Arigato by Hrvoje — Restaurant in City of Zagreb

UPDATED - I have now lowered my rating to 1/5, zero for service etc. It is normal for a restaurant owner to feel protective of their locale, but the attitude below beggars belief....the sheer bile and rudeness - insinuating that I am so unaware of the Japanese dining finesse that they delude themselves they represent, only a large plate of potatoes should be to my liking! Arigato (what irony!), you need to acquaint yourselves with the Japanese art of hospitality and humility. How sad! ORIGINAL REVIEW - Average, tiny portions and overpriced. We regretted trusting the glowing reviews. We received three miniature Japanese deep-fried rolls, and there were four of us. Everyone left with the feeling we only had appetizers, so do not go if you are looking for a satisfying meal at the end of a long day. Very limited choice of sushi, 3 or 4 varieties only. The sauce in the agedashi tofu was extremely salty. The ceviche was salmon sashimi, with lazer-cut daikon pieces, some tobiko and nothing else. The place itself and surrounding street lacked atmosphere, so overall it was disappointing for sushi lovers and for a first night in Zagreb, despite friendly (?) staff. Since the Arigato team feels compelled to lecture me what Japanese dining embodies, I must clarify that they are quite far from it. I have tasted Japanese food on 3 continrnts, including Asia. Like I said earlier, the agedashi tofu was well below par, and "ceviche" is not traditionally Japanese last time I looked. I didn't like that my tea was poured to the brim so that the staff can take away the teapot at his discretion. Judging from your extensive response below, you don't take criticism lightly. I am glad I didn't address my concerns in person like you suggested, I am on holiday, not here to have disagreements at dinner. I am sure you will keep having happy clients, and all the best to you, but I'd like to spare someone else the potential...

I recently had the pleasure of dining several times at this exceptional Japanese restaurant, and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. Each dish that graced our table was a masterpiece. The sushi and other dishes were incredibly fresh, and the delicate balance of flavours and textures in each bite was a testament to the chef's skill. The presentation of each dish was a work of art in itself, with meticulous attention to detail. What truly impressed me was the commitment to authenticity. The ingredients used were of the highest quality. The service was impeccable, with a knowledgeable and attentive owner Hrvoje and his staff who were more than happy to explain dishes and make recommendations. They added a personal touch to the dining experience, making us feel like valued guests. In summary, this Japanese restaurant is a hidden gem and should not be missed by anyone looking for Japanese...

U Arigato smo došli puni entuzijazma – ambijent je bio ugodan, a simpatičan dojam ostavio je ljubazan vlasnik/voditelj koji nas je srdačno pozdravio na ulazu. No, od tog trenutka krenulo je nizbrdo.

Osoblje nas pri ulasku nije pozdravilo – pomalo neugodno, ali okej, restoran se počeo puniti pa mogu razumjeti. Nakon pet minuta čekanja za šankom, konobarica nas je napokon odvela do stola, rekavši da sjednemo gdje želimo.

Sjedili smo 15 minuta, a nitko nas nije ni primijetio. Nakon što smo konačno privukli pažnju konobara i dobili jelovnik, odmah smo naručili sva jela i piće, predosjećajući kako bi cijela situacija mogla izgledati.

Piće smo čekali još deset minuta. Iznenađujuće, predjelo su donijeli nekoliko minuta nakon pića, ali glavno jelo smo čekali više od sat vremena. (Pritom imajmo na umu da imamo ograničenje od dva sata za rezervaciju, a sat vremena smo potrošili čekajući glavno jelo.) Mislim da je jedini razlog zbog kojeg smo ga uopće dobili taj što sam pitala konobaricu jesu li zaboravili našu narudžbu, s obzirom na to da smo u tom trenutku čekali sat vremena. Smiješno je bilo to što je stol do nas, koji je stigao pola sata nakon nas, već bio na desertu.

Idemo dalje. Dok smo čekali glavno jelo, nitko nas nije pitao želimo li možda još nešto popiti... Čašu vode dobili smo tek nakon tri podsjetnika, a nespretni konobar ju je pritom prolio po stolu, malo po nama i po podu. Ispričao se i dobacio da "pazimo gdje stajemo jer je pod mokar i sklizak". Ta lokva vode ostala je netaknuta do kraja večeri.

Što se tiče pića – pjenušac je bio u redu, koktel od devet eura također, ali tri gutljaja običnog gin-tonika s grančicom timijana definitivno ne vrijede tu cijenu.

A sada malo o hrani. Za predjelo smo uzeli ceviche i gyoze – oboje korektno. Za glavno jelo naručili smo sushi. To je definitivno najgori sushi koji sam ikada probala. Sushi s tunom sastojao se od žilave, beživotne tune umotane u jednako bezukusnu rižu – mala okruglica velikog razočaranja. Druga vrsta sushija, s kozicama, bila je jednako loša – s ljuskom koja je ostala na kozici, potpuno bez okusa i bilo kakvog užitka.

Žao mi je što moram ostaviti ovakvu recenziju jer se čini da je restoran još u fazi uhodavanja, a iza svega stoji zanimljiv koncept i entuzijazam. Ambijent je ugodan, a vlasnik ljubazan i srdačan, što ostavlja dobar prvi dojam. No, nažalost, taj dojam se brzo pokvari zbog nedostatka osnovne uslužnosti i kvalitete hrane, što je teško...