Kurama Japanese Seafood — Restaurant in Durham

If I could give ZERO stars I would. Health Department Nightmare.

The following is NOT an exaggeration, as with some reviews. I have been to Kurama many times in the past and loved it. NOT TONIGHT.

We were sat in the far left room of the building at the very last table on the left. (I cannot speak of the other side of the building). In this room, the air ventilation was horrible. It did not work at all at our table, and the smoke was having to be sucked up by the vents at the nearby tables. This was very ineffective, so much smoke was billowing around us that it was making me sick. My daughter also frequently got up from the table. I had to sit in the waiting room until the food was finished cooking. In reality the entire room's ventilation was warped but not completely defunct like my table. I complained to the manager and he acted like "Okay, so? What do you want me to do about it." He also mentioned that the smoke was blowing more in another customer's face and he wasn't complaining. I told him "If it was blowing in my face like his, I would have got up and left the restaurant. Secondly, if I am complaining it's because I have a problem I want you to address, not diminish based on someone else's inability to stick up for what is right." I had to ask him to discount my part of the bill off. You go to a hibachi restaurant for the experience with friends and family, not the food and I think that more should have been taken off the bill since the entire experience was ruined. Not to mention, even to get him to discount my portion was like pulling teeth. After leaving the restaurant we immediately had to go shower because we smelled like a campfire. We showered immediately before going and I had to go straight home and put my clothes in the washer and my whole family had to shower as soon as we walked in the door. Our skin is greasy. It's disgusting. And yes sometimes when you go to a Hibachi restaurant you smell like the food...but NOT smoke. I am convinced that if my asthmatic sister would have joined us, we'd be in the ER right now. The fact that the manager feels like some lucky customer was worse is ridiculously poor customer service. My husband also saw a leak with potential mold in the room. We are contacting the Health Department to inspect both the leak and the ventilation systems because they were that poor and it is a true Health concern. If you go there do not sit in that room when they are busy. You will have to cancel your plans due to the smell and/or health risks you...

READ BEFORE GOING HERE Worst Hibachi experience of my life, bar none. TOTALLY AVOIDABLE, and TOTALLY INEXCUSABLE.

Almost ruined two birthdays at the same time. Made a reservation --(specifically for a birthday group) --THREE HOURS IN ADVANCE & STILL WAITED OVER AN HOUR... JUST FOR STARTER SALADS. Took another 20 MINUTES for a chef to get back there.

Got attitude from nearly all the staff. Both hostesses and the chef, who CLEARLY didn't want to be there. The only exception was our waitress who had to reiterate multiple times to the chef what our orders were. As we tried to be patient our waitress had to practically argue in spanish while we all waited for the guy to JUST TO COOK ANYTHING. Even after multiple times there was still confusion, and orders still got messed up. When I spoke up about not getting what I ordered, the guy goes (oh, you're picky huh?)

Last night while dinning out with my family, I noticed another birthday celebration happening at the tables across from us. Extremely, loud crowd and somewhat obnoxious, which almost lead to confirmation with another gentlemen and said crowd. Staff was not able to quiet down the crowd, nor did they attempt, my guess partly, because the one celebrating the birthday, actually is an employee. As the evening closed, a drunk women appearing to be in her 50s, comes to my table, being very disrespectful, and wanted my daughter and her friend (both 15 years old) to play the tambourine for the birthday boy. Which, almost lead to a very undesirable outcome, because my anger was growing. However, a friend of the lady, quickly intervened and apologized for the ladies behavior. I left there with such rage and distaste in my soul, after having to witness such unruly conduct, that I have no intention to ever return. Sad part is, this has been my favorite Japanese restaurant for many years. Upside, the cook, did his best on the food and conversation, the waiter was friendly. Downside, staff could have did a better job, controlling the situation with their drunk, rude, loud, ignorant guest. The birthday boy himself, being an employee, and participating in such conduct of disturbance imposed on the other people who were trying to enjoy their dinner is the kind of people who work there, is not the kind of people, I want serving me food. The noise level was off the richter scale. My suggestion, would be that staff is better trained to handle large parties and keeping a controlled environment so business can function smoothly, and all guest are able to enjoy themselves, even those who wish to over indulge in alcohol beverages. Heartbreaking, to see the place go down hill, and lack the Class that...