Yamato Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Gainesville

I am sad to write a bad review. This has been My favorite restaurant for many many years. I have been back several times in the past few months under the new owners and the changes they are making are not for the better. We had hoped that maybe things would get adjusted and settled in and it would go back to normal but after 5 bad visits we are calling it quits. My family spends many weekends here as well as birthdays and anniversaries we spend $150-$250 every time we come and now we will not go back. The wait has always been a long one but the food use to be well worth the wait. I always make a reservation. He past few times it still took 30min. to an hour after my appointment to be seated. Then this past time they had a chef walk out so they only had 4 chefs on a Friday night. From our appointment time to the time we finally got food and left it took 3 1/2 hours for dinner. The part before us had gotten sat before us and said they had been there since 7 at 11:30 when we left their chef was just getting to the table. They used to take 8 people to a table now they say you can fit up to 12. That is outrageous. The soup has been watered down the steak is half the thickness that it was before. So it is impossible to get a steak any less then well done. Some people ordered Med. Rare and some ordered med. It all came out well done. They don't add all the seasoning they used to in the rice and other food just salt pepper and soy sauce. Very bland. My bill had a bunch of items the other people ordered on it and some stuff the chef forgot to bring out that I had ordered was still on the bill. The whole table wanted to speak to a manager when we got sat and he didn't come over until after the chef got done. He didn't even let any of the customers speak he just said. Sorry he didn't come by earlier sorry about the wait we had a chef walk out I adjusted your bill and walked away. Poor management skills. I am so sad to see this place loose its touch and...

I've been a patron of Yamatos restaurants for years. The food is always great but its the performance and presentation of the chef that really sets the dining experience above all others. I recently visited this location for the first time and can honestly say that visit will be my last. For starters, a good portion of the restaurant appears to be in the midst of repairs. One of the first things I noticed upon entering the location was spackling splattered all over the walls- very appetizing. Regardless, I was geared up for a great dining experience. My boyfriend and I sat in our seats for a good 5 minutes before being greeted by our server who was clearly less than enthused to be there. She took our drink order, came back with the drinks to take orders for our entrees, and then came with soups and salads- this was the last time we saw her until it was time to bring the bill. Our chef also seemed less than enthused, unlike any of my previous experience with Yamatos where the chefs are fully of personality and entertainment. Our chef did pay great attention to detail- counting out the meat portions and even going back to the kitchen to cook one extra piece of shrimp for a patron at our table. At the conclusion of the meal, the server tossed to go boxes at everyone sitting at our table,putting the boxes in the direct path of everyone's sauces. After my boyfriend and I left, we discussed how the food was good but the experience put a sour turn on our meal. As we drove away, the experience really didn't sit right with him and he made a call to the manager. Our complaint wasn't initiated to receive any compensation but just to let the manager know the experience was subpar to say the least. The manager was dismissive and made excuses for the lapse in customer service. To be frank, I would never visit this particular...

Last night I took my son to Yamato to celebrate his 50th birthday. I made reservations for 7:30. We arrived about 10 minutes early. At about 7:30 we were seated along with 6 other people. The two hibachi tables to left and one to the right were empty. After 10 minutes no one had come back to take out order not even for drinks or appetizers. But one table to the left had been filled. Then over the next 10 minutes the other table to the left and one to the right were filled. The people on the right had barely sat down when their order was being taken. Both tables to the left were having their orders taken. The lady in the family of four at our table went to ask about our service. She was told they’d be right there but after several minutes it was obvious right there didn’t really mean right there. So I went and spoke to the hostess and she was rather curt saying she has nothing to do with service. So I asked for the manger and she sent me back where I could find him. I told him the problem and his response was well we are busy tonight. I asked what being busy had to do with other tables seated after us being waited on before us. He made some other excuse and I said it was baloney. He then asked someone what was going on and I didn’t hear the answer but he said a server would be right there but I knew what that meant. I would have expected someone to beat me to the table at that point but nope. I go sit down. After about two minutes with no one showing up we left. As we were exiting I noticed the family of four also got up to leave. The other couple at our table was considering leaving when we left. Doubt they would serve just two at a hibachi table. Obviously what should have been a fun evening was not turning out that way. But the evening was salvaged when we went to Volcanic Sushi and Sake where we had a nice meal and...