Masakari Japanese Fusion — Restaurant in New York

My recent visit to Masakari restaurant with my two friends turned into a disheartening experience due to the appalling lack of service we encountered. Despite the restaurant being far from busy, we faced a shocking wait time of 15 minutes just to place our order. Unfortunately, the ordeal did not end there, as we had to endure more than 30 additional minutes before our order was even processed, revealing a severe flaw in the restaurant's service system.

When we arrived at Masakari, it was evident that the restaurant was not experiencing a high volume of customers. Therefore, we expected prompt and attentive service. However, after being seated, it took an inexplicable 15 minutes for a server to approach our table to take our order. During this time, we tried to get the attention of the staff, but our efforts went unnoticed.

Finally, when the server eventually came over, we placed our order, hoping that the delay would be compensated with quick service. Regrettably, this was not the case. To our dismay, more than 30 minutes had passed since we placed our order, and there was no sign of our food arriving. We began to wonder if our order had even been put into the system.

Observing the server, we noticed that he was attentive and efficient with another party of customers nearby. They had arrived later than us but received their orders in a timely fashion, while we were left in the dark about our own meal.

The lack of attention and the indifference displayed by our server were disheartening. It was evident that we were not given the same level of importance as the other party, and the entire experience left us feeling neglected and unvalued as customers.

The situation only worsened when we eventually inquired about our order's status, and it was revealed that our order had not been entered into the system at all. This revelation was shocking and completely unacceptable. We had wasted a significant amount of time waiting for a meal that had not even been processed.

In conclusion, the service we experienced at Masakari was deeply disappointing. The 15-minute wait to place our order, followed by more than 30 minutes of neglect despite the restaurant's low occupancy, reflects a severe lack of attention to customers' needs. The blatant inefficiency and indifference displayed by the server highlight the restaurant's failure to prioritize its patrons adequately. As a result, I cannot recommend Masakari to others until they address these serious service issues and demonstrate a commitment to providing equal and efficient service to all...

The restaurant is squeaky clean and has a minimalist Oriental design adorned with traditional Japanese posters. The fish tank is beautifully illuminated. The menu is extensive, and the items listed on it are virtually ALL available. When they actually come to your table, they are a treat to watch, smell, and eventually eat. Great crisp food presentation makes your mouth water even before you take the first bite. No matter what you order here, you know one thing: your dish has been made with love. My crispy fried calamari came in in small breaded circles, actually steaming. The accompanying sauce was a true taste enhancer, not just merely an afterthought. For an appetizer, it was substantial in size. My main dish, a deep-fried soft shell crab extravaganza, was beautifully executed, with crispiness on the outside and marvelous moist goodness inside. The sauce was also on par. I ordered a glass of Chardonnay, which came in cold and refreshing. The chosen desert was an ice cream dish with embedded breading. Luscious, velvety, perfectly executed, not overly sweet, perfectly creamy. Needless to say, it was a fitting end to a brilliantly executed and...

One of my faves, Food is very good, 9/10 on the scale of these "50% off" fake "Japanese" sushi spots. Squid is not sushi/sashimi is not their strong suit. Skip their squid and you will be happy.

When I order take out I always try to order from the Russian girl. Shes knows her job well and NEVER messed up my order. Others always forget my extra soy sauce or a spoon or whatever but shes always on point (I order from here a lot). My wife gets jealous when I compliment how good this girl does her job probably because shes attractive but doesnt matter if someone is cute, good work deserves praise. Who else runs out in the freezing cold to bring me my order if I cant find a parking spot or got my kids in the car, voluntarily, I dont even ask her to do it she just knows. Thats great customer service... Someone should give her a raise and promotion.

If dining in, best waiter is the guy that reminds me of Slater from Saved By the Bell. Hes really good, on point to make sure your glass of water, green tea or whatever youre drinking is never empty. Everyone else is ok, they are not...