Robata Riyadh — Restaurant in Municipality of Al Shamal

Booked an early dinner at Robata Riyadh for a special occasion, which we mentioned when reserving. We had requested patio seating, but were told it was “too hot” – surprising, as most fine dining spots in Riyadh offer outdoor cooling systems. We expected a refined experience, but it quickly fell short.

The host showed us to our table, and our waiter handed us wet wipes and a QR menu, only to abruptly pass us off mid-order to another waiter who seemed unfamiliar with the dishes or how they were prepared.

We ordered the spicy edamame and crispy aubergine to start – both were excellent. The chicken gyoza was very good, and the wagyu rice was flavorful and satisfying. Unfortunately, the wagyu skewer was below average – chewy and lacking seasoning. The lemon pepper chicken was decent, but nothing remarkable.

I had specifically requested that dishes be served one by one, as you’d expect in a fine dining setting, but everything arrived almost at once, making the experience feel rushed and chaotic.

What was most disappointing was the lack of any acknowledgment of our occasion. No gesture, no congratulations – until we were walking out, when the same host gave a cold, almost forced “congratulations,” proving they had seen the note but chose to ignore it throughout the meal.

While a few dishes stood out, the overall service and experience didn’t come close to what Robata promises. Definitely not worth the hype or price for what’s claimed to be...

Robata will never disappoint you if you are seeking for Japanese food.. it always amazes me each time I come here.. and I think it’s time to put a review so you can enjoy this amazing restaurant…

We tried for Salads: Confit Tomato salad it has this amazing special flavor, I would give it 9/10, Soft shell crab salad, 7/10

For cold Small: marinated najil ceviche which I totally recommend you to try, the mix flavors and the sauce are 8/10 somked salmon crispy rice, 7/10 the marinated tuna, JUST wow, I admit it I’m not a tuna person, yet the chef has totally changed my mind with this dish! 10/10

For Robata Small: for sure the special grilled spicy edamame 8/10 angus tenderloin kushi, soft and juicy 8/10

For Hot small: popcorn shrimp 6/10, it was classic prawn portobello gyoza 7/10 Calamari Katsu 7/10

For Sushi and Maki rolls: for raw you must go for Aburi nigiri selection 9/10 chan san maki 7/10 spread salmon gold maki 8/10

For Robata Large: chilean sea bass aji amarillo 8/10, it is not as usual sea bass flavor you taste in other restaurants, No this is something different with the sauce Japanese beef shor ribs 8/10, the way of cutting it and presenting it

For vegetables and rice: mushrooms takikomi 9/10

You can see I have tried so many different flavors and dishes and Robata surprises me every time no matter what the dish is.

There is for sure a valet for your car, and also free parking, depends on...

The overall atmosphere of the restaurant was amazing. It wasn’t too dark, and the music was not too loud; in fact, it was more on the quiet side, which I appreciated. The service was exquisite—they kept refilling my glass of sparkling water, sometimes before I even noticed.

As for the food, I ordered the chef’s platter, a mix of sushi, which I highly recommend. It was delicious and had a great combination of flavors. The salmon nigiri was just okay, though. The Japanese short ribs, on the other hand, were fantastic—juicy, tender, and served with cucumber pickles. I highly recommend this dish.

I also ordered the tenderloin steak, which unfortunately came medium-well when I had asked for medium-rare. It wasn’t exactly to my taste, but it still tasted good, which speaks to the quality of the meat and seasoning. They offered to replace it, but I declined as I was too hungry to wait for another.

For my side dish, I had the potatoes (I forgot the name), which were cooked to perfection with a delicious sauce. The sauce had a subtle profile—not too sweet, salty, or sour, and without any strong spices. Since I’m on a diet, I skipped dessert and finished my meal with a nice Japanese matcha tea. I’m not an expert, but having tried matcha from a Japanese shop before, this tasted quite similar, with an earthy flavor...