Kampai Japanese Steakhouse — Restaurant in Town of Vestal

We don't go out much with kids much anymore since Covid and RSV. I have worked in Habachi for years and been to so many I thought it would be a great time for a birthday. I made an birthday reservation for the misses. I have an infant and a two year old as well. The hostess over the phone seemed like they would be aware of the accommodations of the kids and of the birthday. She asked if I would like the picture and cake deal. It seemed like a good idea so I excitedly agreed.. When we arrived there was a wait which is understandable for Habachi. I would have gladly waited longer if it meant the experience would have been enjoyable. Habachi is about the experience, not how fast you can get in and out. Service is the only thing you should be on it with, the chef is the main show. Everything else just falls into place. When seated they were not on top of it at all. They weren't ready for the kids' accomodations. The drink orders took over 10 minutes. The server was very nice but lacked the experience to keep up. After our sprites arrived.. (which we only had 2) they were in a highball glass which is not a good amount at all considering the ice. They went as soon as they came, so we ordered a refill (another 10 minutes). I ordered sushi as an appetizer and it was rolled so loose I couldn't pick it up without it falling apart with my chop sticks. The quality of the fish was amazing though. So fresh and melted in my mouth. THE CHEF was with all due respect weak AF. His "show" was horrible and lasted about 20 seconds, LITERALLY!!! Then time to light the grill... nope, he didn't even do the high flame for my 2 year old. His onion volcano was worse. More like an onion chimney. All smoke. We order 1 combo and a specialty meal. Figured the 2 year old would just eat off of us given her picky stage.The food from the chef wasn't seasoned at all!! He didn't season his meat what so ever. Luckily there was sauce for the steak. We had multiple refills of our drinks and the bill turned out to be $125.00. We were charged for every refill of our sprites. Considering the overall experience I was very disappointed. The money doesn't matter! I had planned on dropping at least 200. They asked us if we wanted a picture but I thought it was going to be a deal thing I specified over the phone. You know just dropped by like, "okay everyone smile" , and not asked about in front of her. I wanted everything to just happen so she felt surprised for the planning and special on this day. The cake was never brought or asked about. The chef DIDN'T EVEN sing her happy birthday. Glad I wasted my time for her to feel like another number. I tipped the server $30 in cash because at the end of the day 20% is the new 10%, and also because I didnt feel the chef deserved 40% of her tip. Maybe they had an off day, I don't know, but it was off enough for me to probably not give them another chance at that price. I would have mentioned my feelings to the manager given that I drove 45 minutes in a snowstorm for one of the worst Habachi experiences I've had but hey when kids want...

We often go to Kampai for special occasions, and normally it is FANTASTIC. But this trip was absolutely terrible. We were sat at our table about 25 minutes after our reservation time (no biggie, it was a typical Saturday night). We get to our table and we were sat with another party of 3. The waitress asks for our drink orders and then the waiting begins (we also ordered an Angel Roll). We didn’t see our waitress for another 20 minutes or so and we asked about our drinks, she replied with “I’m still waiting for them to come up at the bar” even though we could see them sitting on the bar already. She takes our food orders then disappears again. A few minutes go by and still no drinks and waitress is nowhere to be found. Finally, she appears again, this time with our Soup for the table, still no drinks (not even water - she tells us the Angel Roll will be right out) … she is asked again about the drinks and we finally get some of our drinks brought over (still no water). Our drink order was missing 2 of the kids drinks that were put in. A few minutes later she finally comes back with the 2 missing drinks and some water for the table. While our drinks were just sitting on the bar, we were watching other servers going back and forth delivering drinks to their table … just not ours. Next our salads come out (still no Angel Roll, but assured it’s coming soon), some of the people at the table ordered oil/vinegar instead of the house dressing and that did not come out with the salads. Waitress said she would grab it and be right back, that never happened. Time goes by and the chef comes out to start cooking, we had to ask him for the oil/vinegar so people could eat their salads before the food came out (those with house dressing were already finished with their salads). The chef had to leave the table to get the oil/vinegar for us. When the waitress final came back to clear the soup/salad bowls, people ordered more drinks which yet again took forever to come back (as we watched them sitting on the bar waiting to be picked up yet again) At one point, people from our table went to the bar to buy drinks directly there instead of through the waitress because it was faster (pretty sad at a restaurant) Finally our food is now being served and still no Angel Roll has been brought out. We ask about it and she says “sorry I’m still waiting on it” as she rolls her eyes from us asking, goes to the Sushi section and comes back empty handed. She now asks us which roll we ordered? (even tho she told us multiple times it was almost ready) At this point we didn’t even want the roll as dinner was served and people were eating … and then a few minutes later she brings it over. I really hope this isn’t the sign of things to come for Kampai, it’s always been a family favorite … but after this experience we will be hesitant to use Kampai as a special occasion restaurant...

Went out to eat to celebrate a birthday yesterday. The place has not changed much from the last time I went which may have been over 20 years ago! Not a good thing. Disappointed they have not made many upgrades to the building. The tile floors were very slippery from years of grease and food being dropped on them around the hibachi grills. This makes it slick to walk on and if you wear the wrong shoes look out! We had an elderly person in our party and had to be very careful walking in and out. Old stained ceiling tiles in the room we were in. It appears AC was not working because 2 guys were on the roof having a discussion. when we left the building one appeared to be the manager. When we were seated our party had to wait over 15 min just for waitress to take our drink order. Given the heat in room we were close to going up to bar to get served sooner. The room was stiffling (no windows in the place) never have been that I can recall creating a darker atmosphere. ! It was like time stood still. The presentation was entertaining but the mound of vegetable fried rice they put on everyone's plate is too much! I ate very little of the food because frankly the room was hot and no air filtration system at work. After we ate they came out with our checks and it had an appearance and feel of an assembly line. For the quality of food and everything else thrown in, it was over priced! I get the feeling since they have been in the area for so long and they provide a unique eating atmosphere and there is nothing like it around in Broome County why change when they can continue to pack people in and charge high prices and not make needed improvements. It continues to work for them! Just my feelings on that. Get them in and get them out and turn that table! The hibachi table was sticky because the wait staff and servers do not take the time to properly clean the tables plus do not have time! Please take that time! I took most of my meal home too uncomfortable to eat.

Not ample...