Oiishi Japanese Restaurant & Takeaway — Restaurant in Scotland

A perfect summer surprise at Oiishi. A longtime favourite that keeps getting better.

My partner and I have been coming to Oiishi for over six years now, and not once have we left disappointed. This time, we decided to try their new summer tasting menu for my birthday, a bit of a change from our usual favourites, and we were pleasantly surprised.

The experience was beautifully paced, allowing us to really savour each dish as it arrived. The summer menu gave us the chance to try things we might never have ordered otherwise, and it opened our eyes to some fantastic new flavours. Highlights included the melt-in-your-mouth wagyu beef, the delicate and refreshing ebi summer rolls, and the beautifully presented tuna tartare. Every bite was thoughtful and refined.

We ended the evening with a refreshing mango sorbet, which came with a delightful little surprise, a perfect way to round off what was a special birthday date night.

If I had to pick a negative, which ultimately wasn’t a negative as it still tasted delicious as it is, was the Chilled Ramen with Volcano sauce didn’t have a lot of spice to it. We were expecting to have a kick of heat but it wasn’t there.

The staff were exceptional throughout, attentive, informative, and welcoming. Each dish was introduced with care, and a personal visit from the chef to check on our experience was a warm and much-appreciated gesture.

For the quality and variety, the summer menu is excellent value. We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit. If you’re looking for a relaxed, high-quality tasting experience that offers both comfort and creativity, we can’t recommend...

I'd been to Oiishi for dinner a couple of times previously on quieter evenings and really enjoyed both visits but our experience was less pleasant on Saturday (20 May 2023) night. We got seated and then after a bit of a wait had to call a waitress to order drinks.

Our plan, like it is most times when we dine out, was to get a cocktail each to relax. From there, order some appetizers and once those are done, we'd order a bottle of wine at which point the main courses would be coming.

What actually happened was that my partner got her cocktail, while at the same time the appetizers were served along with most of the main courses (an appetizer kinda ceases to be an appetizer at this point) - all before my drink arrived!

So basically we were eating our full meal while still settling in to our evening.

It just seems very rushed and they've done themselves out of the extra money we'd have spent on wine. In fact we were pretty much done within an hour and only ordered a dessert to stretch the stay a little. The waitresses didn't seem very communicative or helpful and the only pleasantry we got was from the barman.

When it came time to pay, we got the bill and (again, eventually) instructed to pay at the front desk if we wanted to pay by card. The woman taking the payment seemed a bit glum and didn't give me the chance to ask if I could add a tip.

Not sure if it's just a cultural thing to be so rushed or if it was just because it was a Saturday night but either way they need to up their game in regards to hospitality.

On the plus side, the...

Have eaten in and taken away numerous times. Very fond of the restaurant and the cuisine. Recent takeaway experience was well below expectations. Ordered to collect, 30min wait turned into 50 which was OK as they were busy. Returned home to find order incomplete. Agreed to come drive back to collect missing item as delivery was inconvenient for both parties - this was frustrating but again these things happen.

On arriving to collect my missing item, no offer for partial monetary refund provided (given inconvenience and fuel costs) nor any additional items as a gesture of goodwill. 20% off a potential future order was what was suggested. I declined as I didn't know if or when we'd be back and I wasn't in a position to further delay dinner with my family by waiting any longer for a discussion with the manager.

Seperately, the constant 'cash only as our card machine is broken' gambit is wearing thin too. I'm happy to pay cash and support independent businesses but denying the customer the choice is down right inconvenient in this day and age.

All in all, left disappointed and unlikely to return or continue to recommend to our friends and family - as we have done for several years.

A more straightforward and customer focused response would've seen a far more positive outcome and no doubt in...