Kyoto...
Saturday…read morenight check-in, and there were just a few patrons inside the restaurant, and takeout was slow
The menu consisted of appetizers, soups, salads, ramen, hibachi, sushi, sashimi, rolls, and signature rolls
Our order went in for two appetizers, one was the pan seared dumplings, and also some fried crab rangoon
For the main course, my friend had the shrimp curry ramen, and I ordered a specialty roll called a momoirio roll, and an order of salmon sashimi
I also ordered one of those peach ramune drinks
After a short wait, the two appetizers arrived. The pan seared dumplings were absolutely delicious, and I would definitely get again. The crab Rangoon to me was a little bit off and flavorless. Also, it wasn't deep fried enough, so it was a little bit spongy and tough, instead of crunchy on the outside with an exploding filling
My friend loved the curry shrimp ramen, which had a very generous portion of shrimp included.
The salmon sashimi I had appeared to have been colored a deeper hue, which tells me it was probably farm raised. It also was very oily, and very hard to pick up with the chopsticks. I had to fork it. The salmon was also room temperature, which kind of set up a little warning for me like maybe it was a gas station sushi.... I ate it. It was meh
The signature roll I ordered was terrible in presentation. It looked like it was wrapped in human skin and kind of grossed me out. The signature roll also had some type of white sauce, spritzed over the top of it, which was not appealing to my eyes. Flavor wise, there was none! I could only taste cucumber. I couldn't taste the lobster, I couldn't taste any other flavors in it. There were some black stuff on top that was crunchy. I didn't know what it was. I had to go back to the menu to see the other ingredients. And as far as the white sauce... I couldn't even imagine a flavor.
As for service, the server we had seemed a little bit inexperienced. When I questioned some of the items on the menu, she had no answer and she had to go get a menu to read to me what was included in it.
While she kept our water glasses full, she never asked if we wanted a dessert or tea
What would have been a nice touch, but missing should've been some noodles with dipping sauce. That didn't happen. Also, maybe some complementary tea while we were looking at the menu would've been nice...
Other than around the checkout- pick up-workstation, this restaurant was sparse and lacking decor. It also seemed like there was a lot of wasted space
Somehow, I just was expecting more like some typical and traditional Japanese style. Boy was I wrong.
As far as a date night atmosphere to remember, dining here isn't it.
This place could offer the town so much more, as it seems like it could be so comfortable to hang out here have a few cocktails and enjoy a nice traditional Japanese dinner. But it misses the mark.
I'm so on the fence with the rating. It definitely isn't a five piece. It's not even a four star.
Parking is plentiful in the plaza.
For $72 with the tip, and without alcoholic beverages; I think this visit was not a value.
Fair service, no ambience, very limited menu... so reluctantly I give it three stars
It just seemed like I didn't feel welcomed. When leaving, I paid a little compliment to one of the young males behind the register and he just seemed to take it with a grain of salt like in one ear and out the other....not even a thank you
In closing this place is best for takeout