The Sushi Station — Restaurant in Webster Groves

Went dine in my girlfriend and 3 others. Started with an introduction from a super nice waitress, out of nowhere the waiter switched to the manager I assume who treated us with no care, never once asked for refills and some person would come around refilling water that wasn’t the waiter. We asked the person filling water multiple questions about our order being wrong and she completely ignored us and walked away. She never asked if anything looks right. Once the bill was served, the waitress/manager never asked how anyone wants the bill split and just gave us our bills. My girlfriend got a volcano roll and a California roll. I got a roll and 5 peices of sashimi and the check totaled out to over $90 with an already included tip on the check. Nowhere online or on the menu did it say there was a gratuity for 5 people, we were all surprised to see an automatically entered 20 percent tip. Absolutely insane. Don’t get me wrong, I will tip very well, but I as well as everyone else felt scammed. The same lady was in extremely nice to people wearing expensive clothes. We were extremely respectful and I feel profiled because of our age and what we were wearing. Why did the waiter change to the manager who showed no respect to us? Why is there a forced tip? this experience has been the worst experience I have had at a resturant. It also took 30 minutes to get a beer. I don’t write reviews for restaurants but the experience I had was remarkably terrible and I have never felt so profiled and disrespected in public. Waitress/manager did not card me at the table when serving my beer and I am very young looking. I thought that was illegal. Update! After the reply, I literally cannot stand their lies. They did not card us. They never once gave us our refills, I had to ask 30 minutes after I ordered the beer to get it. Nobody came so I had to waive down someone. I have never ever been here before. I don’t live in St. Louis so stop lying to your customers saying I have been here before. And where on the menu or anywhere on the website does it say that a party of 5 has a gratuity. You must not understand how that works at other restaurants. I have never in my life paid gratuity. IF IT WAS GRATUITY THEN IT WOULDNT OF SAID TIP. And a forced tip? Like you guys are the absolute worst and I WILL be reporting you for serving me and my friends without cards. I know you didn’t card us because some of us were under 21 and still drank thanks to you, I will be letting people know how full of lies you are. It is disgusting that you treat guests non...

DO NOT WALK IN AND PLACE ORDER TO-GO ORDERS! THEY WILL CHARGE YOU A 15% SERVICE FEE!!!

A "service fee" of 15%??? (Which isn't even posted on the sign) It's not posted on their website either!

For what? What "service" was rendered other than asking for 3 to-go boxes? That's some BS!

So, I changed my order "for here", asked for boxes, and boxed it all myself.

Check please, but NO, it wasn't that easy!

While I waited my check, one of the employees (wearing a winter coat) came over, presumably a manager, or owner, and attempted to address my concern. I asked "What service was provided that justifies a 15% service fee?"

She began to explain that the fee is posted on their website. I said "OK, but I did not order online; I walked in, then placed my order with the young lady" the extended my plam towards the server. I then calmly and respecfully moved my palm towards their sign and shared that the 15% to-go fee was not posted on their sign.

She then said "people walk in, place their order, then return to their car, and that the 15% feet is for curbside service." I advised her "I did not request curbside service. I walked in and placed my order with the young lady and intended to wait for my food."

She then tried the Covid excuse. "Since Covid, other businesses charge "service fees." I replied "If you need to charge a 15% service fee due to Covid, then you need to raise the menu prices." She replied "We can't do that".

She then said "We prefer people dine-in". I shared: "Usually I do. The food is great, and so is the atmosphere, but today, I had a long day, wanted to pick up food and eat at home."

She continue to discuss business practices. I replied "I'm not here to discuss your business practices. I had a long day, wanted to order food on the way home, walked in, placed my order, and wanted to eat at home. Now, I'd to pay and go home".

I was handed my check, single-lined through the tip (because no "services" were provided other than three small boxes), wrote the total, signed the check, then exited.

Overall, HORRIBLE customer service!

Sushi Station attempted to charge a fee, of which the percentage was not posted on their in-restaurant sign for "curbside service", or "due to Covid", or whatever, just because I walked in, placed a to-go order... all because they prefer people sit and eat in their restaurant.

No more to-go...

I want to preface that I have never written an online negative review of any sort. I ate at this restaurant about 8 months ago and had inedible food. At the time the tuna sashimi was full of water and chewy; ultimately I threw away my full take out order. I previously ate there twice, both good and bad experiences. Tonight I thought I would give it one more try. Again the tuna sashimi was full of water and chewy. The shrimp tempura roll had no flavor and the Agedashi tofu tasted of microwaved cardboard. I told the waiter I was unhappy with both dishes and requested the Agedashi tofu be taken off the bill ($7), since I only had 1 bite. The manager told me it can not be taken off the menu and "I should be reminded of the line on the menu which states all sales are final". It is one thing to have inedible food but the deplorable customer service is unforgivable and insulting at best. I do not recall any restaurant which emphasizes all sales final. This in and of itself is cautionary especially when serving raw fish. I would not recommend this sushi under any circumstances.

The restaurant has responded to my negative review. To clarify I voiced my concerns about the food when the waiter checked on me. I also stated I had a prior negative experience which is not applicable to this situation. Anyone who reads their response should again exhibit caution when choosing this restaurant. They are clearly not interested in customer service and serving an inedible dish without reserve represents little to no pride they have in their restaurant. I have no doubt this attitude is exhibited in upkeep of the kitchen which is not visible. Again I have never posted a negative review for anything anywhere online but want to caution others prior to spending hard earned money at this...