Makoto — Restaurant in Bal Harbour Village

Hello,

I literally created a Yelp account to write this review and now I am posting here. I wish it reaches top management for someone to take action. Me and my family have been customers in Makoto since its beginnings in Bal Harbour back in 2011 first in the first level of the mall and now in the top level after the rebranding. Me and my family have built great relationships over the years with many managers like Jorge and Gozalo (to name a few) as well as servers that are great people and great professionals and have always been kind and welcoming with us all the time we dine at Makoto. For this reason, we have always chosen Makoto as our go to place and basically go every week.

Last week, we had the worst experience at Makoto in all the years we have been going. We were treated awful by one of the new managers who was appointed after the restaurant made its rebranding and moved to upper level. After asking our server that night she told us the name of this manager is “Tim”. This is an Asian guy whom we have never built a relationship with, since we believe he does not represent the values of a Restaurant like Makoto. This is a guy that we have seen drinking alcohol from customers tables, having shots at the bar with customers, giving preferencial seating to customers with no reservations in exchange for huge tips and all of this multiple times. For this reason I am writing this review and hope top management take the appropriate measures with this guy that only looks up to his personal benefit, is totally unprofessional in his work and does not represent the values a Restaurant like Makoto have built throughout the years.

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I recently had a highly disappointing experience with a pick-up order at Makato Restaurant. I placed my order and patiently waited in the parking area for approximately 40 minutes, only to be informed that my order had never been processed. This incident was not only frustrating but also a complete waste of my valuable time.

It is disheartening to encounter such a lack of efficiency and communication from a restaurant that I had previously held in high regard. As a customer, I expect my orders to be handled with care and accuracy, especially when I have taken the time to place an order in advance.

The lack of processing my order not only inconvenienced me but also left me feeling disappointed and frustrated. I had made plans based on the assumption that my pick-up order would be ready as promised, only to have those plans disrupted due to this unfortunate incident.

I believe it is crucial for Makato Restaurant to address this issue promptly and take necessary steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. Customers rely on the reliability and efficiency of their pick-up services, and incidents like this undermine their trust.

I hope that Makato Restaurant will take my feedback seriously and make the necessary improvements to their pick-up service. I had always enjoyed the food at Makato, but this recent experience has left me questioning whether I should continue to support their establishment.

Overall, my experience with the pick-up order at Makato Restaurant was highly disappointing and frustrating. I sincerely hope that the management takes this feedback seriously and implements measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Person who took my...

Makoto in Bal Harbour is truly a culinary gem. I am in town from Boston and first visited on Thursday night for a work dinner, and the experience was unforgettable. We sampled a variety of dishes, and every bite was perfection—easily some of the best food I’ve ever had. The cocktails were expertly crafted, and the sake selections were exquisite. A highlight of the night was trying real wasabi for the first time—I didn’t even know that was a thing, and it was incredible! Some highlights were the salmon with truffle and the shishito peppers!

I was so impressed that I returned today with my husband, and Makoto once again exceeded expectations. From the moment we walked in, the service was impeccable. The hostess, Cindy, originally from New York, went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Even during busy hours, she found us seats at the bar and was so warm and friendly that she hugged us on our way out.

Our bartender, Michelle, was equally amazing. Despite handling some challenging customers, she remained composed and attentive. She took the time to discuss different sake options with us and even offered samples to help us decide. Her professionalism and genuine passion for her work were evident.

And then there’s the food—outstanding doesn’t even begin to describe it. Every dish was beautifully prepared and bursting with flavor, just like my first visit. It’s rare to find a restaurant where both the food and service are consistently exceptional, but Makoto achieves this effortlessly.

I’m already looking forward to coming back every time I visit Miami. Makoto is a must-visit for anyone seeking an unforgettable...