Yamato Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi — Restaurant in Richmond

I used to love yamatos and their staff were amazing, however I recently dined in the restraints again after months of just pickup orders and the new staff are rude and unprofessional. The moment we walked in the workers were having loud apparently funny conversation that could be heard easily throughout the whole night. They showed great disgust with our table because we had sent a dish back and our waiter immediately had a different tone with our table as if we did something wrong and were rounding her day. Might I add, when we told her that the dish still had a salty taste after when ordering asking have that special request, she just said they don’t salt it and left (we knew it wasn’t salted cause she told us in the beginning when we ordered, but there was a sharp salty taste, most likely from the sauce so the simple solution is to have less salt) Also, these dishes were for my grandmother’s birthday and a salt taste is too much for her- we’ve been here multiple times and it didn’t have that string of a taste. It was only when she came back that we asked to take it back. I could see the waiter staring at us with no emotion between talking to the chefs from my view they were obviously talking about our table and the other members of staff joined around and listened, I could hear her say “every time I go to that big table they always....” “I don’t wanna go back” I can also hear the chefs saying stuff back basically saying the dish was fine like “NEVER” about whether they put stuff in it, after they finished talking all the staff that were huddled around in conversation about our table all randomly just go through the middle and look at our table. The dish I ready (they were both noodles) I see the chef throw the noodles on the plate messily with some noodles hanging off then saying sarcastically “oops” and our waiter laughs. The second dish she goes “they’ll say it’s salty again” We get the dishes and she goes over to the front table and just as before at the chefs thing more staff begin to join and circle, just as before their making jokes and laughing loudly throughout the conversation and the other staff while she’s talking about our table keep looking over and giving dirty looks. Our waiter finally comes back with no emotion in the face (she was never smiling or peppy after we had sent the dish back) and began talking about how she’s tired and she’s had a 13 hour shift. We then leave and all the girls piled up at the front desk all tell us goodbye. I’m highly aggravated and disappointed, I will not be...

Went out for what I thought was going to be a nice dinner and ended up with a server named Amanda. From the start the interaction felt strange and ended up being validated when everyone around me was receiving their food before me when I was there first. Amanda was avoiding my table and ensured that everyone else but me was well accommodated. First example. Every table except mine got the basket of tortillas and I was never offered. Second my sushi roll was finally brought to the table 30 minutes from ordering and was very unpresentable. No big deal things happen I still ate it but my drink stayed empty still. I then finally ask the server while she was passing by if I had done something to make her mad to which she replied with no and quickly left the table without asking if we needed anything.Then at the 45 min window from ordering we received our entree and it was quickly sat down and amanda left again without checking on us. I don't like being a complainer but With how my service was provided, I took only 1 bite of my food and decided to ask for my ticket once again while she was in passing and she asked if we needed boxes to which we replied with no. She proceeded to get the ticket and I paid in full and walked out. She never tried to express concern for the customers needs nor did she even offer to get a manager. I don't expect free food or services so I paid for everything even the entree that wasn't ate. I hope this server can find it in her to treat her customers equally especially if they don't deserve or cause an issue to receive...

Smaller portions despite [understandable] price increases & a bad day for the kitchen: My wife and I have been long time repeat customers and big fans of Yamato before today. When our meals first came as delivered what appeared to be a salmon hibachi lunch (definitely not the salmon bento box she ordered). The server said he must’ve grabbed the wrong plate and took it to the kitchen. After waiting around 15 minutes (long enough for me to finish most my meal) a bento box was served containing a small portion of lukewarm fried rice and 4 sashimi sized pieces of teriyaki salmon that were almost cold (the gyoza and California roll were fine). The rice and salmon appeared to be the same food from the initial wrong plate (and the salmon teriyaki did not have the onions that have been served with that dish when ordered in the past). We used to be frequent lunch and dinner patrons when we lived closer (a year ago) and the portions have definitely decreased despite price increases…Sadly, my wife left hungry despite clearing her plate (something that was never a problem in the past).

P.S. to the servers: if a customer pays in cash, make sure the change is in proper bills to leave a tip. I paid in a large bill and did not receive proper change to leave a tip larger than 10% (I was only given change in bills that left me with options of a 10% or 70% tip). I would’ve been happy to leave a 20% tip if I had...