Taki Japanese Sushi & Hibachi Restaurant — Restaurant in Lawrenceville

I tried to contact the restaurant, but my previous email to them went unanswered and when we left the restaurant no one was at the front to speak with. My husband and I are frequent patrons of this restaurant and have been for years. Our most recent trip to the restaurant will be the last.

Our experience started with the chef arguing with my husband and another patron that they did not get bacon rice. Eventually he said no big deal and requested the bacon. While waiting for it, he continuously informed the table that it was the server’s fault for not writing it on the ticket. Unlike other times, the bacon arrived pre-cooked.

The chef did not use any oil or butter on the rice. He just loaded it with teriyaki sauce. He spent so long verifying the order ticket, the rice overcooked and was dark and brittle on the bottom from being scorched. The chef demanded each person hand them their plate if they got rice. At one point he made two patrons switch their plates because he gave one of them the wrong amount of rice.

I order no rice and extra vegetables instead. I waited the whole meal to have a side dish cooked. When it got to the vegetables, he gave me one serving and then proceeded to give away my extra vegetables to people that ordered double rice and no vegetables. I explained to him that I didn’t order rice and I was supposed to have extra. He argued he gave me rice. I had no rice on my plate. He then checked the ticket and told me it was the server’s fault and he didn’t write it down. He showed me the ticket and it was clearly written no rice, extra vegetables. Additionally, he confirmed before he started cooking. He told me not to worry and gave me the four slices of zucchini and onion left on the grill. He just thanked me for being nice and not complaining and then continued to blame the server. He never once offered to bring me vegetables from the back or correct the issue. It felt uncomfortable and the other patron who received my extra vegetables was very uncomfortable as well.

It was apparent the chef did not want to be there. He was older and I expect he no longer enjoys his job. He did no tricks. The food wasn’t great either. He used no butter, oil, or any other seasoning other than loads of teriyaki. Food was overdone. He often cleaned the grill with a dirty rag. He was also demanding regarding the plates and argumentative when we would correct our order. He blamed the server for mistakes that were not his, which made my party, as well as the other patrons uncomfortable.

We usually go on the weekend, but we will probably never be back. Hibachi is not cheap and it’s insulting to leave hungry because the chef gave away your food and have what food received be unseasoned and overcooked. This is not the quality or experience we want to have at a restaurant we have dined at for years. A search of other recent reviews make several negative mentions...

The food was great, the chef of.. The ridiculous policy of food having to be prepared in the back if you have any allergy is antiquated and needs to be reviewed. While some allergies can be spread on the teppanyaki table, most of the common ones cannot- especially if the chef knows how to cook.

The purpose of the table and chef is supposed to be the food is cooked separately if needed, as well as to the customer's liking. It would be one thing if it's an allergy that can spread- but when it's a simple one that can be separated while cooking, it should not be an issue. After eating at Japanese steakhouses all over the world (Thailand, Japan, Philippines, South Korea, UAE and the USA- just to name a few) this is the only one where I have run I to an issue being able to get my food cooked at the table due to having an allergy.

Part of the reason to dine in the restaurant is the experience of eating at the table. This place isolates and embarrassed the person with an allergy due to whatever reason. Not a place we will visit again due to this very fact the entire experience cannot be enjoyed. Which is sad due to the food being good and the service, minus the issue, being good.

I recommend ownership review current standards and upgrade appropriately..

And to respond to your response- no other Japanese steakhouses have had issues accommodating simple allergies, such as cooking a fried rice without egg prior to putting egg on the flat top. Also, if the grill is cleaned as it should be between dishes, there is not an issue. As stated, I have dined at various ones world wide and yours is the only one that has an issue. Train your chefs appropriately and there is no issue. No, until your policy changes, there will be no second chance as your policy eliminates the experience that is part of dining. It is like going to see a movie but not being allowed to have popcorn.

Although you feel you are doing something helpful, it is not. Your tables are not smaller than any other ones and your excuse you gave is just...

I just want to explain the disgust I have towards this place not only is the food sub par at best. The service was awful. We came to celebrate a few days before my niece birthday and only one out of my group of kids I had was over the age of ten. I told the server this and she gave all the kids kid cups outside of one and then tried to tell me that they are all getting charged adults. When from the beginning she never said anything but last minute trying to tell me that they were getting charged adults. I told her the menu specifically says 10 & under not 9 & under . She continued to argue and was completely rude. The other lady pictured is the manager and she wouldn’t even talk to me she just said nope they are over 10. I then asked to speak to someone higher he completely ignored me and tried talking to my brother in law refusing to speak to a woman. I then told him I’m the one you need to be speaking to not him. He THEN SAYS WE HAD TO PROVIDE BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND PASSPORTS TO PROVE THEIR AGE. I said where does it state that in the menu at all ? The service was disgusting and the treatment that was given was deplorable. Don’t recommend and the fact they were racist and sexist is the most demeaning part of this. If you’re going to go off your Asian brother how he looks at 10 compared to my group of kids is ridiculous and once again racist . I stated genetics are all different . None the less don’t recommend and will further keep not recommend this nonsense of a so called...