Kyoto- Avalon — Restaurant in Florida

Terrible Customer Service, rude unprofessional manager Stephanie My family loves Kyoto Grill - in fact we order from them sometimes twice a week because there food is consistently well made and fresh. It’s a very busy restaurant and on 2 occasions they got my order wrong. The first time I ordered a kids meal with tempura chicken. When it arrived it had dark meat chicken. I figured even though I ordered and paid delivery I could have my husband pick up the corrected order. I called the restaurant and whomever answered said my husband could stop on his way home from work to pick it up since I was home with my daughter. Minutes later I get a call from Stephanie insisting I’m a liar and I need to bring the kids meal back to prove it to her. After balking at this I said fine I’ll pay for another one but I’m never ordering again. At this she said okay my husband could come get it at no charge. By that time I had already loaded my kid in the car. Today, I ordered stir fry soba noodles with and pay extra for white meat chicken. My husband picks it up and brings it home and it’s dark meat. I call the restaurant and let them know I’m bringing it back so they can replace it. Whomever answered the phone said okay we’ll have them make a side of chicken for you. As we’re heading to the restaurant I get a call from Stephanie, “I just spoke to the chef and he says he made white meat chicken” “Did you just call me up to tell me that your employee is right and your customer is wrong?!”, I laughed. “I’m at the light and I’m bringing the food back you can see for yourself it’s dark meat” She continued to insist that “that is what our white meat looks like”

When I arrived she had a full attitude. Flipped the lid on my food and said, “yeah that’s OUR white meat chicken. That’s what it looks like” “I order here all the time and it doesn’t look like this - if you’re not going yo remake it then give me my money back” “Well, you’re going to have to call Uber about that because you ordered through them.” I picked up the dark meat chicken and asked her to look again. Then I suggested she show the kitchen. She came back and asked if I wanted it to be remade. No apology. Nothing but attitude. “Yes, that’s why I came here in the first place” She asked us to wait in the car and she would bring it out. I asked for the name of her manager or the owner - she said she doesn’t have a boss that I could email some yahoo email.

No apology, didn’t offer us a drink while we waited - just nastiness and behavior that suggests Stephanie does not want or need our business. Restaurants get busy and make mistakes - apologize and fix it. Don’t give your customers attitude because you got something wrong. This is restaurant management 101.

Update: things have improved with customer service. Food is less consistent...

FOUND GLASS IN MY FOOD! BEWARE NOT SAFE Hi I came to this location yesterday on October 30th, 2024 for your lunch special I dined in and ordered your sweet sesame chicken bento box that came with California roll, on my California roll there where shards of glass, as I crunched down on the glass while I was eating and my husband locked eyes with me as he heard the crunch I opened my mouth and asked him if he could hear that sure enough there was shard of glass on my second California sushi roll and we showed the red headed staff member with freckles I didn’t ask for her name so that’s her description. As I was sitting there in shock that I was actually fed glass, I couldn’t possibly finish my meal after that I was terrified I would find more glass in my food. I’m making this review not only to let other Mom’s know so they don’t take their small children but to management can actually correct this this is dangerous and life threatening. If your wondering how they “fixed” the problem I got a $15 gift card for just my plate I guess when they feed you class they don’t think it’s appropriate to refund your full meal. And I got a brand new California sushi roll. They don’t ask me if I wanted something else. And fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame one me there was no way I was going to eat another sushi roll where the guy who made it just fed me glass! You guys should of gave us a refund for both our meals, and ask if I wanted a different side that’s the LEAST you could of done. The very bare minimum. It was like they didn’t even care. I don’t know if our race had to do with that. But you’d think they try to rectify our first impression of this restaurant much better! Literally this a food and safety hazard. Worst place to eat in...

It was Sunday afternoon just before a long commute and we were motivated to find some Japanese style eats before getting on the road. Thanks to Google Maps, we found Kyoto and were curious to give it a try!

Upon entering around 2:30pm ot seemed we would have nearly the whole place to ourselves! I noticed on their door information that their happy hour is from 4pm-6pm.

I noticed a large menu posted as we walked in. We quickly realized that guests are meant to order at the counter then choose their seat, bringing their table number to our seat for food to be delivered.

We decided on the Softshell Crab appetizer, some miso soup and we gave several sushi rolls a try! All was delivered to us with perfection! Very, very good! Every bite was satisfying.

The dining room began to fill up as the time edged toward 4pm and as we were deep in conversation after the seaweed salad and sushi had since been devoured. I see now how those locals who know about this little gem wait until 4pm to arrive, when everything coded with an "HH" on the menu is discounted. That is the trade-off, I suppose. I enjoyed their large dining room during our meal without many, many different parties and tables contributing to the overall decibel level of their wide-open space.

I was impressed with the food given we were a little uneasy with counter ordering upon arrival our first time in. I see the beauty in this, now, though. Our food runner was cordial and went out of his way to ensure we had what we desired. Also, way to score a home run between the kitchen and the sushi chef!

Perhaps I'll try there happy hour next time and feel free to try many a different splendid sushi things.

Thanks Kyoto! If we return, Sundays will be the day. Can't wait to try more...