Myles and Jun Yakitori Japanese Char Grill — Restaurant in Summerville

Hubby and I went out for the first time in over a year tonight for my birthday. We chose this place based on Lowcountry Eat Out's recommendation and our own research because we were nervous about eating in. They are still being very COVID-19 cautious, so one person checks your table in and you wait outside to be seated. We showed up right on time for our reservation and only had a short wait before Jun told us to come in because it was chilly. Minutes later we were escorted to our table. Jun came around with samples of sake sangria, today's was very green and appley, loaded with chunks of green apple, juicy blackberries, blueberries, and mango. I had to get a glass!

We had read all the reviews and knew we had to try the crispy pork belly appetizer, so we got that on its way while perusing the yakatori selection. By the time our friendly, lovely waitress returned with beverages we were ready to order our sticks. Then the pork belly arrived. It was so crispy, meaty, and melt-in-your-mouth amazing it's a must. The pickled red ginger is the perfect counterpoint.

We knew we were getting the Momo chicken thigh (so flavorful), chicken skin (ridiculously crispy, like pork rinds but chicken), chicken gizzard (so well-prepared, no gristle), beef tongue (so tender), filet (melt in your mouth), duck (fabulously flavorful), beef heart (might be the best), and bacon-wrapped quail egg (ok, this one is the best, with golden yolk embracing you in richness).

After pigging out on those, we went for a second round, choosing the chicken tenderloin, chicken meatballs with orange sauce, and bacon-wrapped scallops. All were excellent, and the chicken meatballs were particularly amazing! At this point we were both stuffed to bursting, with no room left for dessert.

Jun was an incredible hostess, flitting from table to table making sure everyone was perfectly content and feeling right at home. She sang a happy anniversary song to the table across the way and then gave everyone a free sake shot to celebrate. She is a radiant personality and a true delight.

We really wanted to try the honey toast but there was no way. We floated out on a cloud of happiness, thanking Myles and his crew behind the counter as we departed. We'll definitely be back, as hubby wants to try the Ramen and I need the unagi rice. I love eel! Myles and Jun, we'll...

I have to defend my rating, be on the level when I rate restaurants across the United States and other places. Our waiting time was horribly extended several times. It was our fault we didn't book earlier and we're told amid a facade of fine gastronome accolades we needed to take into account that this is a highly rated restaurant. Point taken. Accepted with all humility. When we're seated we waited another 8 minutes to be accommodated for our drinks. When the drinks arrived, lady server forgot my Orion beer. I would understand that given the servers seem newly trained. The Lady who presented herself as the owner was super nice. She sang with a nice voice. Her quasi evangelical speech and free shot of Sake for Adults in the table was a mover. She also assured us her appetizer crispy pork is better than Pinoy Lechon, considered to be the best roast suckling pig around the world. It was a flop, to be honest. The cutlet was from the boneless tip of ribs, boiled, breaded, fried. Squirt this bit of sauce that few thin slices of Juliene Peppers, Voila--they call that magical. The Tempura Ramen to me was a frustration. I still ask myself if that was really authentic Ramen broth. Their house Special Wagyu Ramen, I didn't bother to taste anymore. As I live just next to a genuine Ramen place whose Japanese cooks prepare their broth for 12 hours and serve real Ramen experience for less. Comparably, there are Japanese buffet experience who offer superior authentic taste for the true epicure. They offer Hamachi for free. Overall I feel this facility is good for their slight show that insists their status and free shot Sake. It is meant to give homesick sailors and Navy service members a sort of relief---that talk of home. But home, our tables at home is really where we taste the best and experience the memorable. I put my pen on top of those grandiose accolades. I can assure anybody there are more affordable authentic experiences around Summerville area in South Carolina who can serve it, who can nail it, who can provide it without being told of their level. Lastly, I grade food and experience for it's integrity. This one can definitely elevate their status, there is...

We have been twice and have been disappointed twice.

Tonight they took longer to seat us than we were told. No problem, they can’t control everything. But then they took nearly half an hour to bring us our appetizer, which was a $7 seaweed salad. It was quite a small bowl, and the bottom half of the tiny salad was just iceberg lettuce hidden under there as filler. Had I known when I started eating it how little of it was even seaweed, I would have sent it back.

I tried several times to address it with the server, but she was too rushed to notice that I was still talking and trying to bring up the salad, when she walked away while I was talking.

The entrees took quite a while too. They were pretty good, but not exceptional. My hibachi ribeye was cooked just right. But the meal was not satisfying after waiting for an hour and a half.

I overheard another customer talking with a server, and it turned out it was the customer’s birthday recently. The server said excitedly that they could serenade him, and he said “no, thank you”. She said jokingly that he couldn’t avoid it, and the manager or owner came out and sang loudly and enlisted the other customers for a round of applause. I thought it was disrespectful that they didn’t listen when he said “no, thank you”. Some people really do not like to be the center of attention, and it’s important to respect that. It’s many an introvert’s nightmare to be thrust into the spotlight against their will. Even if the intention was kind, it’s about listening to people and respecting their wishes.

They were not good at listening to me, either. I finally got my chance to bring up the seaweed salad at the end of the meal, and asked them to take it off the bill.

The server sweetly agreed, but then spoke loudly about it in the kitchen so everyone in the dining room could hear, and someone in the kitchen complained that we were rude for eating it all and the asking for it to be taken off our bill.

Perhaps she was right. But I wasn’t happy with it, and I assumed, perhaps falsely it seems, that they would want to make it right.

Either way, it was not a lovely send off to overhear their...