Nihonbashi Tei Malate — Restaurant in Manila

THIS HAPPENED on WEDNESDAY, MAY 2nd, 2018 about 11AM.

This WAS my favorite. Food WAS good but the service REALLY SUCKS. IT WAS TERRIBLE (not awful, TERRIBLE). ROSE was the manager. EVERYTHING we asked extra for (lemon/calamansi, extra onions, etc.) was ALL AN EXTRA CHARGE.

Felt I was losing my appetite EACH time we ask for something and it was an EXTRA CHARGE, EVEN FOR THE RED PEPPERS (seelee sp?).

REAL SCENARIO: We came in at about 11am just this past Wednesday with our own yellow and purple onions, our own tomatoes, our own red peppers, cucumber, and even our own calamansi. They said it will be a charge to CUT them for us (100 pesos). I said to my guests, "okay, for their labor to cut our vegetables, 100 pesos ($2.00 USD), that was okay.

We brought in our LARGE COKE. I am diabetic so I couldn't drink it so I ORDERED a coke light. Before we could even say enything, the Supervisor/Manager, ROSE, said they will charge me 200 pesos ($4.00 USD) if we drink our large coke bottle (2 liters) in their restaurant. We said I couldn't drink it which is why I ordered the coke light from their restaurant.

It pretty much wen down hill from here. Couldn't enjoy the meail AT ALL., It was my last day in Manila and this is what my exit from Manila was. A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

OUR ORDER: Lunch menu EBI (full order), Two (2) full orders of MIXED Tempura, large order of SASHIMI. We spent over 2,222 pesos ((almost $45 USD). What did we get from this? Food was good, service from the MANAGER SUCKED!, and a bad taste in our mouths for this restaurant.

Imagine not getting want you ask for without AN EXTRA CHARGE EACH TIME.

I asked to speak with the Owner. I've seen and shook hands with the Owner MANY TIMES. ROSE said the owner was "not available". WOW! Even if the owner is not present, there was no way for them to call or text the owner? I guess the restaurant is doing so great that it did not need the owner to be available to their guests/customer.

I asked for his number, ROSE outright refused and said he was "busy" and not at the store. I gave my number but to this day, was never called.

SLOW SERVICE? SO TRUE!...Interesting to note, I see the workers having the "huddle" and not being productive. What I mean is the table beside us had no customers but the soy sauce bottle was empty (sorry, just a few drops maybe). ROSE was too busy going around to other tables pushing drinks and EXTRA CHARGES. I went to the CR and heard ROSE again with another customer saying "EXTRA CHARGE". What is is with this place. AWFULLY rude and no class from the work. Food decent. Spending that much ($45 USD) and told EXTRA CHARGE each time we asked for something was ridiculous (I used the word STUPID! instead of ABSURD!, it seemed to fit the scenario better)

PICs attached in this review. Hope this gets them to look at their SERVICE and CUSTOMER orientation. THEY REALLY SUCKED! So unlike my visits 3 times last year (2 times in September, 1 time in October). 2 times this past January. Two times. One in April and just this past Tuesday (May 2nd)

WHAT A BIG...

A very simple looking restaurant but has a nice entrance, big space, all the tables were well spaced and confined so the privacy feel is definitely good. However, like what previous reviews mentioned, the damp smell of carpet is obvious and there's a baby cockroach running around ON the table. When I highlighted it to the waitress, she just simply swiped it off the table. I wld rather she got hold of it and killed it. It's a pity that something simple which can be fixed is left as it is for so long. Subject is hygiene, air freshener or humidifier would help. I do see a few Japanese customers. Food is definitely alright. Wished the boss could make it better. So much potential especially when its location is right opposite a hotel. Before I went in, I asked if they accept card and the lady said yes. When I went to pay for my bill, the cashier said cash only. When I got firm about it, they connect their system and charge my card....

Anyone that says this is the best, hasn't been to Little Tokyo. I had... Ebi tempura - it was underfried, there was dough when getting to the ebi Tuna and Salmon sashimi - nothing notable here. Slightly smaller portions than some places I've been. Taste is what you'd expect. Miso soup - delicious ... overall, the food was nice but not great. The waitress only checked back once. When she did, my beer was mostly empty but she didn't ask me if I wanted another. During my stay, I saw someone that looked like a manager grab a waitress by the neck and push her towards the cashier booth. I'm not sure what that was about, but it definitely didn't give the place a Japanese vibe. They lose one star for that.

Half full on...