Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse — Restaurant in Florida

Just for reference, this review is written just as the second wave of Covid is beginning. With that, Kumo is no longer in business. Since there are those in my household who are afraid to try new places when they like a place already, it has taken us some time to try Ichiban. The aforementioned place was expensive, average food with decent service, and was almost 20 minutes from our house. Thank the powers that be that it closed it's doors for good after the first wave. Now we can go to a place that has better food, better prices, better everything that's literally five minutes from home. We went when it was not busy at all, so we got in immediately. However, it's a small place and if it's busy, you may end up waiting awhile as other reviews have mentioned. The food was really good. We had hibachi, but there are also standard tables and chairs. There were only two other groups at the time, and with no tables marked for social distancing, I'm not sure how they handle it, but they did a temperature screen when we came in, so I imagine they are following the CDC. Now about the food, there are noticeable difference a from the standard hibachi experience. The salad dressing was a little different not the usual carrot ginger, but more like a Dijon ginger with a rice vinegar touch. Still good. They also give you four dipping sauces. The standard teriyaki, a better than average Yum Yum sauce, but also a spicy garlic sauce and an almost buffalo type orange sauce. It was recommended to double dip the garlic and the orange together. Sound advice, they are really good that way. Also something else from the not so standard department was the bean sprouts as part of the veggies. I'm not big on the sprouts normally, but they worked fine with everything else. Since the picky ones in our household have given Ichiban their blessing, we will...

Had 6:30 reservations for my family and my elderly parents. Arrived 5 minutes early and were told they were running behind and would not have our hibachi table ready for about an hour. They offered to push another customer out of a table and seat us in the tabletop dining area to which we agreed was better than losing out our reservation time, although seemed rude to the other customers. After about 15 minutes of chaos they had the other customer out and the table set for our party. It was around 20 minutes more before an employee took a drink order from us. Another 20 minutes or so passed before yet another employee asked if our order was taken, to which we responded that we hadn't been given menus. Another 20 minutes before yet a third employee came by to take an order from us. A children's meal arrives within 10 minutes, simple chicken tenders, and around 10 minutes after the tenders came what we believed were the first two of our 5 meals.. however it would be the only two we received. After another 10 minutes or so one of the random employees asked if we needed anything, to which we responded that we STILL hadn't seen the other 3 meals, and believe that the 2 we did receive actually belonged to another couple behind us who seemed to be wondering where their two meals went.. Manager had nothing to say. Paid for the two mixed up meals and tenders but we won't be back and don't recommend this...

Normally great food and reasonable portions. This time it was not a pleasant experience. The table was extremely crowded and despite repeating our orders several times they continued to get it wrong. On top of that by the time we were given rice we were given such a small portion that I had to say something to the manager. They also only gave us a few extra shrimp when we ordered an extra portion for an additional $8. I quietly went to the side to speak to the manager. I explained to her how I felt. She seemed to agree and asked him to cook additional shrimp and rice. He apparently did not like that at all in was very loud and rude about cooking the extra shrimp and rice. He said I gave you an extra portion that includes 3 oz. When I replied why would I spend $8 for 3 extra shrimp he had no comment. After he finished cooking the shrimp and rice in the process of putting the extra rice on my plate he flung it at my plate and a lot of it went on my pants and shirt. I then with back to the manager and explain to her very quietly that this is not what I expect when I come here especially considering the average price of a dinner. I told her that my tip would reflect it and it did. We truly liked going here when the cook who used to be there was named Sam. The new cook apparently has the same name but is not the same cook. I recommend that you might spend the extra money to go to North Port...