Ippuku — Restaurant in Berkeley

Wow. I thought I had a one-off experience at Ippuku but based on recent reviews, service has been rough as of recent. My partner and I have been coming to Ippuku for years. Despite mistakes and slow service being common as of late, we still keep coming back because we enjoy the food.

We came on a Sunday a little after opening, the restaurant was full and a few groups were ahead of us. The hostess Sierra/Ciara told us that the wait would be approximately an hour, which was fine, the food is worth the wait! To be courteous, we didn’t want to take up space sitting in front of the restaurant for those wanting to take advantage of the bar. As the wait time was supposedly an hour, we walked around downtown Berkeley and came back less than 30 mins later to check our position, only to be told by Sierra in an annoyed voice that she called our names over 20 mins ago and we weren’t around. I understand that wait times aren’t accurate, but 10 vs 60 mins is a far off estimation. From past experiences, the owner would take down our name and phone number, perhaps even jot down the time we arrived to join the “wait list”. However only our names were taken down this time, and if you weren’t in front of the restaurant by the time your name was called, you were crossed off the list.

As it was a special occasion, my boyfriend kindly asked if she put us back at the top of the list since we weren’t given a grace period to return. He was told by Sierra with emphasis, that we would be put back at the bottom and was rudely shooed away. After witnessing how he was poorly spoken to, I returned to speak to Sierra to express how disappointed I am with her service and attitude, only to be gaslit and belittled.

Although the food is good, this experience has probably deter me coming back in the future. Staff appears to be elitist and expect you to kiss their feet to dine here,...

Very disappointed and disgusted experience. I came to the place the 2nd time after 1 year later and thinking this time would be as good as the first time but totally Disappointed! The hostess is very rude while let my friend waiting outside for 40 min and giving us a bad table near the door. So cold and it was rainy outside, she is like a nomad and doesn’t even wear appropriate (No bra... omg she maybe think she is so sexy....)with 2 extremely long pony tail. She doesn’t give us table when there are places open inside. No one gives us menu after 10 min. The waitress came ask are you ready to order?? Excuse me? She didn’t even apologize for his mistake. No one take empty dish away. So slow to serve. The waitress came again when we waited for another 30 min empty stomach at 9 and ask are you ok with everything ? WHAT? HELL NO? Where is our dish? She even wants to fight with me? No apologizes or anything? The hostess came again and ask are you not satisfied with the service ? LOL? what do you think? She said do you want a box to go? Come on the dish is so tiny like rediculous and what to pack? We drove all the way from San Mateo and you just give this garbage ? The place is like an old American pub rather than upscale Japanese restaurant. I am from Beijing. Where all kinds of good Japanese restaurants there. This place is like a joke. The food is not fresh and expensive! I wish I am not sick after eating those dog food. We still paid everything and the tip thinking the server is ok at least. I would have night mare after glared at that old hostess dropping breast and the waitress’s smoky makeup with dirty finish..... HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE! They must have changed the owner! Disgusting place. Don’t go there and you will thank me. I feel abused and completely wasting my energy...

New update 5 stars reduced to 1 star:

Went back again for my birthday, and had very disappointed experience this time. The food was good, but service was beyond terrible.

We had a reservation at 9pm(that was the only time available), we arrived on time, but right after we sat down, we were rushed to order everything we want because it's last call. We did order a bunch of stuff, but half of what we wanted were sold out already. And among the things we ordered, the server forgot several items. Our server was careless, didn't even check on us and see if we needed anything. We finally got hold of her to check on the missing items, she said the kitchen and bar are both closed and unable to fulfill our order.

We said it's a birthday celebration, and she said she can "get a little something for us"; so at the end we got some match ice cream with a candle, but then realized she also charged that to our bill. LOL over $200 for a dinner and you can't even comp a birthday dessert?

Do not take reservation at 9pm if you cannot serve your guests! The most disappointed birthday dinner I've ever had in my life. What a joke. Definitely won't be back anymore.

The food was so delicious and innovative! The cocktails were very well balanced, one of the best I have ever had, and being an mixologist myself, I have high standards when it comes to cocktails;)

We had to wait about 50min to get seated, and it's not cheap, but I say it's worth the wait and money. It's so precious to find unique, authentic, creative and quality ethnic food...