Sake Cafe Pensacola — Restaurant in Pensacola

We ate here last night for my brother’s 21st birthday. We had a hibachi table reservation for 7pm for a party of 12. My family (of 5) got there first at 7 and were waiting for the rest of our party to arrive. The restaurant didn’t want to seat us until everyone else was also there. I can somewhat understand this as there are limited hibachi tables, but we did make a reservation for a reason. So we were finally seated around 7:15. My brother’s girlfriend’s mom bought a bottle of Sake for the table (this is relevant later). After about 5-10 min of sitting our server comes to get our drink orders, brings us drinks and I can’t remember if we ordered immediately or a few minutes later. During this time my brother opens his gift from his girlfriend which is a bottle of Dusse, and he is excited so those of us on my side of table try a little and he put it back up in the gift bag. Our server brings out our soup and salad, and after that we don’t see her until way later (after I complain about not having anything to drink for an hour). Our Hibachi chef comes out, he is amazing, very friendly and interactive, so we immediately tipped him on the spot towards the end of his cooking. He heard me complaining about the server and he went and got me a new drink. I don’t know if at this point he had told her that we were complaining but towards the end she finally came back to our table to play cymbals for one of the happy birthday chants. That was the only time we had seen her since the beginning when we got our salads. Well then it’s time for checks. My brother had his bottle on the table to show my parents because they didn’t see it at the beginning and our server walks by and tells my brother and his girlfriend that they are going to have to pay a $7 fee for drinking their own alcohol inside and she walked away and came back to tell us $9 now, and I told her we weren’t paying it, our table bought a bottle of sake already. And she says yes we are paying it and she was going to get her manager. And I said go ahead but this is coming out of your tip. So she goes to tell her manager, then the manager walks to our table, but doesn’t say anything to any adults. Instead she goes to my brother’s girlfriend’s 8-year-old brother and tells him to quit making noise with his chopsticks because this is a restaurant. (If you’ve ever been in Sake in the evening on a Friday, tell me how quiet that restaurant is inside) So at this point my brother’s girlfriend is beginning to confront the manager for talking to a child. She passed 4 adults to make her way over to a child. Her little brother is crying at this point and that is when his mom realized something wasn’t right and we were all beginning to get pretty angry at this point. So she took our cards and took out automatic gratuity from everyone at the table as if we weren’t going to tip her. She was going to get her tip minus the $9 she wanted to take just to start trouble with us. Anyways, I will not be back here. Everything that happened towards the end was absolutely uncalled for and never needed to happen. Food wise, everything was good. But I can enjoy food of the same quality in many other places without the treatment our table for from the staff so we won’t be back and I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant to anyone with...

(Photo below is take-out after visit, the food was not served in a tray) TLDR; Sake Cafe is a place you go for the amazing atmosphere, the friendly staff, and to try unique dishes you likely can't get anywhere else in Pensacola. It is NOT a really cheap place, it is NOT the best sushi place in town, and it is NOT always going to be good, and that may be up to preference.

Now that my review is summarized, I'll get into the nitty gritty of why this is my opinion of the place.

With sushi as my favorite food, this visit wasn't considerably the best sushi in town. I went here for my 18th birthday today, and expected top-end sushi crafted with the utmost expertise... But what I received personally was sub-par at best. I went to Sake Cafe today, and ordered some Soft Crab for my appetizer. My dad thought it was fine, but I didn't like it myself. It may have been my preference, so I don't hold any bias over that experience there. Once receiving my (very pricey) sushi, I was disappointed. I had the Spider Roll and Triple Spicy Crunchy Roll, both of which were bad/mediocre in their own ways. The spider roll didn't have much to it in terms of taste, and didn't give me any "excitement" while eating it. The triple roll on the other hand, it had too many things countering one-another for it to taste any good. The avacado in it did not blend well with it's three raw spicy meats (salmon, tuna, and crab), and was rather icky to be honest. After taking off the avacado topping (which is usually my favorite tasting part of the sushi), the sushi tasted much better. After my experience with the sushi, the high prices, and the likely biased opinion of the soft shell crab, you may be wondering why I have given this a 4/5 stars. The reason being: The service was amazing (very kind server, proper greetings in and out, ect.), the atmosphere was great, and everything was well presented. I don't really care too much about those things though, as the food is much more important. That's where I get to the part where I tried my mom's sushi plate and what she got. My mother got the Sweet Mango Roll, and Veggie Roll, and overall, it was great. The mango roll was not like any other sushi I've had, and the contrast between the mango and rest of the roll worked perfectly compared to what I had. Meanwhile, the veggie roll was more plain and simple, but still tasted great while dipped in soy sauce! The total cost for my visit for 3 people was 105.01$, plus a 20$ tip. In total, we ordered 7 meals, which I think isn't too bad in terms of how much we ordered for how much we paid. Different people get different experiences, and if you're up to spend lots of money to try this sushi, I recommend it. Otherwise, I recommend other asian cuisine around, such as China-Wok, Mr. Teriyaki, or even the sushi place in the mall, Nippon Sushi. I will come to Sake Cafe again, but I recommend against it if you don't have the cash to try...

In the vibrant heart of Pensacola, there was a cozy restaurant known as sake cafe, known for its delicious food and welcoming atmosphere. However, what truly set this place apart was its extraordinary host, Loc.

Loc wasn't just any host. He had a natural charisma that made every guest feel like they were the most important person in the room. His smile was as warm as the Florida sun, and his attentiveness was unmatched.

On busy Friday nights, when the restaurant was bustling with activity, Loc never missed a beat. He greeted every guest with genuine enthusiasm, remembered regulars by name, and even recalled their favorite dishes. His ability to make quick, accurate recommendations was legendary. Loc had a knack for knowing just what each guest would enjoy, whether it was a new dish on the menu or a classic favorite.

One evening, a couple celebrating their anniversary arrived at the restaurant. They had forgotten to make a reservation, and the place was packed. Despite the crowd, Loc found a way to accommodate them, setting up a cozy table near the window with a beautiful view of the sunset. He even arranged for a complimentary dessert to make their evening extra special.

Loc's kindness extended beyond the dining room. He often took the time to chat with guests, offering thoughtful conversation and making them feel truly at home. His genuine interest in people’s stories, combined with his impeccable service, created an unforgettable dining experience.

Word of Loc's exceptional hosting spread throughout Pensacola, and soon, the restaurant became a beloved local hotspot. Guests knew that a visit meant more than just a delicious meal; it meant being welcomed like family.

Thanks to Loc, the restaurant thrived, not just as a place to eat, but as a community hub where everyone felt valued and appreciated. And so, Loc the host continued to brighten the lives of all who walked through the doors, proving that a little warmth and kindness could turn an ordinary meal into an...