Sakura

Me and some fellow Australian friends went here without reading the reviews first (should have!). The manager thought he was reliving Bridge over the river Kwai. One of my mates speaks 5 languages, Japanese one of them. He said that the manager was whispering the most outrageous comments to people about us. I dont pay good money to have the rise taken out of me and so we walked out. To make a point we formed a line and whistled Colonel Bogey loudly! Some of the staff cringed, some of the customers laughed. Hope he got the message.
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Dave Willis
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Friday, May 30, 2008

I have been to Sakura for a couple times. Every single time I received attitude instead of hospitable service. I agree with most of the comments. I did feel I was treated like cattle. I remember once it was my birthday. My husband booked a table especially for Shabu Shabu (hotpot). We tried our best to get there on time (we are seldome late for appointment) but because of unexpected traffic, we were late for 10 minutes. When we were there we got told off and finally they didn't give us the Shabu Shabu table we reserved. There was another time I got friends in town and we went there for dinner. I booked the table for 6pm and at the time we arrived the restaurant was empty. We were so thirsty and wanted to order a drink first and then we look at the menu for food. When we order drinks, the waitress said we had to order food at the same time. I asked them for a minute for us to get a drink and study the menu. Reluntantly the waitress "let" us. There was another occassion I booked a table for 3 of us at 6pm. I arrived at 5:30pm and wanted to have a drink before my friends arrived. I went into the restaurant (it was open and it was empty). I told them my booking and they refused to let me have a drink before my friend came. I was told to come back at 6pm for my reservation. So while the restaurant was open but empty, I had to go next door to wait for a drink. I just couldn't understand the logic of how this restaurant is run. I understand it's a Japanese restaurant run by a different people with different culture but they have got to bare in mind their business is in London. Although I truely love Japanese food, I don't think I would go there again.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Friday, May 30, 2008

This is the worse Japanese restaurant in London in terms of "lack of service". Everyone is extremely rude as though it was actually some kind of theme. I do admit that the food is very delicious but is it worth being treated like a street dog? It's not the food that doesn't match the value for money, it's the service! I catch myself going there because my friends love the food and don't mind the rudeness but every time something happens and I swear to myself never to go there again. My sister and boyfriend refuse to step in to that restaurant.
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M
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, May 22, 2008

As a japanese man I was so embarrassed taking a pair of my great English friends to this establishment. As I knew them for years and hoped to reciprocate their kindness in taking me to some first class English restaurants, including the Ivy and Gordon Ramseys where the service and food was outstanding, I decided it was only fair to show off my countrymen and cusine.

My great mistake. The manager was so unbelievably coarse and rude and talked so badly to all of us that we walked out. Muttering under his breath I caught him saying some disgraceful backstreet expletives which he quickly said I was mistaken over.

Sadly I cannot say what the food was like. We went to a small and humble establishment in Gerrard street, where the service, though quiet, was much more respectful. I felt a great shame for Japan. He should apologise.
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Hirako Matsukeo
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

I have been going (on and off) to this japanese for over 12 years now and I agree with most reviewers that staff is very rude to non-japanese patrons - but I happen to have thick skin.

If you want simple authentic japanese food in a simple authentic japanese setting and you don't care to be snubbed, then this is the place for you.
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Mimi
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 7
Saturday, May 10, 2008

awful manager! It was the worst manager attitude I have never ever seen so far! this is a SHAME( x10000000infinity) for japanese restaurant!

The manage might be the one who wrote the restaurant name in the 'DEATH NOTE' list!!! he might already estimate when is the restaurant going to 'CLOSE DOWN' FOREVER EVER!
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Chris
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

It is definitely the worst service I have encountered so far. The manager was rude and that is just not the end of it. My friends arrived at 5.30pm when the restaurant is practically empty but they wont allow them to seat down and order food whilst waiting for me to arrive just 15 mins later

When I arrive, the manager would not let me get in the restaurant because he claims that my friends were liars that told him there were only TWO of them dining in the first place. We decided to walk away from the restaurant and that let the manager made some very rude gestures

I have been to many Japanese Restaurants as well as been to Japan many many times. This manager is a disgrace to Japanese people and I dont see why Sakura should be filled with people when they do not deserve it.
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Qizhen
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Monday, April 28, 2008

Suggested by friend as a really authentic japanese restaurant. I would NEVER go back again. The main fault of the place I think was the service or lack off. I almost find it hard to believe how hostile we were treated that evening and the way we were ordered about and having food shoved at us. Be warned. Surely there are better restaurants to try in LONDON!!
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M Hardy.
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, April 18, 2008

Although this place is good value for money, the service is awful and I would never ever go back again. I booked a table initially for 5 people for dinner, but as one of my friends was running late (in between seeing various people on a short trip from the US) and had a late lunch, I changed my booking for 4. We arrived about 10 minutes before our booking (didn't dare to get there late!), and we were seated. About halfway through the meal, my friend arrived, and we basically sat three people on 2 chairs on one side of the table for 4. The manager came when I was in the middle of eating my dinner, pointed his finger at me and shouted "you, you booked table for 4 and now you are 5. Don't do that again". What the?! It wasn't like we were taking up a table of 5 - three of us shared 2 chairs! If it wasn't for the other three people being there, I would have just walked out. When I told another friend my story, she said that she once went at 12pm, and despite an almost empty restaurant she wasn't allowed to have a drink at a table because her friend hadn't arrived yet. This may have been a fantastic restaurant in the past but that manager has definitely ruined it.
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Helen Lay
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 5
Friday, April 04, 2008

I and my husband have been going to Sakura since before we were married, 26 years. Although it is more crowded and less relaxed than it used to be when there were dividers between tables and you were given warm flannels to refresh yourself, it still has an authentic, if different kind, of Japanese atmosphere. I do agree that the service can be a little abrupt but feel that it would be typical of this sort of place in Japan.

We always book ahead of time and rarely have to wait long for our table. When we went in February we booked for 7.30. Granted we were told that we had to be there on time but this is a relection of how popular it is. It is nearly always full of Japanese people which has to be a good sign ,with the Gaijin (westerners) usually coming later, followed by a later wave of Japanese/other Oriental.

We always find the food delicious, and particularly enjoy the sushi and sashimi, although the variety of pickles is not as good now as it used to be.
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Linda, Cambridge
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, March 28, 2008