Fuji Japanese Steakhouse — Restaurant in Fort Smith

I'm going to start by saying I normally love dining here. I go often with friends, normally sitting at the bar. I have never had a bad experience until today. Today, I was out running errands and decided I wanted to grab a nice lunch here, alone. I walked in, and the host was speaking with other guests, so I seated myself at the bar. Normally, this isn't an issue and most restaurants work this way (fugi included) but shortly after I sat down I realized there wasn't a bartender there during lunch. Right as I was about to get up, a server, Sarah, came up to greet me. She was very friendly and told me there wasn't a bartender yet but she would be more than happy to serve me. I thanked her, and as I was about to just insist on grabbing a table, the manager walked up to intervene. While I was speaking with Sarah, 2 other women came to sit at the bar. The manager did not take it well, and started telling Sarah that she shouldn't be allowing people to sit here, and just reaming her, right in front of me and the other 2 ladies. It was unbelievably unprofessional. I take full responsibility for sitting at an empty bar top, it was just what I was used to doing at that restaurant and had no problem moving to a table. She didn't even ask or offer us a table. Just got upset at Sarah and kept yelling at her for no reason. As a manager, you're supposed to lead your team. And if corrective action is necessary, do it in private. However, as someone in the restaurant industry, Sarah went absolutely above and beyond to accommodate us even though she didn't have to. She should have been praised, not reprimanded. I'm leaving 5 stars because I was happy with my service from both Sarah, and my server at my table, Austin, along with my delicious food, but rating the manager on duty as a solid 1. That was some of the most unprofessional behavior I have ever witnessed as a guest in...

My wife and I have dined at Fuji Japanese Steakhouse several times in the last year. Our last visit was in August. The restaurant has easy access from Rogers Ave. and has abundant parking. The place is very popular and always seems to produce a waiting list to get a table when dining at the Hibachi tables. Seating is around the grill surface and seats about 8 people each. Menus have a variety of offerings with multiple chicken, steak, and seafood combinations offered with fried rice and vegetable selections. After all dinner orders are taken there is a brief period of time to visit with dinner companions or to get acquainted with the other guest seated around your Hibachi grill. Upon arriving at his work station the chef has all items on his cart to prepare all the meals ordered by the patrons. The chef reads off each persons order to make sure all the correct meals are accounted for. Then the show begins. Usually a bit of juggling with several eggs as he expertly cracks and empties each egg shell onto the hot grilling surface as he scrambles the eggs. Typically he starts the rice cooking then mixes the scrambled eggs with the rice. then the vegetable and then the meats. If you are fortunate to have a fine chef he will use an onion to create a 'volcano'. Most of the chefs will flip pieces of meat or shrimp into any willing patrons mouth, mostly hitting on target. All in all the food is excellent, the service is excellent and the 'floor show' of the chef is quite entertaining. Prices range from modest to pricy, depending on your taste and choice of meats or combinations. I highly recommend this restaurant both for the food and for...

Absolutely horrible experience! We used to eat here when we lived local all of the time. We loved the food, experience. All of it. We came to Ft Smith from Texas 7/29 to celebrate my Mom’s 91st Birthday. She had never met her Granddaughter that lives in North Carolina and we tried to check in with them 2 minutes away to get seated so we wouldn’t have the mini reunion in the front door/lobby. We were denied. I even explained everything at the check in desk. I was told it did not matter. We could not be seated until all parties were there. There were 6 total people. I called my daughter and talked until they arrived then went back to the check in desk to get seated. Again we were told no. Not until all of our party was in the lobby. I asked for the manager and he asked how big our party was. When telling him he said they would not accommodate us until the walked in the door. I let him know it was a very special occasion and my mom was very elderly and would appreciate sitting and he just did not care at all. We have spent so much money at this establishment and I left and told the Manager I was so disappointed in them and would not ever be back. We went to Calico County down the road and they happily let us take a seat. My daughter came in with my 91 year old mom sitting not standing in a lobby and tears of joy happened when she met her Granddaughter for the first time. They even all sang happy birthday to her. We will not be back to Fugi’s. Their behavior was beyond unacceptable to any customer. For the life of me I will never understand what happened there. I have never met a manager...