Sakura

Don't go to this resturant if it's an occassion like a celebration! You'll get shouted out and it will be cringing for your friends to bare witness!!!

Only go if you are expecting bad customer service and just want the affordable food! Don't expect friendliness here especially if you like to winge.....they don't take to wingers here!
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 6
Thursday, January 21, 2010

I went in this resturant for my birthday and I had originally booked a table for 5 people. What happened was that my cousin and his girlfriend were late and I knew that if I told them some other people were running late they'd get angry. So I pretended that we hadn't booked a table of 5.

Anyway, later my cousin came in with his girlfriend arriving fashionably late and the manager came to our table furiously. He shouted at us saying " Did you book a table for 5? You have to tell us because we arrange the tables that way "....Its just an extra chair on a table, what a fuss over nothing! Then he said " We told you to be on time!" to which I couldn't really tell my cousin off on the table!

I apologized because I know what it's like in Japan, I have lived there and I know that they are very organised people and if something doesn't fit a plan they go mental, this was the manager's thought. It makes me think that Japanese restaurants should be more flexible as we English are quite laid back and can be easy going if one of us is late and if Japanese resturants are in UK they should learn to assimilate to our culture. Nothing can be planned so perfectly, we'd all be robots!

I would go to this place if I were on a budget but I would only invite friends who were reliable and kept to appointments. The last thing you need is a moody manager with no customer service shouting at you. Then again, I guess he can afford to be rude because he understands this restaurant is popular and many customers would come for the affordable prices!
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Kay
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 6
Thursday, January 21, 2010

This is definitely the best japanese restaurant in london.

The decor is very authentic, right down to the knock-off office carpet tiles on the floor and the mega-watt lighting.

The welcome is excellent, particularly because you can't sit down until everyone in your party has arrived and if anyone is more than 10 minutes late, nobody sits down.

The tables are very comfortable. Five people sat around a four person table. "can we please put two tables together so its more comfortable, after all the restaurant is half empty" to which the very attentive and charming manager replied "no! shystem is 5 peple, one teble, cannot change shystem". How lovely...

The service is without parallel. A charm that cannot be matched, without a hint of surlyness.

The food was very good. And the price was very surprising.

I can't recommend it highly enough. An experience to be enjoyed.
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Junichi Inamoto
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, January 07, 2010

In my experience, service is brisk and don't be late for your table. However food is excellent and it's certainly an experience.

The Bento Box special is excellent value for money when available. Otherwise, it can be a little pricy.
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John
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, November 26, 2009

Without a single doubt, this is the WORST service i have ever encountered. Do not waste your hard earned money on these ingrates. The manager went out of his way to be rude. On the last (& final) occasion i was there, i joined my wife and sister at the end of their meal in the bar area to wait for them to finish up and pay the bill. The manager abruptly demanded that i order - for the sake of peace i asked for a bottle of water but was informed this was not sufficient and was asked to leave. I politely asked if he might consider that i had briefly joined 2 paying customers but he wasn't interested. The food is also overpriced and below par - DO NOT BOTHER. There are plenty of good restaurants only too happy to have your custom.
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LM
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, October 15, 2009

Service is really awful. After waiting for ages for seats, told that couldn't order the shabu shabu as it was past 9pm, even though it was actually a few minutes before 9pm. As a large group of people, we were split across 2 tables, which was acceptable, but the manager was quite rude in not allowing 2 late-comers from joining us at the table.

Food was quite expensive, and I don't understand why they even prompt you for a tip, when paying by credit card. I get the impression they are being deliberately rude ... I won't be going back.
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Thursday, October 01, 2009

I went to Sakura last week.

The food was ok. Not amazing but very good. There was a definate atmosphere upon entering the restaurant and being seated that me and my bf felt like we were not welcome.

There were many Japanese at a table opposite and my bf felt that they were the ones looking at us however, I did not notice them at all and I feel that it was the staff and atmosphere in general that was uncomfortable.

We stayed as we were really hungry, and as I say, the food was good and was brought out quite quickly and the price was what you expect for the location.

I'd like to say I'd never go back there again as what others have mentioned, you can get better or as good as quality food elsewhere and much much better service and atmosphere.

I have never encountered any problems like that feeling in any other Japanese restaurants ever before. Even in small restaurants in Japan.
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A Non
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Terrible service, terrible food.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 4
Thursday, August 27, 2009

Sakura is famous for its rude and sirly service. The manager is the worst of the lot whilst the waiters/waitresses can be alright in comparison. Be careful of expressing disapproval to the manager as he has put a giant print of himself on the wall wearing his judo black-belt! Nevertheless the reason why the restaurant has been in existance for years and has queues for seats during evenings is since the food is very good indeed. The sushami and sashimi is the best in London by a mile. Anyone who contends otherwise has never been to Japan to taste authentic Japanses food. The very fact that th service is so bad and yet it has remained open, with regular Japanese and other customers, is tastement to that fact. Go to Sakura if you are amongst friends but do not make it a special occasions since the staff will ruin it.
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Joe Bloggs
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 7
Saturday, August 22, 2009

I have been going to Sakura for the last 8 years. I introduced another friend there last night and she loved it and she eats a lot of Japanese food. Services are never going to be Michelle Star standard there but I wouldn't say it is horrible. It is a med price eaterie so I accept the services not to be 5 star. I continued to go there all these years for fresh sushi and great food. If people don't know what shabu shabu is, they should have asked before they order it! It is one of their best dishes!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Sunday, July 19, 2009