Matsutake Sushi & Steak — Restaurant in Ballenger Creek

I’ve been here multiple times over the years and had mixed experiences. It seemed to be going downhill for a while and then bounced back, so for our wedding, my now husband and I decided to have our rehearsal dinner here. Why not? A little entertainment and food and drinks all in a fun easy environment, right?

I made the reservations for four grills OVER THREE MONTHS before the dinner. I called to confirm a month before (we now live in Phoenix, AZ) and then two days before the dinner we physically went to the restaurant in the afternoon when they weren’t busy to confirm and choose our four grills at the front of the restaurant. The manager confirmed the reservation, time, and tables but told us they had lost their liquor license so it was byob. They knew the event it was for, the number of guests, and that this was going to be a lot of food and drinking (translation: $$$$). It would have been nice to know they didn’t have a liquor license before confirming the reservation two days before...we got married at Linganore Winery, though, so we just decided to bring wine bought there during the rehearsal.

When we arrived after our rehearsal with our wine, they told us they had the liquor license back and that we couldn’t open our bottles, they also weren’t ready for us and had given away one of our tables. The excuse? “We tried to call to confirm about an hour ago...” They knew we were in the wedding rehearsal during that time. We confirmed the reservation multiple times...reason and logic would at least mean holding ALL the tables until the time promised and confirmed TWICE. I told them that we had also bought the wine based on the fact that we were told they had no liquor license and spent the liquor budget on the wine we had to cart in ourselves.

When we got to the restaurant, the lone table of strangers in our group of tables was just getting their soup. They could have even moved them to keep their end of the reservation. Instead, we had to wait 45 minutes for them to setup the remaining three tables and had to split up our group and had a group of strangers sitting in the middle of our rehearsal dinner. I’m sure that wasn’t the greatest experience for them, sitting in the middle of a carousing wedding party and new family members meeting for the first time (a mix of French and English speakers).

They ended up taking 10% off our bill for the inconvenience and did end up allowing us to open our wine (MD state and Frederick County law allow patrons to bring in their own bottles but also allow for a corking fee), hence the two star rating, and not being a bridezilla, it ended up being the running joke of the weekend for me, but it was not only unprofessional, but disappointing for our guests as well. It also forced us to push back our evening meet-up at our hotel since it took them an extra 45 minutes to set up the remaining tables and figure out where to put the fourth table of people.

If you just want to have dinner here, it’s probably fine, but I would never attempt to have a large party here based on their inability to keep a reservation and their willingness to not only dismiss their obligation, but not really make it right (they could have easily moved the table that had only been...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at the Japanese Steakhouse and I must say, it was an experience that exceeded all expectations. From the moment I walked through the doors, I was greeted with warm and friendly smiles, setting the tone for a truly remarkable evening.

The service at the Japanese Steakhouse was simply outstanding. The staff went above and beyond to ensure that every guest felt welcomed and taken care of. They were attentive, knowledgeable, and always ready to cater to our needs. It was evident that they took pride in their work and genuinely cared about creating a memorable dining experience for each customer.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the chef's performance. The skilled chef not only showcased impressive culinary techniques but also entertained us with their wonderful sense of humor. Their ability to engage the entire table in a delightful culinary show made the meal even more enjoyable. From the sizzling sound of the teppanyaki grill to the mesmerizing knife skills, every moment was filled with excitement and anticipation.

Now, let's talk about the food. Oh, my taste buds were in sheer ecstasy! The menu offered a wide variety of options, and every dish that graced our table was a masterpiece. The ingredients were fresh and of the highest quality, resulting in flavors that danced harmoniously on the palate. From the succulent and perfectly cooked steak to the delicate and flavorful sushi, every bite was a culinary revelation.

The Japanese Steakhouse truly understands the art of creating an unforgettable dining experience. The combination of exceptional service, a talented and entertaining chef, and mind-blowing flavors made this visit an experience that will be forever etched in my memory.

I highly recommend the Japanese Steakhouse to anyone seeking an extraordinary culinary adventure. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a delightful evening out, this restaurant will exceed your expectations. Prepare to be wowed by the exceptional service, entertained by the talented chef, and captivated by the tantalizing flavors that await you.

Thank you, Japanese Steakhouse, for an unforgettable dining experience. I can't wait to return and indulge in the culinary...

Went there in the beginning of October, made a reservation in the beginning of the week for a dinner that would be at the end of that week. Called and checked up just to make sure everything was still set for friday. In that I asked that they could sing happy birthday for my grandma as there was a birthday bundle that would be paid for, they said they could and I told them I’d be bringing in a cake and they said they could hold it in their back kitchen till we were ready for them to bring it on and sing happy birthday. Even with having reservations we had a lengthy weight time of getting seated. The cook did a good job with the food, but was not very friendly and didn’t seem to talk much either. Didn’t seem like who I spoke to about the whole birthday and reservation told our server anything because she brought the check and our cake was not brought out yet nor had there been happy birthday sung. I whispered and asked her that, that’s what we had set as for our reservation and she blurted out loud asking about the birthday and cake which then ruined the whole surprise and we just said forget it. She wasn’t very professional either, didn’t catch her name but her service was terrible along with the hosts. Our server was a Asian girl the blonde highlights and the host who said I spoke to her was a blonde woman, she said she relayed everything to the server and did not. In the end as well, like I mentioned in the beginning of this I asked if we could do the birthday bundles as thats what I called about making the reservations and followed up with, when we got the check it 300+….which was not at all discussed over the phone. Still it was no biggie and the server didn’t even offer the birthday bundle price I guess cause they didn’t do at all what we asked, but 300+ was okay for how many people we had anyways. Overall I’m disappointed and feel they’re very unorganized as this was something reserved way in advanced and followed up with throughout the week. Won’t be coming back here. Hopefully for future reference don’t blurt out what we’re asking to do for someone’s birthday surprise while they’re sat in front of...