Akashi — Restaurant in Conroe

We went on 10/15/24 we arrived at 8:05 pm. As soon as we got there we were made to feel as if we were in the wrong place. There was nobody at the door to greet us. No biggy though at all! Someone came up and then acted like we were in the wrong place and should have went up to the 2nd desk where she was standing. Which we were standing by the sign that said WAIT TO BE SEATED. Then the lady calls for the hostesses and two women walk up. So we in fact were in the right place, after all. We sit down and were immediately asked what we wanted to drink. Then asked if we were ready to order. We asked the waitress to please give us a few minutes to look over the menu. Not much time went by and she came back and asked us again if we were ready to order. We asked for a few more minutes please. She immediately came back again to ask. We literally had to tell her three times to give us a few minutes. We felt rushed! We placed the order and when she brought the food, she asked if we needed anything else and informed us she was going to leave. She informed us if we wanted to close out our ticket with her we could but if not another waiter would be taking over. So we figured maybe thats why we were feeling so rushed and thought the new waiter would not be trying to rush us. My girlfriend closed her ticket with the waitress but I was wanting ice cream, so I chose to wait to close mine. As soon as my friends ticket was closed the new waiter immediately came up to ask what we wanted for dessert, as if he was trying to rush us as well! I informed him I still was not done eating my dinner yet and please give me time to finish my meal. He came back a few minutes later and I asked for a to go box with sauce to go. He said he had no clue what the sauce was and handed me an empty container to put the little bit of dipping sauce in it. I nicely asked him can you please find out what this sauce is and get me some to go. There was not enough to finish the rest of the meal with. He acted as if he did not want to do it but did it anyhow. When he brought it back he immediately asked if we were ready to order dessert now. The entire time we are there we are feeling very awkward and not able to relax to enjoy our meal. We felt rushed and not welcomed as if we were a nuisance by us just being there. We could not understand why they were rushing us the entire time when we arrived at 8:05 and the place closed at 10 PM. I ordered my ice cream and as soon as he brings it, he lets me know they are fixing to close the doors and lock up. I looked at my friend and then asked the waiter what time do you close? My friend quickly answered and said 10 PM. They still had 30 minutes before they were to close! I couldn't believe the way the entire staff was acting. So we ended up leaving 10 minutes after we finished the dessert. As we walked out three employees followed out the door behind us. It seemed as if we were holding them up by being there and nobody could leave perhaps if customers were in the restaurant. When we walked out one of the employees were shouting and kept shouting saying EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME! He stayed in the parking lot talking to other people yelling the same thing. Then at 9:45 we see a lady with white looking hair and a gentlemen locking the doors of the restaurant. I have never seen a restaurant act this bad before. I informed my daughter of what happened and was told that is not shocking with this restaurant. I was informed they are known for this. I was also informed they stop taking take out orders for delivery an hour before the restaurant actually closes. I will never be back here and its very sad the way they treat customers. I will be letting others know about this. They treated us terrible all so they could leave BEFORE the restaurant was due to close! At that point...

What began as a promising adventure to try a new Asian restaurant, recommended by a friend, ended in significant disappointment.

Upon entering, we were asked if we preferred a table or a booth. We chose a table and were ushered to a side room facing the front window panels, where more than eight employees were asked to vacate their seats for us. No one offered us the option of seating outside or a table with a view, even though the restaurant is situated on a lakefront. We didn’t realize there was even a hibachi grill at the back with lake views until I saw “Hibachi” on the menu cover. Feeling uncomfortable about displacing employees from their casual seating area, my husband suggested we sit at the bar, but his comment was ignored. At least at the bar, we might have enjoyed a better view instead of the glaring sunlight bouncing off the windshield of a car parked right in front of us.

As for the food, the wonton soup had an overly thick dough, though the egg roll was crisp and flavorful. However, the fried rice was bland, lacking any substantial flavor and contained only two pieces of egg with no vegetables. The lo mein was tasteless, while the calamari was nicely fried but arrived without any dipping sauce, which was only brought after the fact. The General Tso’s chicken was overcooked, with a batter that was far too thick.

In terms of timing, the service was disorganized. Our soup and appetizers came out at nearly the same time as the main dishes. One appetizer arrived only five minutes before the entrees, forcing us to choose between eating our main dishes hot or finishing our fresh calamari. To top it off, we had to wait an unreasonable amount of time to get our takeout boxes.

During our meal in what felt like an employee lounge, we witnessed a strange interaction between a manager or owner and a guest—who seemed to be a friend or acquaintance of the staff—over a takeout order. Apparently, some soup and rice were being taken to-go, but it had to be paid for separately. This uncomfortable situation only added to the sense that we were outsiders in an otherwise closed-off staff environment. As a first-time customer, I felt more like an employee without the benefit of a discount.

For someone not living at the lake, I wasn’t able to appreciate the waterfront view, yet I was paying the premium prices associated with a lakeside location. The service was subpar, the food inconsistent in quality, and the overall atmosphere was disappointing. We ended the evening by driving to the far end of the parking lot to watch the boats pass by, so we could at least enjoy the environment in some capacity.

When people ask about our experience at this lakefront bistro, our honest response is that we visited the lake, not the restaurant. As a first-time customer, I won’t be returning. With so many issues arising during off-peak hours—from a lack of communication, seating confusion, and internal staff disputes—it’s hard to imagine how this experience could be redeemed. There’s nothing that would encourage me to return after such a disappointing first impression. The fortune cookie fortune summed up the experience for...

MANAGEMENT IS UNMANAGED‼️ I'm BEYOND disappointed at the level of bias and unethical service that I received at this location from the Manager who said her name is Barbara and she has blond hair and glasses. I have been dining here for OVER a year now and I even gave a LAVISH party at this location last year for my "special blessed" son who turned 30 and my review prior has gotten over 100k views and the level of SERVICE last year has SHIP WRECKED as of NOW. I order my normal and my son likes his rice with no onions and I added extra brown sauce to my dish and nothing more... When checking out I gave my server a $50 dollar gift card as my bill was $51.74. She came back and said the card was declining and the Manager Stated she could not put $1.74 on my debt card as it cost them more to be charged for such a low balance on my debit card. When I approached the counter she was putting $51.74 and again she knew the debt card was on $50. She attempted to get angry when I instructed her to input just $50 and remove the $51.74 and my gift card would go through... She still was not inputting it correctly and got frustrated and told me "You know what you can't come back here!" I told her I was the one who gave the LAVISH party for my son and she said "I know and you think you all that!" I advised her that I am a dignitary with a high esteem reputation and you don't talk to anyone like that... She quickly falsified a lie and said you "threatened" me and good thing another server was witnessing it all and I said "oh no I didn't and he is a witness" she stated what does he have to do with it. As a black woman and a spiritual leader it has everything to do with it... She then went on to say and your party that you had "half your guest did not show up" yet they made over $500 with the 13 out of 20 that did come. But SHAME on this evil woman for making such remarks and you are a Manager! Sickening! This place is ALWAYS hiring and NOW I know WHY no one stays... If This kind of derogatory behavior is at the HEAD of Management It's NOT Houston, but HEAVEN we are in TROUBLING TIMES! I will definitely Be passing this alone to my constituent and business advocates, church attendees and more about bring caution when they go here! Then she got even madder when I didn't TIP the server and said "after all she did for you"... All she did for me? When you display BIAS/vindictive/unethical and attempted to pull what the world calls "Karen" and lied to say I threatened you. I WISH I would TIP! This lady needs to be reprimanded and attend angry Management courses... Then she said I pray for you! I told her "no devil your prayers are rebuked in the name of Jesus" she said don't call me a devil and I walked out. NEVER going BACK here, the food is GREAT and nobody else ever treated...