Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar - Cave Mill Road — Restaurant in Bowling Green

Overall quality declining since last visit several months ago.

Ichiban has never been the best or most authentic Japanese food option in town but they were a decent value and consistent. Issues I observed:

The portion sizes are reduced.

Temperature of food arriving at the table isn’t good (hot is warm, cold is cool). Especially affecting sushi ingredients. I would skip any raw or cold dishes now.

Understaffed on waiters, affecting their work despite their good attitudes and effort: Menus and check folders are dirty and greasy. Tables don’t appear to be getting wiped down. Cross contamination between handling the mouths of used cups when busing and then immediately handling menus/etc. And delays. I think they need more staff and some training.

The Air Conditioning is not working and this has apparently been the case for a while. I don’t know if they can’t afford to fix it or what. If the outside weather is cool, it’s not uncomfortable inside, lots of floor fans right now.

Aside from these issues, the staff are friendly and several of the dishes are quite good otherwise. I enjoy the Spicy Chicken and its...

A huge THANK YOU to Skylar for changing the tip amount I left on the receipt! Or perhaps someone just mistyped the amount when entering it into the cc machine? Honest mistake maybe? To be frank I didn’t mind so much that you coughed every time you walked away yesterday, maybe it was just a cold you were getting over or a vape-cough, besides you did wear a mask the whole time. No COVID concerns despite the tv actively spewing KY’s numbers are increasing dramatically while I am listening to you coughing in the background. I also didn’t mind that food wasn’t on par with the other itchiban restaurants, but again it was mid afternoon so maybe that’s on me. But when someone changes the amount left on a receipt then I kind of lose any interest of being understanding and hereby vow never to visit your location again. I’ll stick with the Samurai place across the road from now on. Enjoy your increased tip and I really pray you aren’t sick dude. Seriously, no ill will intended on that. Just don’t ever change the amount a customer agrees to pay...

Love the location on the bypass but the service at the Scottsville road location was the worst restaurant experience of my life. Had to ask 2 different people twice for even a glass of water. Asked for Sake that I finally got after at least 30 minutes and asking 3 times. My entree came out 30 minutes before my sushi followed by another 15 minutes and my fiance's food had never arrived at the table. No one stopped to check on us once or asked us if we needed anything. When we complained they said they "couldn't control the timing of their food"?????

Pretty sure every restaurant on the planet can control the timing of their food. it's never been an issue in ANY restaurant I've ever eaten at before. Including the other Ichiban location.

Everyone was too busy running around trying to get together to go orders to pay attention to the customers who actually took the time to drive over and dine in at the restaurant. Super irritated and will...