience. We ordered all of the beef dishes and the lamb. The food was marinated well and did taste good. Some of the meat was rather thin, so it cooked fast - except they turned the grill on too high, so the flames were high and the temperature was too much. The waitress rushed over, claiming that it's doing that because we need a new grill - not true whatsoever. She then asked us to remove the meat that was cooking on the grill so she could swap them out. Ummm excuse me? Why couldn't you WAIT until the meat was done first? We were left at the table often waiting for things like extra napkins, cutlery (which never did come) and drink refills. There were also kids running around our table, banging on the chairs and table, screaming which was very annoying. Why not tell the family to keep their kids at their table? Especially since fire is involved in the restaurant. We finished our meal and ordered pineapples and dessert. By this point we received our 1.5hr reminder and honestly I just wanted to get out at this point based on the experience we had, but wait, it gets better! We asked for the bill and I proceeded to pay, but my visa was declined. She asked me if it was debit, as they take debit and cash only. Excuse me? Why wasn't this mentioned PRIOR at all? Over the phone, when we arrived, when we sat down, etc. never did they mention this. I didn't have either or on me, so my partner had to pay when it was supposed to be my treat. I get you're cheap and you don't want to pay the fees, but charge them to the customer. I would have gladly taken a hit of fees just to be able to pay with credit. It's almost 2025, get with the program! What if we both didn't have cash or debit, then what? I honestly will never return here. Please better your customer service skills and be more informative to your customers...

As the sun set on the horizon, painting the sky with hues of crimson and gold, I couldn't contain my excitement for what awaited me. My dream had been nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece, a blockbuster of epic proportions, starring me as the intrepid hero on a quest for the ultimate gastronomic delight.

In my dream, your business had transformed into a mythical palace, towering higher than the tallest skyscraper, adorned with diamonds and emeralds that sparkled brighter than the stars. The gates were embellished with gold and opened grandiosely as if welcoming me to a realm of culinary wonders.

Upon entering, I was greeted by an entourage of chefs in chef hats and golden aprons, presenting an elaborate feast on a table that seemed to stretch infinitely. The aroma that filled the air was so intoxicating that it could rival the most potent perfumes, and the flavors were an explosion of taste that sent me into a realm of ecstasy.

Each bite was a symphony, each sip a sonnet. The food was so divine that even the gods themselves would have descended from Mount Olympus to partake in this celestial banquet. It was a gastronomic paradise, a utopia of flavors beyond imagination.

Alas, reality shattered my dreams like a fragile glass sculpture. As I drove by after work, the sight that awaited me was like a dagger through my heart. The building stood, indeed, but it was just a mundane, regular structure, devoid of any opulence or grandeur. The gates were ordinary, the colours faded, and the chefs were nowhere to be seen.

I was crushed, my heart sinking like a ship in a tempest. My subconscious had betrayed me once more, leaving me to mourn the loss of a culinary adventure that could have rivalled the tales of legends. Oh, how I longed for that dream to be real, for your establishment to be the glorious palace of culinary dreams it had appeared to be in my slumber. Alas, reality fell short of my over-the-top fantasies, leaving me yearning for...

I was meaning to check this place out since it opened as I've heard good things about Gyubee in general. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype. This restaurant is a prime example of how poor service can ruin the best of foods. Everything on the menu was superb and exactly what you expect from an all-you-can-eat Japanese BBQ place, variety in selection, and good meat, but when it comes to the presentation of these awesome things, Gyubee Waterloo fails miserably. From the first moment that you enter, they give you this feeling that hey, two hours and you're done, they keep on reminding you this and that is not a nice feeling to have. Adding to this is the fact that the service and the time that you need to wait for a server to you is absurdly long, I waited for 30 minutes for a glass of water and when you order food, they don't care who's ordered it, they just randomly place dishes on the table. I had no idea what they were and no explanation was given. And don't let me get started on the lack of verbal communication, they actively show that they have no interest in you enjoying the food, and they just want your money. The nail in the coffin for me however, were two things. first of all, they couldn't split a bill, in here, that is basically just a simple division and the other one is the fact that they only accept debit cards or cash, and no credit cards. Unfortunately, until they fix their poor and lackluster service, train people who work here to make people feel better about their experience, and accept credit cards, I won't return and will wholeheartedly discourage anyone from...