Shogun Japanese Steak & Sushi — Restaurant in Huntsville

Not impressed. Went last night for my best friend's birthday (she usually goes there every year my first time). The woman at the front with the afro? dry hair whatever was VERY rude, it was a party of 8, not everyone came at once so we couldn't be seated, that's fine BUT delivery is key she was very dismissive and snappy. Once we were seated (mind you the entire party STILL Wasn't there she herded us in as if we were wasting her time, mind you there wasn't many people in there so you would think she'd be a bit more humble at this point, but no still rude. So here we waited 40 minutes for someone to take the drink orders. My best friend was trying to tell the little troll that she wanted to order Sushi since we were suppose to be "waiting" for the entire party to arrive in the first place; she never got the chance. FINALLY things get under way until we realize other tables are getting chefs before us, then we were told "the rotation was messed up"... I'm still not quite sure what that had to do with US but the waitress and the manager were quick to say it "it's not our fault the rotation was messed up"... Whose fault is it then? Once we finally got a Chef, I'm sure he was trying to be entertaining but he WAS NOT, he mis-judged his crowd and had a smart mouth, to which his only answer was "Do you want your food"? One of our guest finally answered that we'd waited an hour so far, whats another hour or so? That stopped his dumb question. Two people ordered medium well steaks, twice he brunt them to a crisp... they were inedible, maybe he should've been concentrating on that instead of talking. Lastly as waitstaff service sucked further and we had to hunt people down to get refills on one side of the table which was weird we asked for a manager. We might as well have asked for one of our children to talk to. The manager was combative, he argued facts that we were telling him, the waitress then came over and began with "First of all"... I was always told if you're going to begin with "First of all" make sure what follows after is correct... It wasn't, she was quickly reminded that what were describing was way before she came to our table, o but her negligence was coming up so she could stick around. Needless to say it was a waste talking to the "Manager" he was no help, thought a 40 minute wait on a dead night was acceptable, his afro, dry haired counter part should walk around like a rude troll, AND burnt steak was acceptable. I'm not sure what I expected from Huntsville but this AIN'T it. Needless to say I will not be back ever, nor will my party of 7 others, no money would be spend on this joke of a place. I would also like to mention too we were not the only ones unsatisfied and there were reports of a group who walked out... so yea go ANYWHERE else...

We visited Shogun Japanese Steak & Sushi with some friends and their baby, looking forward to a nice dinner out. The experience started off well—we were seated fairly quickly, and our drinks arrived within five minutes. Service seemed promising at that point.

When our waitress came to take our order, we initially tried to get sushi for some of our group. However, we were informed that sushi wasn’t being served that day. For a restaurant with “Sushi” in its name, this was both surprising and disappointing. We pivoted to hibachi, but things didn’t improve much from there.

It took nearly 35 minutes for the chef to arrive and start preparing the grill. During the wait, we observed other hibachi tables where chefs were engaging, performing tricks, and creating a lively atmosphere. Sadly, our chef provided none of that. He seemed to focus solely on cooking, with little interaction and no entertaining flair. It was hard not to feel let down, especially since the entertainment is typically a big part of the hibachi dining experience.

Now, to the positives: the food itself was fantastic. The portions were enormous, and the flavors were spot-on. It’s rare for me to need a to-go box, but this place made it a necessity, and I truly appreciated that aspect. Pricing was standard for this type of cuisine, so no complaints there.

Unfortunately, one major issue left a sour taste in our mouths: the 15% automatic gratuity. We were a party of four adults and one baby, split across two separate checks, yet the restaurant still tacked on gratuity as if we were a large group. When we questioned this, the waitress explained that the gratuity was for the entertainment from the chef and the server. This explanation felt absurd given that, as mentioned, our chef didn’t provide any entertainment whatsoever.

Had we been a large party, this policy might have made sense, but two couples and a baby, with separate checks, is hardly what most people would consider a “party.” To make matters worse, we normally tip 20% for good service. Seeing the mandatory gratuity not only felt unfair but ultimately meant the server received less than they would have otherwise.

I’ve had positive experiences at other Shogun locations, but this visit was a disappointment on multiple levels. Between the lack of sushi, the subpar service, and the unjustified gratuity policy, I won’t be returning to...

I must express my observations regarding Shoguns, an establishment that has significantly declined in standards over recent years. Upon my recent visit, the restaurant's cleanliness and overall upkeep were subpar. The hibachi grills, in particular, presented a concerning appearance, exhibiting signs of age and a lack of thorough cleaning, with visible food residue in their crevices. This detracted significantly from the dining experience. Regarding the service, the waitress's demeanor was not the best initially, she got better with time, but first impressions are important. The chef was nice and personable, plus he delivered food that was decent in taste. The chef could do better than Shoguns with his culinary skills. Furthermore, I found the practice of explicitly writing a "suggested tip" amount directly on the bill to be both presumptuous and unprofessional. While a suggested gratuity may appear on the receipt, its pre-emptive inclusion on the bill itself felt like an attempt to dictate tipping behavior. As someone who consistently tips generously (typically a minimum of 25% due to personal experience in the service industry), this particular action had the consequence of negatively impacting my willingness to tip at my usual rate. An approach like that is perceived as rude and reflects a lack of consideration for the customer's discretion. My party and I will not be returning to Shoguns. I intend to seek out alternative hibachi establishments that demonstrate a higher commitment to cleanliness, professionalism, and respectful customer engagement. If I’m unable to locate a suitable alternative, Shoguns will not be considered an option. For the sake of this hibachis retention, it’s imperative that the establishment addresses these significant areas for...