Yamato Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar — Restaurant in Florida

The meal started off on the wrong foot and ended just as poorly. We were sat at 4:30 pm when they opened, and was told we had to wait 15 minutes to see if anyone else was going to come in early to sit with us. My party agreed to wait, however, our Chef did not arrive until almost 5:15, nearly an hour later. A couple came in about 30 minutes later but were sat at a different table, I'm not sure why we had to wait if they weren't even put with us.

During our 'show' I thought the chef did a good job- until I saw him do another group. He didn't do the "food toss into mouth" thing or any of the other usual fun things you expect at hibachi. I was with my daughter and she was really into it, I was really just hoping for more interaction. The only joke was the butter fly, very little actual interaction.

Our waitress was incredibly awful and is one of the main reasons for the 2 stars. Not only did she not ask what what type of rice we wanted, she literally made a snide face when we ordered water and no soda / alcohol. She brought out the soup fairly quickly, and the salad even quicker. I wasn't even half way done with my soup yet when the salad arrived! This was still a solid 20 minutes before the chef came to cook for us there was no need to rush.

Literally as soon as the chef cleaned his grill and walked away she came right back over and asked if we needed a box to go. We hadn't even take a bite yet! Keep in mind, we are nearly the only people in the place at this time as well.

Anywho, she was awful. I also think they forgot to fill the salt / pepper shakers because the chef was shaking them all over the food, but it really was quite bland. The yum yum sauce was good, the ginger sauce was probably the worse I've ever had. Portion sizes are nice.

Overall, I will not be returning, let this review be a guide for you to make an informed...

First I would like to say that this is my Grandson's favorite place to go. So, needless to say, when I asked where he would like to go for his birthday this is the place he wanted to go. He loves the showmanship of the chefs, the onion fire ring , tossing the shrimp in his mouth, etc. None of which happened. There were other chefs around really showing off their skills, laughing, and overall showing their customers a good time. Our chef's remark to the loudness of the other chefs was, "they are trying too hard. I'm more laid back." My husband said, "he is so laid back I think he is asleep." Needless to say my Grandson was a little disappointed. When our waiter arrived to take our order I had told him it was my Grandson' s birthday. He told me that he would need ID for the Free Birthday Meal. I said he's 12, he doesn't have an ID. He said he would have to ask his manager. After conferring with the manager he came back and said, does he have a school ID or Facebook page? To which I said no. He is not old enough for a Facebook page (which you have to be 13) and his Elementary school does not issue ID. We were then told sorry but no free dinner. I was throughly discussed with the whole situation. By the way, we just took our 14 year old Granddaughter there in December for her birthday and she got free meal, no questions asked! I just think the whole situation was handled poorly by the staff, manager included. My Grandson was so embarrassed. We will NOT be returning. We usually spend several hundred dollars when we go so it's your loss. In the future we will go where they treat customers with respect. Essentially they were saying a 12 year old was lying about his birthday for a free meal. That was wrong in...

Horrible experience. My mom wanted to take me out for my birthday, and since she is on a fixed income, I chose this place because they offer a "free birthday meal" when you sit at the hibachi table, and order one if the hibachi meals. In actuality, it's not a "free meal". It's a "free meal", up to $17. The cheapest item for the grill is chicken for $17.50. I also brought my two children, under 10. I put their meals on a separate tab, so that my mom wouldn't have to pay for them too. The waitress spilled a little bit of their drinks on the floor next to our table. No one ever came to clean it up. She also brought the wrong dressing for the kids salads. I ordered my kids items off the children's menus. When our bill came, they had charged one of them as the adult pricing. When I brought it to the waitresses attention, she said that they didn't have scallops on the children's menu. When I showed her that they did, she said she would correct it and bring it back. When she returned, I was told that since when the cook came out and repeated everyone's orders, I didn't correct him to say "children scallops" instead of just "scallops", and she was given the full portion, I would have to pay for it. My mother also had a gratuity added to her bill that only had two meals on it. To add insult to injury, not one person bothered to say happy birthday to me, even though they knew I was there celebrating my birthday. I even had to show them my ID to get the "discount". I was also in and out of the bathroom for two hours after we got home. This was an awful experience. Thanks a lot for ruining...