Matsuri — Restaurant in Coral Gables

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My wife and I decided to revisit Matsuri after some time, as we had a great experience the last time. However, things seem to have changed quite a bit.

We arrived at 6:40 p.m., and they told us there would be a 40-minute wait, which is normal for a busy place like Matsuri. After 40 minutes passed, we checked in again and were told we were next. Meanwhile, three groups who arrived after us were seated first, which led us to believe that they might prioritize larger groups over couples. Finally, 30 minutes later, we were seated.

Now, onto the food. We started with the negitoro yuke and salmon carpaccio in the garden. The yuke was delightful, with balanced flavors and nothing to complain about. The salmon carpaccio, however, was disappointing. The chunks of salmon were too large, and the marinade and spice were almost non-existent. Either it hadn’t been marinated long enough, or it was simply overlooked.

Next, we ordered the American Idol roll and the Crunch Hip Hop roll. The fish in the American Idol roll didn’t feel fresh—it was closer to room temperature, as if it had been sitting out. The Crunch Hip Hop roll was overloaded with batter and lacked the spicy kick I was hoping for. While I understand that spice levels vary for different palates, the freshness of the fish was again an issue, not up to the standard we’d experienced here before. Feeling unsatisfied, we decided to try a few more dishes.

We ordered pork steamed dumplings, octopus hot yaki, kabayaki, and the sushi mori awase.

Starting with the dumplings: there was very little pork filling, and they arrived lukewarm, as though they hadn’t been freshly steamed. The octopus was tough, and the sauce lacked spice—not a major issue, but worth mentioning. The kabayaki was a pleasant surprise—the eel was fresh, and the sweet sauce complemented it perfectly. Finally, the sushi mori awase was the highlight of our meal. The fish was fresh and served at the right temperature, a stark contrast to the rest of our orders.

The last thing I want to mention is the excellent service at the end of our visit. When we were about to pay, the new front desk attendant was incredibly kind and helpful. We had an issue with the point-of-sale system, and he patiently explained everything and assisted us, which left a positive impression. This interaction was the main reason I gave a 2-star rating instead of just 1-start. For the atmosphere I would only say this is a small place and a lot of people coming which makes the restaurant loud but expected from a crowd space.

Even though Matsuri is a place I usually recommend, this last experience has made me reconsider. I’ll think twice and be more cautious before...

I recently visited Matsuri Japanese restaurant in Miami based on a friend's insistence that it was the best sushi spot in town. I had high expectations, considering my friend's recommendation and my own experience with Japanese culture and cuisine. Unfortunately, my visit to Matsuri left me disappointed.I can't fathom how Matsuri Japanese restaurant managed to earn any recognition from Zagat. It's no surprise they hide it on the way to the restrooms – they must be ashamed. Having represented a Japanese company in America for over 10 years and having visited Japan several times, I am well-versed in Japanese culture, which emphasizes manners, top-quality offerings, customer satisfaction, and hygiene. Unfortunately, Matsuri failed on all fronts.

To begin with, the lack of manners was appalling. There was no greeting, no warm welcome, no acknowledgment of our presence whatsoever. Even street food vendors provide better service than what we experienced here. The service, if you can call it that, was among the worst I have ever received. It was as if we were inconveniencing the staff by asking for their attention. We had to wave and call out to get their notice, and even then, they were slow to respond. We had to ask multiple times for napkins, chopsticks, and they even served an empty soy dispenser. It's comical how poorly managed this place is.

The food itself was nothing worth raving about; it was just average. Considering the quality and quantity they offered, the prices were exorbitant. What made matters worse was the incredibly arrogant attitude from one of a Lady that is supposed to be manager or partners. If you don't care about quality food or service, then by all means, continue patronizing Matsuri. But as an educated consumer who values courtesy, manners, and quality above all else, I will gladly pay double or triple elsewhere. When I go out to eat, I expect to be treated well and made to feel welcome. At Matsuri, it felt as though they were doing me a favor by feeding me.

I can finalize my review by stating that my experience at Matsuri Japanese restaurant is a far cry from what I expected. It was a tremendous disappointment in terms of service, food quality, and overall experience. The fact that they have any association with Zagat is laughable – it's a complete joke or...

I have never been humiliated at a restaurant until I went on Saturday to Matsuri. We arrived around 9:30 pm for dinner and asked if it was ok to dine in since they were closing at 10 PM, they told me it was fine. We get there, sit down and the waitress tells us that we can only order once since they will be closing soon. At this point we know exactly what we want the tomo tomo which is $100 between my husband and I we split the entree and didn’t order anything else. While she took our order she brought us water and never once again asked us if we needed a refill or if the food was good. I understand they were closing and probably tired so we didn’t really care. While we are eating she brings us out check and runs off to close other tabs. Again we didn’t mind. We noticed there’s a cash deal and I happened to have the amount plus tip for the waitress. I paid my meal and left her a basic tip for the basic service she offered me. As we are getting up, another server or not sure if it was the manager comes up to me and blocks me from leaving telling me that my change is not enough for the server to accept the tip and that I needed to leave more. I was shocked and confused because I’ve never had this issue. Like I said before the server didn’t really pay us mind and did the basics without being attentive and courteous towards us so I thought the tip I left her was fair considering the work she did for us. I told the person who was demanding I pay more that I wasn’t going to leave more and to please let me pass so I could leave as she was making it seem like we were dining and dashing. She then thought it was appropriate to yell “ THEY DONT HAVE MONEY” in front of employees and other guests eating. I have never in my life been shammed for not leaving less than 20%. I know my rights and if I don’t want to leave 20% it’s not mandatory plus this is not the way to handle a situation that shouldn’t have happened in the first place as I paid for what I ordered. Everything else is at the clients discretion and or liking. I will never come back here. Management should be ashamed for treating clients this way. Please stay away from this god awful place. They think that just because the food is good they can belittle clients. Awful...