Yamato Japanese Steakhouse — Restaurant in Portsmouth

I went there today and used to be a very frequent visitor of the establishment, in fact I've been going ther since the Yamato first opened but it'd been awhile since my last visit. The menu seemed to be updated and change of some staff didn't seem like a big deal despite prices going up, until they bring out the soup and salad, the salad was meager even compared to when it had been reduced once before, the soup bowls were even lower... Ok no huge deal, the rolls ordered were ok. Now for the main dish, the teriyaki chicken entree, now I mean over 10 years this dish has been fairly similar and even another Japanese steakhouses they're pretty basic, decent quality chicken usually with veggies and a side of white sticky rice. Now let me tell you, they bring the normal Yamato plate with little chicken chunks over a heap of noodles and a chunk of broccoli on the corner, not even a third of the old portion of chicken and white rice that was stickyish and had no flavor and was definitely overcooked. Now we should have sent it back as there was no indication that we would get a meager amount of low quality chicken and we're talking Chinese buffet chicken on a stick quality that tastes more like pork than chicken. We choose not to send it back despite much displeasure in the unexpected drastic change in the portions, dish contents and poor quality which I now regret. So we eat, pay for the nearly $60 meal and we weren't going to tip because the service was kinda 'meh' and the quality was pretty awful for the price but a tip was left regardless though it reflected more than the quality of the meal we didn't have bills on us and decided to leave what change we had and it wasn't under a dollar and we didn't leave pennies as they are a blatant insult. Granted we nearly didn't tip because of how bad the food was, you can get better from Walmarts freezer section. So as I said, the bill got paid and we were about to leave which on our way out we learned there was a new owner but getting in the vehicle an employee (I assume the manager) and politely asks what was wrong, thinking that he meant because we seemed unsatisfied so we explained how while the rolls were fine the main dish had very overcooked and flavorless rice and the teriyaki chicken was very much not what we were expecting as it has never been served over noodles during many many previous visits and the portion and quality was not what we expected and we simply did not enjoy the meal. Suddenly we had some bipolar switch and the guy got mad asking why we insulted them, which was apparently over the tip which again, wasn't a good tip but their food was more insulting than than the tip, while trying to explain that it was not meant as an insult and that we were sorry he felt it was the employee raised his voice, wasn't listening and stormed back into the restaurant like an immature kid having a tantrum. I would only ever go back to leave him pennies at this point.

The waitress was very nice but they seemed stretched too thin as well. I would advise eating elsewhere where eating somewhere without such a rude and childish employee dealing with customers and with quality food if paying such high prices as I could go to a Chinese buffet and pay less for better for all you can eat and same or better quality food.

Ah, as for atmosphere idk what was with the sleepytime music that was out of place.

Also their business hours online and on the building are...

I am beyond disappointed in Yamato. A party of 8 of us met there. Our waitress seated us at 3 dirty tables that she pushed together to accommodate us. She brought menus and took our drink orders and then our food orders. When she brought the soups out, she brought 7 and told Me that I didn't order one. It was clearly part of the Bento Box meal I ordered. I informed her of that. She ignored me. She proceeds to bring out 7 salads, again I never received one. She once again said I don't get one. At this part I am starting to get mad. Finally she brings out 7 entrées and again nothing for me. I blew up and said WHERE IS MY ORDER?? She said....you didn't order anything!! Excuse me, do you think I just came along to watch 7 other people eat?? She said she forgot to put my order in Finally. My entire family was done eating by the time my food came. It ruined the entire evening. The food was "okay". I'm sad because we were trying to have a family meal together and she messed it up due to a communication issue. Please Please hire someone who can understand the Customers. I'm done with eating...

UPDATE : This place was recently sold & is now "under new management." Therefore, this review does NOT apply to the new crew, although I hope it does since I enjoyed it as much as you'll read. A Japanese Restaurant with Japanese people working it, in PORTSMOUTH, Ohio??? What a Gem. It's the first time I ate the veggies ('cuz they were fresh & crisp)

I tried it by accident while driving through, and I'm very glad I did. The teriyaki sauce was the best I've had, and I've had quite a lot.

The fried rice had a flavor So addictive I needed another bowl with my meal. And although it may sound trivial, their iced tea was very tasty (some restaurants can actually screw up Tea)

Extremely moderate in price (prob'ly 'cuz it's Portsmouth) and very healthy portions. Now THAT'S a good mix.

Well worth your time if you find yourself on Route 23 going South into town.

One harsh critique.... the men's room is in serious need of...