Sakura Japanese Steak, Seafood House & Sushi Bar — Restaurant in Bel Air

I just left the restaurant and I am extremely upset with the events of my evening. We arrived with a 10-15 minute wait. We were seated within the given time frame. This was good. Our server came over, got our drinks, and soup/salads. This was also good. Our server, Ashton, was friendly and consistently coming around for drinks and anything we needed. Thank you Ashton for great service!

Having been to Sakura plenty of times, the chef usually comes out in the middle of the soup/salad course. Our chef did not come out for at least 30 minutes AFTER our soups/salads were finished. At this time, before our chef arrived, I went to the host who happened to be the owner. When I went to the host (owner), Jay, I said we had been waiting for at least 30 minutes and a chef had not yet been to the table. I’m not really sure where the conversation went wrong because I was expecting a simple, “I’m sorry, I will go check.” After simply mentioning we hadn’t been seen by a chef, the owner got short with me and had an angry tone about how we couldn’t have been sitting for that long. He argued with me about how “he only goes by facts “ and “that’s not how long we were sitting there.” Although, he eventually agreed that we could’ve actually been there for 30 minutes. At this point though, he didn’t see why that was a big deal. Not once did he apologize or mention that they were short staffed (which I assume to be the problem). When I approached him I was simply looking for an apology and someone to acknowledge the fact that someone would be over shortly. I knew the server knew we were sitting there because she mentioned the chef should be over soon and continued to check on us. After this terrible interaction with Jay, the owner, the chef, Denny, came over and did a wonderful job. He was talkative, helpful, and cooked delicious food. Thank you Denny!

After reflecting on our actual dinner, I didn’t want to leave such a low review, but Jay who is the owner does not deserve our money. As a customer who is 6.5 months pregnant and just trying to make sure someone knows we haven’t been fed, I felt extremely belittled. I felt like he didn’t care that we were sitting, didn’t care how we felt as customers, and didn’t care if we ever came back. I have never had such a terrible experience with an owner of a restaurant. I’ve worked in restaurants and “the customer is always right.” It’s not like I went to Jay, the owner, to cause issues or “a big stink.” However, I felt like he didn’t want to hear what I had to say and didn’t care enough to attempt to make it better. I will not be going back.

Thank you Ashton and Denny for making your guests feel welcome and appreciated. Jay, I’m saddened by the way you to...

Every year to remember a loved one we miss, we have dinner at a restaurant that she loved on her birthday. Yesterday, I called and explained that I have Celiac disease and cannot have gluten and wanted to know if they had gluten free options. They assured me that they can prepare everything with gluten free soy sauce and listed the two things I cannot have.

We are a party of six. I asked if it would be possible for our party to sit at a hibachi table alone to have all the food prepared with gluten free soy sauce, to avoid cross contamination. She said they typically don't reserve tables. I said, even if it's not busy? She said if it's not busy it's possible that we can.

When we walked in today, all but two hibachi tables were completely empty. The person I spoke to on the phone was there.

She said they do not reserve tables and would have us sit with four others, but that it was ok because my food would be prepared first. I said "so everyone at the table would have to wait for mine to be finished before theirs is started?" (I didn't like that idea, I didn't want people waiting longer because of me.) She said no, that my food would be moved to the side and prepared separately before regular soy sauce was added to the rest of the hibachi.

We were sat and I expressed my hesitance and concern to the server. She assured me that her mother has Celiac disease and she understands.

I became ill within 30 minutes.

The reason I post this review is because shortly after we were sat, a couple came in and ended up having an entire hibachi table to themselves. At least four hibachi tables remained completely empty the entire time we were there. The place was not busy and my food being cross contaminated was needless and completely avoidable. (I have been to hibachi before, perfectly fine, because the entire hibachi table was using gluten free soy sauce.) They refused that for us even though the restaurant had more than enough tables, all while assuring me they were taking the precautions necessary.

I will never be back and encourage anyone, especially those with dietary restrictions, to choose anywhere else than here-- it's too expensive for them to care this little about ensuring the safety and experience of...

After purchasing a Jeep that my family and I wanted for a while I told my wife let’s go out and get something to eat near by the dealership where we we were; anyhow she found this location on her phone and called around 830 to check what time were they closing; the man who answered the phone was very rude to her on the phone and told her that is she wasn’t there by 9 she was not getting service. I told my wife, mother and kids to run there before 9 and that I would meet them there shortly after, I met my family in there at approximately 0850 pm, my wife once again mentioned that the man ( older Asian male with clear reading glasses ) was rude to my family and almost felt them feel some type of way due to the fact that she and my mother are Hispanic )my kids were born here) I said to her look wherever let’s eat and then we’ll be out of here. We waited for about another 10 minutes and I walked up to counter and said. Hey good everting sorry, just to let you know that the party at the table is now completed, they were waiting on me. The man at the counter looked at me and said why are you letting me know, did I asked you ? I said I’m letting you know because I’m not sure if the chef was waiting on the party to be completed. This mad game some Evil look and began raising his voice telling that he didn’t need to know I was there, and they would come out when they can, I said look I was just letting you know, he then stared asking me if I had a problem ? Like are you ok ? Are you good ? I just looked at they guy and said yes we are good. And walked back to my table to share the time with my family. I later asked a worker who this guy was and the worker said it was the owner and that and that he treats everyone the same way because people is afraid of him. To you sir; you need to understand that not everyone is going to react the same; you can treat people however you like and expect to be treated respectfully, I was there with my family and they deserve much more attention than you do. I spent 170 dollars and left, but I’d make sure that no one that I know goes to your restaurant without knowing that kinda peace of work that you are; and how you treat your costumers. Pa. A costumer that’d...