Shogun Japanese Steak House — Restaurant in Jacksonville

Went to shogun 5/17/24 and overall the food and staff were great except for our cook. I have been sick and didnt want to cook on this Friday night so we went out yo try this place for the first time. Our cook came out and started pouring our sauces. One white, one brown (ginger). I asked what the second brown sauce was and he said, its brown. I said yeah but what is it, he said, its brown, you know like you. (Im Native American)… I really wasnt in the mood for a clown show. And I wanted two white sauces but he didnt care. I sat in my space minding my own business and he just kept pressing on about my heritage. Where you from, what are you? I said im not Asian, I get that a lot. He said yeah I know youre brown not yellow. I really just wanted to leave at this point. I said, im indigenous. He said, ok from the Island or like Cherokee? I said, no. Think like Mexico, Aztecs. Then he said, oh so you hate Mayans. I said …. Our tribe hated everyone. He laughed and said thats just women. Sounds like womens LOL. At this point I just want to eat and leave. He leaves me alone for the remainder of the meal and then continues to tell the other folks how someone reported him for making racial jokes and how the boss wont do anything because he’s been cooking for him for a long time.

Listen. I get it. Banter is all fun and games. Throwing shrimp between cooks is all fund and games but first of all.. No one likes to get smacked with shrimp tails while they’re eating. Secondly, I am paying $30 per plate for a service. That service is for my cook to cook my meal and provide a cool onion volcano show while I enjoy my one night out with my family. Not some raunchy comedy show talking about the color of my skin.

He closed the night by trying to scare me w a sauce bottle. I didn’t react bc at this point I zoned out and was just trying to eat and leave. He laughed and said, you’re native you’re not supposed to be scared of anything.

Do I want you to lose your job? No. Do I want you to refund me? No. I simply want you to be better. Your in the service industry… shockingly youre a minority establishment that is ok with throwing racial jokes like that. Maybe you grew a thick skin around it. Doesnt mean you should throw around those jokes. Its not funny. Its cringy. Its cringy because its wrong. You’re expecting $30 per plate then act like you’re worth my money. Id rather go to the hibachi express next door and save me the comedy...

It says sushi on the building. We didn’t know we had to tell them we weren’t in for hibachi, only sushi. We waited over 45 mins for a table only to be sat at a hibachi table in the back room where they do not serve sushi. So, we asked about sushi when we didn’t see it on the menu and were told we could order it if we sat in the other dining room (which only had two tables occupied and probably would’ve been sat right away). The first server was super friendly. However, Leyve the server we ended up with seemed inconvenienced by us. Me and my friend are both longtime servers and thought maybe she was having a bad day. But she was rude all the way through. I mentioned it was our first time in and she was truly unhelpful. When I asked about veggie options and named a few she said “yeah we have those.” That was the extent of her help. There were at least 3 menus, double sided on the table with descriptions to look through. She also left a piece of paper which we were supposed to fill out with our order but she didn’t explain that. We didn’t order much bc we were overwhelmed and she still managed to forget one of my friends rolls which was verbally ordered bc it wasn’t listed on the piece of paper she gave us to fill out. The worst dining experience either of us has had in a long time. As for the food the veggie roll and cucumber roll both tasted like seafood. Probably prepared on the same surface. Friend said her sushi was good though and prices were affordable. I sound like a total jerk but this was...

Been to several Shogun Japanese Steakhouses but this one fell short. Not sure if it is because we had a new entertainer/grill chef or that this place usually gets filled because of choices to eat in an overpopulated Military town and there is no need to entertain. Figured for $115 it might include some amusement from the chef.

We went out with another couple and had a great time with our own conversation, watched the flaming volcano and had some great tasting food. I had the filet and shrimp and the other male had the steak and shrimp....the ladies had a mix of chicken and steak but didn't eat the shrimp, lucky choice.

Both of the males couldn't wait to get home to dispose of the rumbling along with the same effects the following morning. Trying to figure this out, being the one who suggested and payed for the meals decided to see if it was what we had eaten their 1 1/2 days earlier.....big mistake, when I say tore my azz up, that is being nice....just glad there wasn't a lot of stomach pain.

Between the (2) males, they used the restrooms (3) times and there was always someone sitting...should of taken the hint.

I would of preferred to email the actual restaurant but they give you a phone # to call or I guess I could of just stopped by but this happened on the 19th of July and don't get a lot of free time.

I actually hope this was a one time occurrence because if not, it will be the last time.

Hope all goes better...