Sakura

I arrived here last night within a cat’s whisker of the end of the 10 minute grace period given to any table bookings. It would have been good if the staff had told me that Sakura had moved premises when I made the booking!

The remarkable thing about this place is that the food is excellent in contrast with the service. My only criticism was with the staff, and not the Manager; he acted like a gentleman to clear crowds out of the doorways to the toilets and the entrance when other patrons were passing by. The staff definitely need more training on how to wait at tables. That would get rid of the sloppy placing of food in front of people who hadn’t ordered those dishes and the eye-rolling from one waitress when companions asked questions about items on the menus (which are now the size of protest march placards!).

All in all, this is a unique restaurant. I never go there for the service, only the fact that the food is extremely well prepared, and tastes great. When combined with the service and the booking rules, the restaurant delivers a weird mix of a totalitarian culinary experience which would please anyone who knew what good Japanese food tasted like and who had thick skin.

Just remember not to be late and show your appreciation for the service via the generosity of your service charge contributions!
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shivers - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Friday, February 04, 2011

There is undeniably a cultural misunderstanding here - and if you go to Sakura, you will usually find many Japanese customers there, so it can't be that bad. I have been going to the large one-room open plan Hanover St restaurant for over ten years. I was introduced to it by a Japanese friend and have taken many of my non-Japanese friends and French family there, explaining that it is not a place to lounge but very good for an experience of varied genuine good quality Japanese food at very decent prices, unlike most of the Japanese restaurants in Central London (Ealing, which has a large Japanese community, has many smaller plain-looking eateries serving good Japanese food).

All my guests have all always been quite daunted by the atmosphere and "regime" but very impressed by the food and often asked to go back - though it is fair to say they would probably not dare go on their own.

However, on our visit to Conduit St last night, my friend and I were actually described by the staff as "yokubari" (greedy) after ordering three small dishes of spinach, chicken gizzards and grilled octopus tenticles as well two set dinners. They clearly did not think we would understand, which is ignorant of them, but this rudeness is a first for me, and I put it down to the fact that this new venue has two floors and that we were upstairs, out of earshot of the manager, as he has always been very courteous if not the smiley type. I could have put the insult down to their comparative small appetites but after that, I could not help notice that they were giggling or exchanging nudges about most of their customers, greedy or not.

And yet something tells me that I will be back, as I would miss their sushi, especially scallop, far more than they would miss my custom. I'll just make sure I am with a Japanese friend or ask to stay downstairs.

Any Japanese people out there who would care to comment? Have you noticed the staff being rude about non-Japanese customers, perhaps? It could be that the restaurant simply does not welcome Western customers. It certainly does not have a website in English - I would have contacted them through that if it did, instead of writing here.
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5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 6
Sunday, January 30, 2011

Waited for food for 25 minutes before they realised they gave it to someone else by mistake. A friend was nearby so decided to join us, so waiter man said: "you can't sit there, but move to this 4 people table", which is great, so we moved. Waited 20 more minutes to my food, it did come, while my friend was already finishing hers.

Another friend decided to join us... just about to sit... the waiter man says: "How many are there of you coming? First there was two, then three and now there's four people! You can't do that!"

The manager who was watching us from the staircase, was smirking. I said "I waited for my food for over 40 minutes! And now you are telling me that you have a problem with my friend sitting at our table!" then I looked at the manager... he looked at me, smirked and walked down the stairs.

What a horrible, horrible place to have a nice dinner with your friends at. Shame, since the food is actually OK.
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Xander
1 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, January 14, 2011

The food is excellent for the money. All (with the exception of Japan centre) raw fish in genuine Japanese restaurants in London comes from the same supplier. If you buy it here it is cheaper for the same sushi and sashimi.

Notes to other reviewers on Japanese food: All meat is fatty in Japan. They simply don't eat lean meat as they believe it has no taste.

Vegetarianism is unknown in Japan. There is no awareness or understanding of it. If you are vegetarian, you can't eat in a Japanese restaurant unless the food is westernised.

Beyond the food the regime is somewhat harsh but generally the staff are friendly and rush around like they are possessed at busy times. The place is about turn over especially at lunch so don't expect a nice relaxing long lunch.

If you want premium service go elsewhere but if you want affordable high quality Japanese food this is probably the best choice in the centre.
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7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 9
Friday, December 31, 2010

With a new location & interior, I expected that Sakura would have improved.

How wrong! Nothing has changed.

My husband's lunch set arrived approximately 30 minutes later of ordering, and he finished eating, then the waitress came to clear his dishes after a while when I claimed that I was still waiting for my lunch set.

The waitress looked surprised and left my husband's empty plates as they were. There was no apologies, indeed, no words from her.

Another 15 minutes past, my Sashimi lunch was finally served, poorly presented & I really wondered how on earth it could take more than 45 minutes to prepare.

The plastic bowl of miso soup was cracked. Rice, pickles were just "carelessly served" rather than "carefully presented" - any Japanese customer will know of the difference.

The staff was arrogant to the other staff in front of customers, too busy to realise that I am Japanese and understand every single word.

Lastly, on the way to downstairs customer toilets, you will experience disgusting smells and the view of rubbish shooter.

Hopeless!
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1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Monday, December 27, 2010

fantastic food. customer service could be a tiny bit better but i will not bother with such a thing as some reviews will just screw the restaurant for the service. I am going to a restaurant for the service not to be flattered. Pitty some people take so much importance to that matter. I think the deco is fantastic but i think it needs updating. There was no music on my visit. Thank goodness i had a companion.

Overall i will go back, again and again, despite the terrible service. which i do not think is that terrible.
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mario
6 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 8
Thursday, October 28, 2010

This place has a truly awful manager. He does not care about his customers.

I thought the service I had the previous time was all right but as my my friends wanted to try it out we went. I booked a table for 5 initially, but as we were waiting for our table one of the girls called to say that she was delayed in arriving into London, I changed the booking to 4 and we got a table immediately.

We were given a table for 4 people, we ordered and our food came. Towards the second half of our meal, our friend arrived. But since she was so late, she decided she'd just grab something later so as to not delay us further. Three of us squeezed on two chairs so that she could sit down with us, have a chat and wait for us to finish.

A few minutes after she sat down, the manager came up to me, pointed his fingers at me, and shouted angrily "you, you said you were 4, now you are 5!". I was stunned. It's not like we were taking up space for other diners, we didn't add any more pressure to the kitchen, we didn't hold up any other customers etc. I was so angry by his outburst, but because one of the girls was a newly-arrived London visitor, I didn't want to make a scene. If I was with my close friends I would have certainly stood back and shouted back. This is certainly no way to treat your customers.

This was the most awful dining experience I have ever had. Remember the notoriety Wong Kei received in its days? This is far worse. And the food wasn't that great either.
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Helen
1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, July 19, 2010

To be absolutely honest, the food was okay given the relatively cheaper pricing. The service is however truly shocking. I once saw a customer storming out the restaurant saying loudly to the manager that they treated him like "poo" (in a ruder way), and I totally empathize with the man as I have witnessed and experienced similar "service" (if you can call that service). After the poor man left, the sushi chef came out and chatted with the manager, taking the attitude of "I don't give a damn about those crazy customers".

I used to think Sakura was the only reasonably priced place in London for Japanese food, but now there are so many alternatives out there, there is really no reason to go back.
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Mike
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, May 31, 2010

I have been a regular customer of Sakura for about 15 years or so, although over the last few years due to now living in Dorset I have not been as frequently. However my daughter loves the restaurant and so each time I come up to London we meet there to have lunch, this means we eat at Sakura perhaps a couple of times a month.

A few weeks ago as usual I met my daughter at Sakura looking forward to a good lunch and a good catch up on her news. We ordered from the fixed menu which as always was fine but never spectacular, but eating was only half of our reason for going, we had been there for about three quarters of an hour or so of my daughters lunch hour so we were on the verge of thinking we should leave. The duty manager without asking came up and gave us the bill, my daughter and I were in deep conversation so I said thanks and carried on chatting, a few moment later he came back pulled my chair backwards and asked us to leave, the restaurant was no where full and there was no one waiting for a table. We complained at the pay desk but at that point surprise their English failed, and we were totally ignored, other people in the pay queue joined in and said things like "yep that's happened to us" and "these guys are just the rudest people in the restaurant business". Now the most amazing thing after we asked why we were being asked to leave when the place was empty and still being ignored, I was asked in all seriousness if I wished to leave a tip. Do yourselves a favour go somewhere else.
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4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 3
Sunday, May 30, 2010

Having read the reviews, I am surprised! I have been here 3 times over the past month and enjoyed it every time. Yes the door policy is a bit of a pain but there is a waiting area with seats in the reception where you can wait for your friends. Once you get over that initial break from the norm of not being directly shown to your table, there's lots to be gained in the food stakes so do not be put off people! It's not a glamourous restaurant decor-wise, more like a canteen come restaurant.

It's very good value for money and the sushi/sashimi is of a high quality. Last visit I had 2 plates of 6 pieces of maki and that was enough to fill me up...and it cost around £5....! There are various soups on the menu too costing in the region of £6-7. Great for a quick lunch and a break from the usual suspects near Oxford Street. I have never had a problem with waiting for food to come either.

As for the rude staff, I have never found this to be the case. A little rushed on their feet, yes, but never rude and I have never had my plate taken away before i've finished eating. A smile goes a long way in this place and I get the impression you will be served accordingly (this has been my experience anyway). I guess my only gripe is when you come to pay the bill, it would be nice if the person taking your money wasn't trying to multitask at the same time !
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Abbie - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Thursday, May 06, 2010