Ichiban Japanese Steak and Sushi — Restaurant in Rome

This went from the top place that we were at almost every week to won't go back. Service has plummeted and the quality of food has as well. The last time we were there we had a large group with 6 children. All under 7 except 1. We sat at the hibachi and got the same thing we always get. When the food was plated everyone made a comment about how their portions have gotten smaller. The kids finished theirs and were still hungry. (We all always have half to bring home) We didnt make a big deal out of this until we got the bill. They charged us adult pricing for the kids hibachi because the server claimed we didn't clarify that the children wanted the child's portion. This may have been a valid point had we not said "kids" and they received an adults portion but they did not and we did. My son didn't even get a plate! He had to eat off mine. 2 of the girls were asking for more. Anyone who eats hibachi knows there is always enough for 2 meals on any plate. They skimped on EVERYTHING then wanted to charge us a ridiculous amount for the way smaller than normal portion on the whole thing. At first she refused to change the price and was SO RUDE! Eventually she got it that we were not going to give her any money until she fixed it. Haven't been in since. If it changes hands we will go back and check it out. Until then, Sumos is like a third of the price.

4 years later here... we went back tonight. The food was good. The portions were back to normal. The prices have skyrocketed - as everywhere has too. Service was trash. My son never got a refill, nor did I. There were only 4 of us and they tacked on the 18% gratuity. It was slow and it was still trash service and hit with gratuity. It would have been nice to at least have some water with the meal.... this may be the last try we give it here. There's just so much it lacks and Sumos really is a great alternative at a fraction of the cost. The kids just love to watch...

We had reservations for 24 at 6pm. We were finally seated at 7:30pm in the Hibachi room. We were crambed elbow to elbow with two cooks. Our cook was the most unprofessional and inexperienced cook we have ever seen. The other table had a very professional chief. There was one waitress for the entire Hibachi area. After about 30 minutes we received our drinks. Our chief had his hat down on his eyebrows and his face mask up to the bottom of his eyes. He tried to entertain by pitching food to someone mouth. On one occasion my sister missed catching when he tossed to her, the next try he turned the spatula up and threw the food in her face. While cooking he slung food everywhere. Onions went in ones water, rice scattered all over the place and his cleaning rag laid on the grill with the food. He didn't have enough food for our table so our plants were less food then a child's plate. 2 guest didn't get their chicken so the cook went to the kitchen and brought cooked chicken back as we were leaving. Tickets were not adjusted. Not only that we never received the sherbet. The floor was was slippery and had a nasty soure smell. When the waitress brought our tickets out, the kids were handed their own with a 18% gratuity added. I ask the manager to take it off and she refused. My 8 year grandson was handed a ticket for his meal as well with an 18% gratuity. This party was to grandkids birthday (Their choice). If not for them and their AWESOME cook we would have walked out. The Manger should never be left to run a restaurant of this size. When asked where the owner was at I was told out if...

One of our favorite places to take a large dinner party. Today however things were amiss. We had 12 guest.. A full seating by their standards. Several groups of 6 were paired up and seated before us...no bueno. Our cook/chef spent a lot of energy and eggs trying to impress the pretty ladies with his inept ability to do "tricks". When he finished slinging shrimp everywhere but in our mouths he prepared the rice for what looked like 8 or 9 diners and proceeded to divide it among the twelve of us. It seemed he intended on impressing the women as he loaded them up with the precious rice and rationed veggies. Three of us in the group easily weighed over 250 lbs and were experienced Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse diners but the "new" chef wasn't deterred. He continued his flirting using his only tool...food. Overall his performance was adequate at best and lacking at worst. We have been known to frequent this place often but there seems to be some new mode of operation since their only real.competition,"Sumo's" went out of business or should I say prices themselves out of business. The food service industry in Rome is highly competitive and with that type of market it's hard to fathom Ichiban continuing to prosper under the conditions I experienced at my wife's recent birthday. p.s. the other two tables in my view were laughing, cheering and clapping...must have...