Kasai Kosher Hibachi — Restaurant in New York

I will never ever go to Kasai again EVER. DO NOT GO HERE!!!! It was my sister's birthday and we called in a reservation for 10:00 pm. Granted our party showed up 10 minutes late, which was on us, but at any other respectable restaurant, that is not grounds to give away reservations to a party with a reservation 20 minutes later WHICH IS WHAT THEY DID. The group stole our reservation and pretended to be us and the management could not be bothered to do anything about it. What ensued was an hour and 15 minute wait. During that time, we were under the impression that it was due to our minor lateness. But while lounging around their EXTREMELY CRAMPED EXCUSE FOR A RESTAURANT we found out that there was a 9:30 reservation waiting for a table as well. So the fact that we could not be seated had nothing to do with out timing, rather, it was reflection of their POOR MANAGEMENT PRACTICE FROM THE START. While waiting, we overheard the pathetic excuse for a hostess tell people that just walked in that we had been waiting half an hour when at that point we had been WAITING FOR OVER AN HOUR. Not only was the management rude and incompetent but they were dishonest to patrons they so desperately needed. While waiting, one member of our party posted a negative review towards the management based on how they handle (or lack thereof) reservations. Finally, we are seated. I have absolutely zero complaints with the service the waiter/chef provided. From the moment we were in their care, there were absolutely no issues with the experience from then on. However, at one point, our waiter approaches us about the negative review at the instruction of the manager. He was under the impression that he had done something wrong despite the review NOT BEING DIRECTED AT HIM AND THE MANAGEMENT KNEW THAT. So not only were the managers inept at their jobs, they charged their poor innocent employees with the blame. THEY ACCOSTED US IN MIDDLE OF OUR MEAL FOR THEIR OWN INABILITY TO HANDLE CUSTOMERS!!!!!!! Was the food/service good? Yes. Was it worth waiting an hour and a half for?? ABSOLUTELY NOT. I IMPLORE YOU NOT TO VISIT THIS RESTAURANT DUE TO THEIR DISHONEST AND DISRESPECTFUL PRACTICES THAT EXPLOIT PATRONS. AT NO POINT DID THE MANAGEMENT APOLOGIZE FOR THEIR INDISCRETION. DO NOT PERPETUATE/SUPPORT CORRUPT PRACTICES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. Take your business elsewhere if you are looking for a pleasant dining experience because THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS PLACE HAS TO OFFER! I wish zero stars was an option purely for my experience...

Kasai advertises itself as being the first ever "authentic" kosher hibachi, complete with all the bells and whistles. However, for some reason, they decided to put their restaurant on one of the busiest streets in Brooklyn with the smallest lot space, possible. Only six hibachi tables and one very very very (did I mention very?) small waiting area. If you're going to open up a place with the intent of having it be one of the coolest places to be in NYC, wouldn't you want to do it in a bigger space? Just a thought.

As far as the actual place goes, we had to wait a half an hour for our table to be open (we had a reservation at 9:30pm) on a Wednesday. That right there was a turn off. The "waiting area" was a cramped corner with barely any breathing room. Waiters pushed between the cramped customers to bring the food from downstairs (kitchen) to upstairs (hibachi tables). Also, if you wanted to check in for your reservation, you couldn't do that either because the guy, who I assume is the owner, was running back and forth and never looked to see who the hell was standing right in front of the counter.

We finally sat down and ordered. Our chef was charismatic and funny, but it was disappointing that all he did was squirt alcohol in people's mouths and made a giant flame on the stove for us. I have been to authentic hibachi restaurants before I switched over to kosher, and let me tell you, Kasai didn't provide that much entertainment for a hibachi place. Understandably, their options are limited because of the kosher restrictions (fish on the stove with the steak, lack of seafood and shellfish) so that's no one's fault. I just wish there was more entertainment with what they already had and COULD do with the food, you know?

The food was delicious. Steak was cooked to perfection and the fried rice was incredible. Our plates were empty. So that gets a thumbs up.

All in all, 2 stars. Would I recommend it to a friend? Meh. Maybe if the friend is deprived enough of the same boring kosher options that already exist.

Kasai, work out your overbooking of reservations and maybe get a bigger place. That whole ordeal was just ridiculous. As a restaurant, you need to be prepared for this. Or at least be honest with your customers who have been waiting there for over an hour (another group walked out after waiting that long). When you do, I'll be willing to try you...

Since this is the only Kosher Hibachi restaurant in the NYC area, you're options are pretty limited. The quality and quantity of food for the prices they charge are not great, and that's not even the worst thing about this place. Regardless of when you make your reservation and regardless of when you arrive FOR your reservation - they WILL be AT LEAST an hour late to seat you. No amount of advance planning will make a difference - just know that it will be an hour from when you arrive to be seated. There are always children running around, regardless of how late it is - so if you think you're only going to see adults at a 10pm seating, you're sorely mistaken. Now, I love children, but I hardly think that this is an appropriate venue for them to be running around near hot grills.... lastly, and the part I personally find MOST offensive, is the complete inauthenticity of the experience. The chefs they have to "perform" for you are treated like glorified monkeys ("dance monkey, dance!") with all sorts of inappropriate interaction with the patrons (squirting liquor into people's mouths from spray bottles positioned in their crotches with all sorts of sexual innuendo). But, since this is the ONLY kosher venue - there will always be clientele until this place shuts down. I don't see why they cannot elevate their level of operations to make this an overall...