Kobé Japanese Steakhouse - Brandon — Restaurant in Brandon

If first impressions are key this place fails. If you make a reservation don't come hungry be prepared to wait an hour to be seated. Watch out for the caution tape in the front as you come in. What a way to celebrate a birthday, the cupcake might not be worth the aggravation.

The parking lot has some construction going on there is sand conveniently in the spots. I would not be surprised if your tire found a nail. Then there's the caution tape not sure what's going on there but not something that says safe. Watch your kids because they are not going to care about caution tape not safe at all.

Next comes the worst part. You've made your reservation and you approach the hostess and she says she can't check you in until your whole party is there. Fair must be bringing you to a table wrong that's when your hold time starts. What's the point of a reservation if you are just going to have to wait an hour it's not like you don't know how long it takes to prepare the food extremely unprofessional making you wait an hour. Oh and can't leave I mean just going to have to wait anywhere else you go because you didn't make reservations at that place. Ridiculous. My tip, if your party is within 30 minutes away and they ask is everyone here just say yes.

The food is good which is what makes me keep coming back but just don't come hungry. Or bring some snacks to keep you from getting hangry. I see why they charge you if you decide to make a reservation and leave, I see why they charge you ahead of time for a tip. They no longer have to put forth an effort. Oh and not even an apology for long wait time no notice ahead of time of long hold time. Ordered a substitution that was forgot glad it wasn't charged but got a " that's right you wanted, did you still want" after a longer wait.

Okay positives chefs are great. They are entertaining if you can still enjoy yourself after waiting so long. Sake Juan was hilarious or whatever he called himself. Funny enough without the creepy sexual innuendos oh you like the sauce jokes. Food was tasty and great portions other than missing the show and that you can't get white rice when ordering delivery I would almost just prefer take out so don't have to go through...

We went to this location last night to celebrate my friend's birthday. The location has been "under construction" for nearly a year. A ceiling tile was removed as part of the renovations and I could see into the upper part of the restaurant which feels like a health code violation. The walls have a soft black material on them as if it's being worked on currently.

Our main reason for going to Kobe wad the fried ice cream they offer as a dessert on their menu. We've had issues with ordering this in the past as they're always "out of stock" so when we sat down and placed drink orders we asked the waitress if we could order the ice cream before we leave and she said yes. Towards the end of the meal the waitress checked in and asked if we were ready to put in the dessert order and we said yes, please. She comes back 5 minutes later to let us know that the manager said they were actually out of stock. We were visibly disappointed so she said she'd go check again. She came back and said "I got you, we found some!" We were very excited until 5 minutes later the manager came over to tell us again that they were wrong and were out if stock. The waitress seemed upset now and we got the impression that they had it but just didn't want to go through the trouble of preparing it.

I find this unacceptable and embarrassing on the restaurant's part. As someone who works in a restaurant I am embarrassed when I don't have something that is offered on the menu. And the back and forth made it super clear that they had it but didn't want to make it. We only go to Kobe maybe 2 or 3 times a year for special occasions and each time we are told they are unable to make something on the menu. If you don't want to serve it why not just remove it? Either way, I am positive that I won't be returning to the Brandon location due to their restaurant being in disrepair and the back and forth on the dessert from the manager.

The meal was wonderful and our chef, Mike,...

I want to start by saying I am not a picky person but I do expect certain things out of a resturant. First I made a reservation for two on 7/2 at 5:30pm. We arrived at 5:15 and requested to sit at a table rather than the Hibachi tables. There was one table of four seated and that was it. We were made to wait until just about 5:30. Why I have no idea. It wasnt a staffing issue because three servers were standing at the host table talking. We sit down and the server ( a woman of Asian decent with glasses. I didnt get her name) tells us there is an 18% gratuity added to the check before we even order. I didnt mind that initially because I usually tip more than 20% if I am satisfied with the food and service. Well the only reason I gave three stars is because the food was ok. Everything on the table menu is expensive! I had the Kobe Trio($44) and my daughter had a combo ( I believe it was $36). The food does come with soup, salad rice and noodles. We did order sushi ( around $15 per order) which was good. They charge $8 for a beer!!! ($24) Tip was an around $24 plus tax the total was $173. I unfortunately did not keep the reciept. I would NOT have tipped 18%!!! Our server disappeared on several occasions and was nowhere to be found. While we were eating there was only one table of 4 and another table of one (she wasn't eating she was waiting for someone) so it wasn't busy at all at the table section. I was told afterwards by someone that the hibachi menu is cheaper. I dont know but from the amount of people waiting for hibachi when we left Im sure it is. I will NOT go back even for Hibachi at those prices and an added gratuity! The food was average and the service was non existant. I grew up with a parent in the food service business so I know why some places do add gratuity but when one already knows they are getting a decent tip sometimes you get poor...