Have frequented this restaurant often with only one sub par experience. The food is fresh, hot, & plentiful. There's always enough for a second meal. The chefs vary in age, experience, talent and personality, but I go for the food so it's irrelevant. Definitely an American experience. Be sure to bring along the $5 coupon always offered on the restaurant's website.
(4)
Michelle V.
Who doesn't like Hibachi style restaurants! It's like dinner and show. GREAT place to celebrate birthdays and graduations, or pretty much anything with a group of friends. It's a super family friendly restaurant and the chef is always so funny and interactive with everyone, so kids will definitely enjoy it. I mean come on, who doesn't love that flaming volcano or the chef flipping the shrimp tail into his hat.
(4)
Meghan S.
Honestly most of the restaurants I have been to in Gainesville have been less than exciting but I find myself looking forward to eating at Yamatos. It is always a pleasant experience and the food is pretty good. It is not the best japanese steakhouse I have been to but it is reliable for a good teriyaki chicken. My boyfriend goes crazy over the white sauce they have and puts in on basically everything that is put on his plate. Make sure you do reservations if possible because there can be a little bit of a wait for a table.
(4)
Rick A.
Located in a nice shopping center. Ample parking. Courteous host and very clean bathrooms
(3)
Nicolle P.
The worst customer service I have ever experienced. After a 2 hour wait when we were told a hour/hour and half I asked what was going on and all I got back was attitude. When you see people walking in without reservations and being seated you start to wonder. Asked to talk to the manger and all she said is I'm sorry. While waiting our first hour we decided to call to see what the wait was and was told there is no wait! Really bc we are outside waiting!!!! This place has gone downhill and it's a shame. It used to be my favorite place but the food has gone downhill along with customer service. I will never go here again!
(1)
Joe G.
Much to my dismay, my girlfriend and I decided to try this place. For starters the building itself constantly reminded me of Cici's Pizza, so basically very cheap looking and dirty. Moving on to the service staff, it seemed like it was our waitress's first day (but I'm pretty sure it was not), she was clueless as to what good service is supposed to be like. In addition, it took absolutely forever for us to get served. Finally, and most importantly, the food. The food was definitely not what I have experienced at any good Hibachi restaurant. The rice was soggy and tasteless, the chicken had a rubber-like consistency and the pink sauce tasted like dilute mayonnaise. I would definitely advise anyone considering this place to rethink your decision unless you are aiming for a Cici's Pizza/Cheap Chinese Buffet hybrid-type of restaurant. I hope this helps.
(1)
Kim L.
I went to Yamato for my birthday. The free birthday entree was nice. The service was excellent. We got chicken and shrimp and you get so much food you should expect to need to take it home. Especially since we tried their sushi as well. The sushi would get 5 stars in my opinion while I would give the food from the grill 3 stars for taste, but 5 stars for fun. Sitting at the grill and watching the food cook with the presentation was really neat.
(4)
Jared K.
Food was great. Server was great. Took 45 minutes for my wife to get tempura udon otherwise "soup". And manager named Liz who I had to beg for a discount had a horrible attitude and blamed the server for every problem she should have taken responsibility for.
(1)
Tracy M.
Caution vegaterians/vegans/ Piscatarian Lucky when we went here I was in the mood for sushi (veggie) so I ordered off the menu instead of the table. The chef cooked all the meat first using the same cook space and KNIFE to cut RAW STAKE AND CHICKEN THEN VEGETABLES AND SHRIMP. If I had ordered the veggie or tofu I could not have eaten it after that. I will never go back.
(1)
Lacey D.
There was eggshell in my fried rice and my boyfriend got food poisoning from the Chicken. Yuck!!
(3)
Ryan B.
Went here on a Monday night and had about a 5 minute wait for my table even though it didn't seem like there were a ton of people. The food was good and they gave us plenty. I thought the service was good, but I could see that if there were more people, then the service could be bad. It seems like there aren't a lot of people working there.
(4)
Travis L.
This is first hibachi grill I've been to in Gainesville and had a good time. The pricing is fair and you get what you pay for. I wish the chef would have interacted more with the people at the table. I ordered the steak and calamari and the calamari tasted weird. The steak wasn't anything special but probably the best option on the menu. We asked if they have any drink specials and the waiter said "this isn't a happening place for drinks" so that turned us off from ordering much. I would go back here but my expectations were a little to high for my first trip.
(3)
Marcelo D.
Food was bland, but the show was fun. I like the Japanese steakhouse on 13th much better.
(2)
Alexa L.
Despite it's very cool Teppanyaki environment, Yamato does not deliver on taste. Sure, the chicken and shrimp had an OK seasoning and flavor. But the fried rice was bland and their "seafood sauce" was so... weird. Compared to Benihana or Samurai's pink sauce - with which I am absolutely obsessed - Yamato couldn't even compare. My favorite part of my meal were the sauteed vegetables. Then again, we didn't sit at the actual grill so it may be very different over there. I'll probably just go back to see if there is a difference. We also ordered a JB tempura roll which was pretty mediocre as well. Not to mention, I hated their spicy mayo sauce. P.S. Our waiter was SO slow.
(2)
Eve A.
Stopped in for lunch and was disappointed. Had to ask for the sushi menu _and_ chopsticks. Miso soup was lukewarm, sushi was OK, but not up to Ichiban or Dragonfly. Green tea was served as a single small cup, not a pot, no refills were offered. Gainesville has far better options, and next time I want sushi I'll take advantage of them.
(2)
Paul D.
Ever wondered why Fido looks at you with disappointment when you feed him dry food? Spend $50 at Yamato on two basic dinners and you'll understand. Tasteless food, overpriced, tacky atmosphere, decent service. Unfortunately, both dishes tasted like they were just defrosted and microwaved meat. Neither dish had the hint of any seasoning. Instead they bring you two bowls of dipping sauce. The food would sustain me, but the meal was devoid of any creative cooking techniques, sauces, presentation, etc. I imagine it is how dogs feel when they are given dry kibble. For $3.99 it would be expected, but for $15 and $17 things must be done better.
(2)
Bruce B.
Blah! Or maybe blah with some zipity-doo-dah cooking trickiness. The food is really average, but makes up for it for being overpriced. I only go there when it's my nieces' birthday, graduation,etc. The one positive thing I'll give them is that they male a decent drink. One of our party had the yellow fin tuna and I was surprised at how average it looked. I'd had the tuna here before and it was pretty dang good and looked more like sushi grade tuna. The tuna didn't look as good tonight, so I'm glad I had the steak (cooked to spec.) & scallops ( a little under cooked)! I don't do many negative reviews, and NEVER based on one visit. I've eaten here a dozen times or more, but never because I WANTED to come to Yamato's. ####EDIT 11/30/13#### We came back for my 14 y/o nephew's birthday (he's always loved the onion-NADO The food was good, service was ok,oh WOAH! THE SHOW! I remember naught but a stack of flaming onions. It was good enough of an experience to re-revaluate. The food was a good value, the sushi was fresh tasting (most has been frozen,or hope so). Quality, service, and value move it up to a 3.5 and I'm really being objective since this "just ain't my style". Can't even pin it on one thing, maybe teen overload at times.
(3)
Chelsea B.
Bland steak, bland chicken, bland vegetables, bland everything. The food at Panda Express has more flavor than this place. Also, our server was kind of dismissive, which I normally wouldn't mind except that the food was just so mediocre. Sorry, but I will definitely not be returning.
(2)
Apple C.
Not the worst I've eaten. But I probably won't go back unless my friends rope me into it. Soup - good, but how do you screw up onion soup? Ginger salad - bad! I love me some ginger salad, and ate 1/4 of mine before giving up. Ginger dressing tasted sort of... rancid. Everyone else liked theirs, but I refused to eat it. Main dish - fun to watch, and good to socialize during the cooking of. But my shrimp and chicken were both overcooked. Rice lacked flavor until I slathered it with the pink-orange "seafood" sauce. Noodles were also totally bland, and I gave mine to my date. Veggies were the best at a solid "average". Highlight of the evening is the "seafood" sauce, which I suspect is how this place stays in business: I bet you could cover shoeleather in it, and successfully charge $30 a plate. All in all, fun for a group - especially if you can take up the whole 13 seats - but not anything special food-wise.
(2)
Ranier O.
Came here to celebrate a graduation and this place didn't fail to amaze me. The ambiance was calming and dim. I decided to do the meal for two because it was cheaper for the two of us and we also got filet mignon instead of regular beef! The hibachi show was entertaining and really enjoyed the show! Our guy created a bigger onion volcano than I've seen before and really let it burn for awhile. Despite cooking longer, it wasn't burnt and was juicy still. The fried rice was well seasoned. The steak was a perfect medium-rare and really succulent and tender. I think the shrimp was the best with a firm texture but wonderful buttery flavor. I also tried sake for the first time here and I liked it! No burn, just warm and smooth. The place is pricey so I will not be able to come often at all, but it's great for an occasion!
(4)
J C.
Had a large party and one party running late. Hostess came out to let us know that we would be losing reservation if unable to seat. Would let us seat if we ordered for the party not yet there. We sat down and ordered just as the last of our party showed up. Food was just as expected, ok but not amazing. It was good but the restaurant seems to be falling into complacency. They seem ok with just being good but not getting better. Remember when it was a great place to eat and it's fallen off from that a little. All in all a good place to go just not great. Will go back just want it better.
(3)
JJ B.
Everyone I know always comes here for birthdays and get-togethers so I had high hopes. First, I made a reservation 5 days prior for a party of 4. When I got there I STILL had to wait half an hour. When we sat, however, our server was super polite, took our orders, and returned swiftly. I ordered the chicken with veggies, double rice, & no noodles. First you are brought a soup (so good!) and a ginger salad (eh...). Our chef was so chill and served us plenty of food. The sauce is delicious and refilled whenever you need more. I sneaked a few noodles from my friend's plate and they were mouthwatering; regretful that I didn't get them myself. My total was $18 (minus tip) which I thought was reasonable since the leftovers you take home = another meal (literally a ton)! The bottom of the check helps you out by giving suggested tip percentages (15% was $2.66, 20% was $3.55, etc). Overall, the food was great, but the service could have been better (other staff).
(4)
Warren B.
to sum it up: food is pretty great, but service is so bad it almost makes it not worth it. I've come here 4 times. every time i've had a reservation, and every time it has taken at least a half an hour to be seated when i showed up on time... They always make stupid excuses like "we're short on chefs" or something. I can let that go one time, but 4 times? are you understaffed every night? and they will also make excuses about tables not leaving... Most restaurants get the table ready for you about a half hour in advance when you have a reservation, especially if you have a big party like I always have. So in my opinion, this is inexcusable. Even after you sit down, the chef usually takes forever to actually start cooking. However, when he does that's when the fun begins. Chefs put on a great show and the food is always absolutely delicious, which is why i've been coming back despite the horrible service. I just hope they eventually fix these issues, because clearly they have a massive scheduling problem.
(2)
Michael S.
Dirty silverware, slow service, our wait staff did not know sushi menu, fried rice unbelievably bland with no veggies or flavor. They also do a gong for birthday celebrations that is extremely loud.
(2)
Mike W.
I went here for a friend's friend's birthday--which it seems she selected for dinner because the birthday person gets dinner free. The rest of the birthday party, as in our case, probably purchases enough mixed drinks and sake to make up for whatever is lost on the birthday girl. I mention this because it speaks to what type of establishment Yamato is: you don't come here for outstanding sushi, authentic Japanese food, or anything innovative. You come here for something like a friend's birthday when no one can think of a better idea. The food didn't impress me: seeing any chef work right in front of me doesn't make up for a lack of quality in food, and the teppanyaki was I guess okay but just nothing special. The sushi was below par with other sushi places in town. Again, you don't come here for innovative Japanese--or even quality, authentic, traditional Japanese--cooking: you come here because someone in your insurance office or one of your fellow sixth grade teachers or the charge nurse on your floor is having a birthday or whatever. The point being that the presentation, the full bar, et cetera is the selling point so you're not expecting top-line Japanese food nor something trendy like Dragonfly (I have my own list of complaints about them too, so don't take that as an endorsement). If you like Yamato, that's cool--I'm glad you do. The thing is, the type of occassions and expectations they cater to doesn't set them up for an inimate, highly authentic, or innovative dining experience. It's more like the adult version of Chuck E. Cheese with drinks and a Japanese theme.
(2)
Lloyd F.
Great Japanese steakhouse! The food is good, the service is fast, and the free birthday meal for my wife was great. We also hosted her baby shower here, and they let us come in near closing and let us stay past closing for the party. The manager and wait staff were very accomodating. I will definitely be eating there again.
(5)
Natalie A.
The food is pretty standard hibachi. Prices are reasonable. Chef's show thing was meh.... The chef seemed bored, didn't talk, and forgot different entrees. Waiter was crap. Incredibly forgetful, never refilled water and dirty dishes weren't cleared the entire meal. Waiter completely forgot a sushi order. Had to ask for checks several times, and they were returned multiple times with mistakes. We were still sitting at the table waiting on correct checks an hour after finishing our meal. One of the worst waiters. Also all three bathrooms stalls didn't have toilet paper. Have previously been here and it wasn't this bad, but I definitely won't be coming back.
(2)
Adam G.
I'm torn on reviewing Yamato. The first couple times, I was in love with the place. The food was oustanding, despite the price. Any of the seafood I've had was delicious (love the scallops), tender steak and chicken, good veggies, the noodles and rice were ok, and the quantity was way too much for me to eat. The last couple times I went, the rice and noodles were way too greasy and lacked flavor. Beer prices are a little steep. The place may be slightly expensive, but for the quantity and usually good quality, I won't complain about eating there every 2 or 3 months. My biggest complaint is how the seating is done. One time my wife and I were seated at the table by ourselves. It took almost 30 minutes before the table was full and they'd cook our damn food. I spent well more on beer in those 30 minutes than my entire meal. Having read some other reviews, I've never had a problem with an order being wrong or forgotten. Funny enough, the best and most entertaining cook I had there was a white guy. If you're on the fence about going, just go on your birthday so the dinner is free. That'll help take the sting out if you aren't thrilled with it.
(3)
Sarah H.
Awesome food.. Only reason they don't get 5 stars is they are so busy sometimes the wait is long. Make reservations !
(4)
Michael W.
I have not been here for almost two years. Now that I had time to come... this place has not changed a bit. I put my name down on the waiting list at 7:05 pm.. went to the mall and got back at 8:10pm.. We were seated 8:30pm .. So for an hour 30 min, we waited. This place was insanely packed and with more than 10 parties are waiting out side.... I am glad, there were only two of us, they sat us down faster. there was a party of 14 people.... have been waiting over two hours. All I gotta say... they need to expand and build more hibachi tables.. Anyhow onto the food... I ordered Teriyaki Short Ribs as appetizer to start the night. My entree was Steak and Calamari and my friend ordered the Steak and Scallops. The waitress took down everyone orders and brought us our beverages very rapidly. Soup and ribs came out at the same time, Then the Ginger salad. Our chef came out and did a few lil tricks to start off with flipping the eggs into his pocket with a spatula. As always, they are entertaining to watch because they do everything fast. Every movement and cut is super fast and accurate. I always wait until everything is done cooking. Most people just eat first on what ever it is put on the plate. I like their orangy/ pink sauce. Good with their steak. Anyhow while he is cooking, he performed the volcano fire with the onions then chops it up in pieces. And he used his sharped knife to quickly swift the steaks, chicken and veggies into pieces with one movement. Food rating: After he finished cooking, I started to eat. Veggies were cooked well. not too soft or burned.. I was very disappointed with the noodles because it was too soggy with the sauce that he put on it. Rice was done nicely... pan fried with the eggs. The steak was delicious.. Very tasty and it was actually MEDIUM!!! But i was extremely disappointed with the Calamari... Although it was tendered but it was soo salty... It was just too powerful..... I was barely able to taste the calamari itself.! Anyhow my friend ordered a Cheesecake tempura! That was awesome!! It tasted soo good Overall .. the presentation (show) of the food and cooking was awesome.... The quality of the food was good. The flavor of the food and cooking of the food was mediocre. I think he was just rushing through it. But this place STILL the best place IN Gainesville for Hibachi ! I gave it a 4 star cuz their service. It was rapidly and I didnt have to ask them to refill my water ! And that waitress was serving over 20 people! So I guess they had to be good since they were so busy. People were willing to wait more than 2 hours for them!
(4)
Val T.
I live in Ocala and have dined at the Ocala Yamato's as well.... and the both are horrible ! I recently ate at Yamato's in G'ville only to find that they suck too. maybe it's a chain thing?? I don't know..but everything was disgusting. I'm usually the type that finishes EVERYTHING on my plate.. I boxed up 3/4 of my food and threw it out before I even got home. The noodles they serve were the absolute WORST ! Ordered a virgin Pina colada since a had a 40 min drive back from dinner.. totally gross ! Decor GREAT.. Service and Food BLOWS !
(1)
Josh S.
First off, a lesson, and I promise I'm not being condescending. This is a teppanyaki style restaurant, not hibachi. A hibachi is a portable charcoal burning grill with a grate, while teppanyaki refers to the specific style of cooking on flat-top iron griddles, as seen in Yamato. Calling this type of restaurant a hibachi-style restaurant is a common confusion, but it's incorrect. So there... at least you may have learned something, in case the rest of my review is just a bunch of redundant crap that you have already read in the other reviews. So... you don't come here for authentic Japanese food, so my rating isn't based on that. I simply base it on other teppanyaki restaurants I've had, and general expectations of what a decent restaurant should be. With that said, there are a lot of things wrong with Yamato. Service is spotty, the chefs are strange and/or boring, and the food is overpriced. The quality doesn't seem initially terrible, but a friend of mine has coined the term "Yamato's Revenge" for a reason, and I've had drive-thru Japanese cuisine that can compete(drive-thru Japanese is a bastion of genius that I wish Gainesville had, but that's another story), and for about $5-6 less per person. I understand the obsession in general with the seafood sauce, but trust me, it can taste much better. If you rave about Yamato, I'd venture to say that you haven't tried many teppanyaki restaurants. But for a first timer, and for Gainesville in general, I guess it will do. My favorite thing about Yamato is the 24oz cans of Kirin Ichiban for $4. Kirin is really nothing that special(Japanese Budweiser), but I tend to drink it a lot when I eat sushi and Japanese food. In fact, if it were up to me and not the majority vote that chooses to come here for any celebration consisting of a party larger than 5, I would treat this as a bar and just drink big cans of Kirin on Friday nights. 3 stars as a neighborhood bar, 2 stars as everything else. I'm rounding down because, well, it's not a neighborhood bar.
(2)
Carolyn W.
anything good i may have ever said about this place i take back. HORRIBLE. so to start with...i never said the service was good but tonight i had the pushiest waiter ever and he didn't even listen. several times he did the exact opposite of whatever we were saying. then the chef comes to make the food. i ordered the chicken. well apparently someone else at the table did too. the entire time he was cooking it i thought it was for me and then it turns out it wasn't. THEY LITERALLY FORGOT MY FOOD ENTIRELY. they chef was totally unapologetic and left the rest of the food on the grill to go back to the kitchen. after a ridiculous wait they brought out my chicken and oh my god can i just say that i didn't know chicken could even taste like that?!!! it was so awful and rubbery when you poked it i swear to god it freakin jiggled. my fiance said it was jerky. TOTALLY AWFUL HORRIBLE DISGUSTING and any other adjectives you can think of. NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER GO THERE EVER. did i make myself clear enough?!!!!! it doesn't even deserve the one star rating i am forced to give it.
(1)
Justin L.
Large portions and pretty good food. It isn't much different from any other hibachi place except that their seafood sauce is a crowd pleaser. I see people drawing their food in the sauce. Whether it's their rice, veggies, or any kind of meat, it gets drenched in the sauce.
(3)
Rachel E.
Why so many negative reviews? I don't get it... I've been to a few hibachi/teppanyaki restaurants and this was one of the best. Every time I drive past this place, there's a line out the door. We went on a Saturday as soon as they opened, hoping to beat this crowd I always see, and there was already a line. I was really worried I would have to gnaw on my arm outside but luckily it was just a large party and we got right in before them. I will say the service is slower than desired but I will take slow service over "fast food" any day. It was kind of a bummer that the sushi menus aren't put on the table. I would have gotten a roll had it been available, and only realized it wasn't because someone at our table had to ask for the menu after everyone already ordered. The server was polite and brought out the soup/salad right away, even though he never asked if we wanted or needed anything else. The chef however.... he was obviously just another Gainesville bro. If he was trying to look interested or engaged, I must have missed it. While waiting for him to come to the table, we watched every table around us get the whole "show" with friendly chefs who paid special attention to making the children laugh. Our table did not have any children so I guess we weren't gettin' any consideration. As a twentysomething adult who has already seen food be cooked this way, it really wasn't that big of a deal. But it certainly was a let down. Anyways, the only thing that matters is the food. And it did not disappoint. I had the Yamato Special (chicken, shrimp, beef) and my girlfriend got the chicken. I'm sitting at home the next day, happily eating the leftovers as I write this (they're even better now). The seafood sauce is outta this world, obviously. I dunno what that junk is, but it is incredible. I wanna put it on my PB&Js
(4)
Luke M.
Yamato's is everything you would expect from a japanese steak table restaurant. All the Chefs ive had were very talented and made the meal a fun experience as the food is cooked right infront of you. The hibachi is delicious and the shrimp sauce they give you is even better. The only thing i would complain about is the price, it can get expensive if you are paying for two or add in a sushi roll/app. For one the bill is around $18-$22 but the price can get towards $45-$50 quickly for two if your not careful. Great food and service though, highly recommended on birthdays i think you get a free meal if you can prove its your birthday.
(4)
Jake D.
So today was my birthday and several friends and some family took me to Yamato's steakhouse. This was not my first trip here, Ive been several times and have always enjoyed myself. I came with a group of 14 which I highly recommend calling in advance for reservations with a large group like this. All of us were able to share a single hibachi table and because of the shape of the table we were all for the most part facing each other which made conversation across table not so difficult. After your drink and meal orders are taken this is what happens.. The server will bring everybody a bowl some sort of onion soup Then you will be served a bowl of salad with a ginger dressing About the time you are finishing your salad the chef roll his cart out to the table . He confirms all orders and starts his thing **** there is allot of flair in the cooking***** its not like he just cooks your food there is allot of show involved in it. so i don't ruin any surprises i will not go into detail. Once he starts cooking he will whip up a big batch of fried rice. Split it up and serve it. Then he will cook each individual piece of meat to preference. and serve right off the hot cook top. lastly he will cook up some noodles and veggies. Tonight i ordered the teryiaki chicken with no noodles and extra veggies in place of the noodles. Some people prefer extra rice in place of the noodles but i love there veggies. Others in my party order fillet Mignon, steak, salmon, scallops and shrimp..... Everything was cooked to perfection.... Absolute perfection. Others in my party ordered several rolls of sushi , salmon rolls, crab rolls, California rolls and chicken teriyaki rolls. Again everybody had a chance to try one of each and everything was expertly assembled and tasted very good. Bottom line-- This is an amazing place to eat and for large groups its the best. Its dinner and a show, and fun for everybody no matter your age. The food is delicious and atmosphere is upbeat. THE ONE BAD THING-- I don't quite understand why they do this but they will not seat your party until you are all present and accounted for. So like tonight i had a party of 14..... Two of our party were running late so the 12 of us sitting there had to wait to be sat down... This is kind of silly but don't plan on sitting down until all of your party is right there and ready to go. I hope this helps!!!!
(5)
Lauren O.
I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews. I actually thought twice about going after reading some of them, but people from work were getting together there so... It was on a Monday night so there was no wait and it wasn't crowded or rushed at all. The service was excellent. Our server was especially nice since I was there by myself with two little kids. She didn't give me a hassle about the kids sharing a kids portion meal even though it says no sharing on the menu (kind of hard to justify spending 8 dollars for each when I know darn well they aren't going to eat enough to fill a birds tummy). The food is no great inspiration but it is hot and fresh and plentiful and they serve a selection of different dipping sauces to add additional flavor. The chefs are fun to watch and add a dinner show like quality to the meal to create a little more of an "experience". I'm not a steak lover (I ordered the tofu and it was just ok) but the rice, veggies, soup and salad more than make up for any deficiency in the protein. In fact, next time I think I'll either get the veggies only or order vegetable tempura off the menu. In short, I think some of the 1 and 2 star reviews were a little unfair. I'm guessing they were from weekend nights when it was really busy or something.
(4)
Dani W.
A fun place for birthdays because of the shtick. There's better food to be had, true, but it's just a really fun place to eat. Go for the hibachi, not the normal food. Mixed drinks are pretty good.
(4)
Belle C.
The food is good and it's fun for groups (hibachi tables seat 8). Though on my last visit I didn't appreciate the not-so-subtle cues, starting from the moment our chef finished serving our dinners, to hurry along so they could seat the next reservation. Yeah, it's a zoo on football game weekends and they want to turn the tables. But asking who wants a to-go box and delivering the checks as soon as our food is served is a bit much. So is the no-dessert-on-weekends policy. So is outright asking us to leave (albeit politely) almost the instant the last bite of food went into a mouth.
(3)
Andres T.
My wife and I love it every time we go and a lot of times we just get the food to go and it's just as great. I think there's been one or two occasions where the chef wasn't the greatest but overall the food is amazing.
(5)
Stockton M.
Terrible. How could Japanese food be bad, would be my question hearing that kind of rating? Well, it appears to be a Japanese steakouse with a sushibar that does a decent amount of take-out. I had a noodle dish, two maki rolls, and 3 single pieces of sushi with an iced tea and the total was $36 with tax/tip. That would have been fine if not for the poor hygeine, obnoxious staff, and sub-par food. Oh, also Yelp lists the address wrong. Instead of NEast 6th St., it's on NWest 60th St. Two big differences that made this let-down even worse after having read two nice reviews. I admit to having high standards for Japanese food but the following issues were below expectations for ANY restaurant, which is what earns this the lowest possible rating. Here are the details: CLEANLINESS: 1) There was a hair in my napkin 2) A fly was buzzing around the sushi bar 3) While the sushi chef wore plastic gloves, he sneezed at one point in to the air, not covering his face. He did not wash his hands afterwards. 4) Finally, a worker came out from the kitchen (not in any uniform but in a t-shirt and pants) and without washing his hands or putting on gloves, opened the sushi case, took out 3 sticks of imitation crab, unwrapped them, mashed them into strings; put bare unclean hands into a bowl of wasabi that the sushi chef was using for plating, mixed it with the crab into a tupperware he found behind the sushi bar; squeezed in some hot mayo sauce; then swiped 2 of 4 pieces of shrimp tempura that were pending for the sushi chef to put into a dish and topped off his tupperware creation. He turns to the sushi chef as says, "I'm making it for him in the kitchen; see I'm nice to people who are nice to me." They chuckle and the t-shirted guy leaves and the sushi chef continues to use all of the items/food this guy just touched. It just sets a bad impression. 5) A busboy bin of ?clean/?used dishes and cups sat on the corner of the sushi bar along with other plates ready to be used. SERVICE: 1) While sitting and eating, the sushi chef talks over me to the waitress behind me, saying "she said she pinched his ass" apparently about an intra-waitstaff event. 2) Later during my meal a worker comes up to the sushi bar and asks the chef if he wants a beer. "If it's allowed," he says. The worker returns and says--"oh it's not allowed to drink on the job; do you want me to sneak it for you." The chef says "no, it's against the rules." Then a third worker comes up to the sushi bar and yells quite loudly about the other worker, "See that guy! He's the best here. Give him the best sushi. Always give him the best!" Besides the fact that the worker was not even there to eat (he was on the job), he screams this right over my head! 3) Unfortunately, I spilled something on my shirt. I was looking for the waitress and the chef says, "do you need something?" I told him I was looking for a glass of water to clean myself up. He went to look for her in the kitchen, returned and said she must be somewhere else. I sat there for some time and finally, he decided to get it for me himself. Waitress just MIA. ATMOSPHERE: 1) While I was there, aparty was going on apparently in a private room. Lot's of hooting and hollaring could be heard even though the event was far across the restaurant. 2) There was a bar for drinks with a tv showing basketball, but it was pretty vacant. There were some chic blue cobalt lights above the bar. 3) The rest of the restaurant was stucco and wood paneling which looked like a Mexican restaurant which had been converted to a Japanese restarant. FOOD: 1) The sushi itself was dry appearing with no "glistening" that you would expect of fresh fish. One maki roll was somewhat fishy tasting (in the bad way). With all of the above having transpired, I just stopped eating it. Little fishwas used such that there was a space in the center of the maki rolls where there actually was no fish. 2) A noodle dish (yaki udon) was over-soy'd with that overly tangy taste that is unrewarding. On the positive side, the shrimp and vegetables were nicely grilled in it, albeit sparse. 3) The noodles came with a wimpy salad seriously drowning in a soy-based dressing and a soup which was bland but had a couple slices of mushrooms, which were ok. 4) I saw brown, rotten part of an avodado used for someone else's sushi. 3) I did not eat at the steakhouse grills where the chefs cook in front of the customers. People appeared to be enjoying it there. Seemed like that was a major thrust of the restaurant.
(1)
Tu-van L.
Your typical habachi-style Japanese steakhouse. Flavors are mild and mainstream catering to the American/local ACR pallete. Great for accomodating large parties.
(3)
Esther B.
DO NOT EAT AT YAMATO! My husband took me to Yamato tonight for a nice dinner. Turned out to be NOT so nice! Mid way through my meal I notice a large ant crawling around in my food! I tell the chef, who sits and watches it and says "oh" but keeps on cooking! I waited a moment to see what he would do- nothing! So I got up and found the first employee and told him to clear our plates because we will not be eating anything else because there is an ant in my food. He took my plate and sent over the manager who did not apolpogize, but rather said "you're worried about an ant?" and offered to have fresh food cooked for me. Makes me wonder what else I should worry about if not an ant, or are they so used to the ants that they don't think it is a big deal??? Needless to say, we did not want any more food from them, fresh or not! They still charged for my husbands meal but took mine off the check. Not a big deal for them as they give free dinner away constantly on people's birthdays. It ruined my husband's dinner and experience just as much, but the rude little manager didn't seem to understand that and said "the chef probably didn't understand". Really? Because he watched an ant crawl around my food, don't think you have to have good English to understand that! It's too bad because this used to be one of my favorites, but I have to say the few experiences were not very good either.
(1)
Logan f.
I got hit with a piece of chicken. Overpriced and stingy portions.
(3)
Ron K.
This is the best Japanese Steak House in Gainesville. When you go you have to sit at the Hibachi table! The meal comes with soup and salad and the entree comes with your choice of meat (or meats, if you are hungry!), vegetable medley, rice, and noodles. It is a fun place to go with friends, I am wary of going there with a date (especially a first date) because it does get loud in there (so keep that in mind). They also have a selection of sushi. If you still have room after dinner make sure you get the fried ice cream (it's always a great way to end a meal!!)
(5)
Connie C.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Gainesville. I love their shrimp and scallops (seared to perfection). The meal come with soup and salad. And you entree comes with rice, noodles, and vegetables. The seafood sauce (also known as the yum yum sauce) is the best. It is a fun place to go with friends, and you can always call ahead and make reservations. The only time I don't recommend going is the night of graduation (it is total chaos and they have a fixed menu)
(5)
Tim G.
It seemed to be a little pricey for the food, but this place is a great night for a group.
(4)
Kristen C.
If I reviewed Yamato solely based on their food, I would give it five stars - hands down - because the food is definitely very good. But my frustration with Yamato is the HORRENDOUSLY POOR SERVICE we received during our last visit. Look, I'm usually pretty laid-back, forgiving and understanding when it comes to those in food service because I've been there -- but come on, Yamato. I don't like to write play-by-play reviews but this one is necessary. Our party of six was seated at about 9:30 PM and another party of four was seated at the same table with us. The other party happened to be a well-known pastor in Gainesville and his family. The hostess came by and took our drink orders and about ten minutes later, took our dinner orders. We all received our soups soon after. Then, we waited for our chef. And waited. And waited some more. Finally, my husband went to inquire about our missing chef. The manager proceeds to tell my husband that the other party at our table (the pastor's party) had requested a "special" and specific chef and that's why we were waiting. My husband let the manager know how it is bad management practice to allow one party to wait for another party's request, especially without giving the party any kind of notice of what the hell is going on. The manager tells him, "Well, what would you like me to do about it? There is nothing I can do." My husband came back to the table. About ten minutes later, our chef magically appeared. Once the chef began serving everyone it became immediately apparent that he was serving the pastor's party more food than our party. Sure, it sounds petty but we were frustrated at this point. Again, my husband sought relief from the manager. NOPE. Nothing he could do or cared to do. NOTHING. No one came to our table to apologize for our inconvenience. At the very least, that is what should have happened. When I spoke with the manager on our way out of the restaurant, he was extremely nonchalant and unapologetic. The best part of the night? The pastor and his family were taking their food TO-GO.
(2)
April O.
A friend suggested that we eat here this past Saturday afternoon. Neither of us was aware that the store only served dinner on the weekends. So I walked in at 3, could barely get anyone to even acknowledge me to tell me that we were 2 hours too early to eat, and then had the unenviable pleasure of being discussed in another language and openly laughed at by the serving staff. Classy. I'm sure the food is fine, but I won't be returning to find out.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Nan T.
Have frequented this restaurant often with only one sub par experience. The food is fresh, hot, & plentiful. There's always enough for a second meal. The chefs vary in age, experience, talent and personality, but I go for the food so it's irrelevant. Definitely an American experience. Be sure to bring along the $5 coupon always offered on the restaurant's website.
(4)Michelle V.
Who doesn't like Hibachi style restaurants! It's like dinner and show. GREAT place to celebrate birthdays and graduations, or pretty much anything with a group of friends. It's a super family friendly restaurant and the chef is always so funny and interactive with everyone, so kids will definitely enjoy it. I mean come on, who doesn't love that flaming volcano or the chef flipping the shrimp tail into his hat.
(4)Meghan S.
Honestly most of the restaurants I have been to in Gainesville have been less than exciting but I find myself looking forward to eating at Yamatos. It is always a pleasant experience and the food is pretty good. It is not the best japanese steakhouse I have been to but it is reliable for a good teriyaki chicken. My boyfriend goes crazy over the white sauce they have and puts in on basically everything that is put on his plate. Make sure you do reservations if possible because there can be a little bit of a wait for a table.
(4)Rick A.
Located in a nice shopping center. Ample parking. Courteous host and very clean bathrooms
(3)Nicolle P.
The worst customer service I have ever experienced. After a 2 hour wait when we were told a hour/hour and half I asked what was going on and all I got back was attitude. When you see people walking in without reservations and being seated you start to wonder. Asked to talk to the manger and all she said is I'm sorry. While waiting our first hour we decided to call to see what the wait was and was told there is no wait! Really bc we are outside waiting!!!! This place has gone downhill and it's a shame. It used to be my favorite place but the food has gone downhill along with customer service. I will never go here again!
(1)Joe G.
Much to my dismay, my girlfriend and I decided to try this place. For starters the building itself constantly reminded me of Cici's Pizza, so basically very cheap looking and dirty. Moving on to the service staff, it seemed like it was our waitress's first day (but I'm pretty sure it was not), she was clueless as to what good service is supposed to be like. In addition, it took absolutely forever for us to get served. Finally, and most importantly, the food. The food was definitely not what I have experienced at any good Hibachi restaurant. The rice was soggy and tasteless, the chicken had a rubber-like consistency and the pink sauce tasted like dilute mayonnaise. I would definitely advise anyone considering this place to rethink your decision unless you are aiming for a Cici's Pizza/Cheap Chinese Buffet hybrid-type of restaurant. I hope this helps.
(1)Kim L.
I went to Yamato for my birthday. The free birthday entree was nice. The service was excellent. We got chicken and shrimp and you get so much food you should expect to need to take it home. Especially since we tried their sushi as well. The sushi would get 5 stars in my opinion while I would give the food from the grill 3 stars for taste, but 5 stars for fun. Sitting at the grill and watching the food cook with the presentation was really neat.
(4)Jared K.
Food was great. Server was great. Took 45 minutes for my wife to get tempura udon otherwise "soup". And manager named Liz who I had to beg for a discount had a horrible attitude and blamed the server for every problem she should have taken responsibility for.
(1)Tracy M.
Caution vegaterians/vegans/ Piscatarian Lucky when we went here I was in the mood for sushi (veggie) so I ordered off the menu instead of the table. The chef cooked all the meat first using the same cook space and KNIFE to cut RAW STAKE AND CHICKEN THEN VEGETABLES AND SHRIMP. If I had ordered the veggie or tofu I could not have eaten it after that. I will never go back.
(1)Lacey D.
There was eggshell in my fried rice and my boyfriend got food poisoning from the Chicken. Yuck!!
(3)Ryan B.
Went here on a Monday night and had about a 5 minute wait for my table even though it didn't seem like there were a ton of people. The food was good and they gave us plenty. I thought the service was good, but I could see that if there were more people, then the service could be bad. It seems like there aren't a lot of people working there.
(4)Travis L.
This is first hibachi grill I've been to in Gainesville and had a good time. The pricing is fair and you get what you pay for. I wish the chef would have interacted more with the people at the table. I ordered the steak and calamari and the calamari tasted weird. The steak wasn't anything special but probably the best option on the menu. We asked if they have any drink specials and the waiter said "this isn't a happening place for drinks" so that turned us off from ordering much. I would go back here but my expectations were a little to high for my first trip.
(3)Marcelo D.
Food was bland, but the show was fun. I like the Japanese steakhouse on 13th much better.
(2)Alexa L.
Despite it's very cool Teppanyaki environment, Yamato does not deliver on taste. Sure, the chicken and shrimp had an OK seasoning and flavor. But the fried rice was bland and their "seafood sauce" was so... weird. Compared to Benihana or Samurai's pink sauce - with which I am absolutely obsessed - Yamato couldn't even compare. My favorite part of my meal were the sauteed vegetables. Then again, we didn't sit at the actual grill so it may be very different over there. I'll probably just go back to see if there is a difference. We also ordered a JB tempura roll which was pretty mediocre as well. Not to mention, I hated their spicy mayo sauce. P.S. Our waiter was SO slow.
(2)Eve A.
Stopped in for lunch and was disappointed. Had to ask for the sushi menu _and_ chopsticks. Miso soup was lukewarm, sushi was OK, but not up to Ichiban or Dragonfly. Green tea was served as a single small cup, not a pot, no refills were offered. Gainesville has far better options, and next time I want sushi I'll take advantage of them.
(2)Paul D.
Ever wondered why Fido looks at you with disappointment when you feed him dry food? Spend $50 at Yamato on two basic dinners and you'll understand. Tasteless food, overpriced, tacky atmosphere, decent service. Unfortunately, both dishes tasted like they were just defrosted and microwaved meat. Neither dish had the hint of any seasoning. Instead they bring you two bowls of dipping sauce. The food would sustain me, but the meal was devoid of any creative cooking techniques, sauces, presentation, etc. I imagine it is how dogs feel when they are given dry kibble. For $3.99 it would be expected, but for $15 and $17 things must be done better.
(2)Bruce B.
Blah! Or maybe blah with some zipity-doo-dah cooking trickiness. The food is really average, but makes up for it for being overpriced. I only go there when it's my nieces' birthday, graduation,etc. The one positive thing I'll give them is that they male a decent drink. One of our party had the yellow fin tuna and I was surprised at how average it looked. I'd had the tuna here before and it was pretty dang good and looked more like sushi grade tuna. The tuna didn't look as good tonight, so I'm glad I had the steak (cooked to spec.) & scallops ( a little under cooked)! I don't do many negative reviews, and NEVER based on one visit. I've eaten here a dozen times or more, but never because I WANTED to come to Yamato's. ####EDIT 11/30/13#### We came back for my 14 y/o nephew's birthday (he's always loved the onion-NADO The food was good, service was ok,oh WOAH! THE SHOW! I remember naught but a stack of flaming onions. It was good enough of an experience to re-revaluate. The food was a good value, the sushi was fresh tasting (most has been frozen,or hope so). Quality, service, and value move it up to a 3.5 and I'm really being objective since this "just ain't my style". Can't even pin it on one thing, maybe teen overload at times.
(3)Chelsea B.
Bland steak, bland chicken, bland vegetables, bland everything. The food at Panda Express has more flavor than this place. Also, our server was kind of dismissive, which I normally wouldn't mind except that the food was just so mediocre. Sorry, but I will definitely not be returning.
(2)Apple C.
Not the worst I've eaten. But I probably won't go back unless my friends rope me into it. Soup - good, but how do you screw up onion soup? Ginger salad - bad! I love me some ginger salad, and ate 1/4 of mine before giving up. Ginger dressing tasted sort of... rancid. Everyone else liked theirs, but I refused to eat it. Main dish - fun to watch, and good to socialize during the cooking of. But my shrimp and chicken were both overcooked. Rice lacked flavor until I slathered it with the pink-orange "seafood" sauce. Noodles were also totally bland, and I gave mine to my date. Veggies were the best at a solid "average". Highlight of the evening is the "seafood" sauce, which I suspect is how this place stays in business: I bet you could cover shoeleather in it, and successfully charge $30 a plate. All in all, fun for a group - especially if you can take up the whole 13 seats - but not anything special food-wise.
(2)Ranier O.
Came here to celebrate a graduation and this place didn't fail to amaze me. The ambiance was calming and dim. I decided to do the meal for two because it was cheaper for the two of us and we also got filet mignon instead of regular beef! The hibachi show was entertaining and really enjoyed the show! Our guy created a bigger onion volcano than I've seen before and really let it burn for awhile. Despite cooking longer, it wasn't burnt and was juicy still. The fried rice was well seasoned. The steak was a perfect medium-rare and really succulent and tender. I think the shrimp was the best with a firm texture but wonderful buttery flavor. I also tried sake for the first time here and I liked it! No burn, just warm and smooth. The place is pricey so I will not be able to come often at all, but it's great for an occasion!
(4)J C.
Had a large party and one party running late. Hostess came out to let us know that we would be losing reservation if unable to seat. Would let us seat if we ordered for the party not yet there. We sat down and ordered just as the last of our party showed up. Food was just as expected, ok but not amazing. It was good but the restaurant seems to be falling into complacency. They seem ok with just being good but not getting better. Remember when it was a great place to eat and it's fallen off from that a little. All in all a good place to go just not great. Will go back just want it better.
(3)JJ B.
Everyone I know always comes here for birthdays and get-togethers so I had high hopes. First, I made a reservation 5 days prior for a party of 4. When I got there I STILL had to wait half an hour. When we sat, however, our server was super polite, took our orders, and returned swiftly. I ordered the chicken with veggies, double rice, & no noodles. First you are brought a soup (so good!) and a ginger salad (eh...). Our chef was so chill and served us plenty of food. The sauce is delicious and refilled whenever you need more. I sneaked a few noodles from my friend's plate and they were mouthwatering; regretful that I didn't get them myself. My total was $18 (minus tip) which I thought was reasonable since the leftovers you take home = another meal (literally a ton)! The bottom of the check helps you out by giving suggested tip percentages (15% was $2.66, 20% was $3.55, etc). Overall, the food was great, but the service could have been better (other staff).
(4)Warren B.
to sum it up: food is pretty great, but service is so bad it almost makes it not worth it. I've come here 4 times. every time i've had a reservation, and every time it has taken at least a half an hour to be seated when i showed up on time... They always make stupid excuses like "we're short on chefs" or something. I can let that go one time, but 4 times? are you understaffed every night? and they will also make excuses about tables not leaving... Most restaurants get the table ready for you about a half hour in advance when you have a reservation, especially if you have a big party like I always have. So in my opinion, this is inexcusable. Even after you sit down, the chef usually takes forever to actually start cooking. However, when he does that's when the fun begins. Chefs put on a great show and the food is always absolutely delicious, which is why i've been coming back despite the horrible service. I just hope they eventually fix these issues, because clearly they have a massive scheduling problem.
(2)Michael S.
Dirty silverware, slow service, our wait staff did not know sushi menu, fried rice unbelievably bland with no veggies or flavor. They also do a gong for birthday celebrations that is extremely loud.
(2)Mike W.
I went here for a friend's friend's birthday--which it seems she selected for dinner because the birthday person gets dinner free. The rest of the birthday party, as in our case, probably purchases enough mixed drinks and sake to make up for whatever is lost on the birthday girl. I mention this because it speaks to what type of establishment Yamato is: you don't come here for outstanding sushi, authentic Japanese food, or anything innovative. You come here for something like a friend's birthday when no one can think of a better idea. The food didn't impress me: seeing any chef work right in front of me doesn't make up for a lack of quality in food, and the teppanyaki was I guess okay but just nothing special. The sushi was below par with other sushi places in town. Again, you don't come here for innovative Japanese--or even quality, authentic, traditional Japanese--cooking: you come here because someone in your insurance office or one of your fellow sixth grade teachers or the charge nurse on your floor is having a birthday or whatever. The point being that the presentation, the full bar, et cetera is the selling point so you're not expecting top-line Japanese food nor something trendy like Dragonfly (I have my own list of complaints about them too, so don't take that as an endorsement). If you like Yamato, that's cool--I'm glad you do. The thing is, the type of occassions and expectations they cater to doesn't set them up for an inimate, highly authentic, or innovative dining experience. It's more like the adult version of Chuck E. Cheese with drinks and a Japanese theme.
(2)Lloyd F.
Great Japanese steakhouse! The food is good, the service is fast, and the free birthday meal for my wife was great. We also hosted her baby shower here, and they let us come in near closing and let us stay past closing for the party. The manager and wait staff were very accomodating. I will definitely be eating there again.
(5)Natalie A.
The food is pretty standard hibachi. Prices are reasonable. Chef's show thing was meh.... The chef seemed bored, didn't talk, and forgot different entrees. Waiter was crap. Incredibly forgetful, never refilled water and dirty dishes weren't cleared the entire meal. Waiter completely forgot a sushi order. Had to ask for checks several times, and they were returned multiple times with mistakes. We were still sitting at the table waiting on correct checks an hour after finishing our meal. One of the worst waiters. Also all three bathrooms stalls didn't have toilet paper. Have previously been here and it wasn't this bad, but I definitely won't be coming back.
(2)Adam G.
I'm torn on reviewing Yamato. The first couple times, I was in love with the place. The food was oustanding, despite the price. Any of the seafood I've had was delicious (love the scallops), tender steak and chicken, good veggies, the noodles and rice were ok, and the quantity was way too much for me to eat. The last couple times I went, the rice and noodles were way too greasy and lacked flavor. Beer prices are a little steep. The place may be slightly expensive, but for the quantity and usually good quality, I won't complain about eating there every 2 or 3 months. My biggest complaint is how the seating is done. One time my wife and I were seated at the table by ourselves. It took almost 30 minutes before the table was full and they'd cook our damn food. I spent well more on beer in those 30 minutes than my entire meal. Having read some other reviews, I've never had a problem with an order being wrong or forgotten. Funny enough, the best and most entertaining cook I had there was a white guy. If you're on the fence about going, just go on your birthday so the dinner is free. That'll help take the sting out if you aren't thrilled with it.
(3)Sarah H.
Awesome food.. Only reason they don't get 5 stars is they are so busy sometimes the wait is long. Make reservations !
(4)Michael W.
I have not been here for almost two years. Now that I had time to come... this place has not changed a bit. I put my name down on the waiting list at 7:05 pm.. went to the mall and got back at 8:10pm.. We were seated 8:30pm .. So for an hour 30 min, we waited. This place was insanely packed and with more than 10 parties are waiting out side.... I am glad, there were only two of us, they sat us down faster. there was a party of 14 people.... have been waiting over two hours. All I gotta say... they need to expand and build more hibachi tables.. Anyhow onto the food... I ordered Teriyaki Short Ribs as appetizer to start the night. My entree was Steak and Calamari and my friend ordered the Steak and Scallops. The waitress took down everyone orders and brought us our beverages very rapidly. Soup and ribs came out at the same time, Then the Ginger salad. Our chef came out and did a few lil tricks to start off with flipping the eggs into his pocket with a spatula. As always, they are entertaining to watch because they do everything fast. Every movement and cut is super fast and accurate. I always wait until everything is done cooking. Most people just eat first on what ever it is put on the plate. I like their orangy/ pink sauce. Good with their steak. Anyhow while he is cooking, he performed the volcano fire with the onions then chops it up in pieces. And he used his sharped knife to quickly swift the steaks, chicken and veggies into pieces with one movement. Food rating: After he finished cooking, I started to eat. Veggies were cooked well. not too soft or burned.. I was very disappointed with the noodles because it was too soggy with the sauce that he put on it. Rice was done nicely... pan fried with the eggs. The steak was delicious.. Very tasty and it was actually MEDIUM!!! But i was extremely disappointed with the Calamari... Although it was tendered but it was soo salty... It was just too powerful..... I was barely able to taste the calamari itself.! Anyhow my friend ordered a Cheesecake tempura! That was awesome!! It tasted soo good Overall .. the presentation (show) of the food and cooking was awesome.... The quality of the food was good. The flavor of the food and cooking of the food was mediocre. I think he was just rushing through it. But this place STILL the best place IN Gainesville for Hibachi ! I gave it a 4 star cuz their service. It was rapidly and I didnt have to ask them to refill my water ! And that waitress was serving over 20 people! So I guess they had to be good since they were so busy. People were willing to wait more than 2 hours for them!
(4)Val T.
I live in Ocala and have dined at the Ocala Yamato's as well.... and the both are horrible ! I recently ate at Yamato's in G'ville only to find that they suck too. maybe it's a chain thing?? I don't know..but everything was disgusting. I'm usually the type that finishes EVERYTHING on my plate.. I boxed up 3/4 of my food and threw it out before I even got home. The noodles they serve were the absolute WORST ! Ordered a virgin Pina colada since a had a 40 min drive back from dinner.. totally gross ! Decor GREAT.. Service and Food BLOWS !
(1)Josh S.
First off, a lesson, and I promise I'm not being condescending. This is a teppanyaki style restaurant, not hibachi. A hibachi is a portable charcoal burning grill with a grate, while teppanyaki refers to the specific style of cooking on flat-top iron griddles, as seen in Yamato. Calling this type of restaurant a hibachi-style restaurant is a common confusion, but it's incorrect. So there... at least you may have learned something, in case the rest of my review is just a bunch of redundant crap that you have already read in the other reviews. So... you don't come here for authentic Japanese food, so my rating isn't based on that. I simply base it on other teppanyaki restaurants I've had, and general expectations of what a decent restaurant should be. With that said, there are a lot of things wrong with Yamato. Service is spotty, the chefs are strange and/or boring, and the food is overpriced. The quality doesn't seem initially terrible, but a friend of mine has coined the term "Yamato's Revenge" for a reason, and I've had drive-thru Japanese cuisine that can compete(drive-thru Japanese is a bastion of genius that I wish Gainesville had, but that's another story), and for about $5-6 less per person. I understand the obsession in general with the seafood sauce, but trust me, it can taste much better. If you rave about Yamato, I'd venture to say that you haven't tried many teppanyaki restaurants. But for a first timer, and for Gainesville in general, I guess it will do. My favorite thing about Yamato is the 24oz cans of Kirin Ichiban for $4. Kirin is really nothing that special(Japanese Budweiser), but I tend to drink it a lot when I eat sushi and Japanese food. In fact, if it were up to me and not the majority vote that chooses to come here for any celebration consisting of a party larger than 5, I would treat this as a bar and just drink big cans of Kirin on Friday nights. 3 stars as a neighborhood bar, 2 stars as everything else. I'm rounding down because, well, it's not a neighborhood bar.
(2)Carolyn W.
anything good i may have ever said about this place i take back. HORRIBLE. so to start with...i never said the service was good but tonight i had the pushiest waiter ever and he didn't even listen. several times he did the exact opposite of whatever we were saying. then the chef comes to make the food. i ordered the chicken. well apparently someone else at the table did too. the entire time he was cooking it i thought it was for me and then it turns out it wasn't. THEY LITERALLY FORGOT MY FOOD ENTIRELY. they chef was totally unapologetic and left the rest of the food on the grill to go back to the kitchen. after a ridiculous wait they brought out my chicken and oh my god can i just say that i didn't know chicken could even taste like that?!!! it was so awful and rubbery when you poked it i swear to god it freakin jiggled. my fiance said it was jerky. TOTALLY AWFUL HORRIBLE DISGUSTING and any other adjectives you can think of. NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER GO THERE EVER. did i make myself clear enough?!!!!! it doesn't even deserve the one star rating i am forced to give it.
(1)Justin L.
Large portions and pretty good food. It isn't much different from any other hibachi place except that their seafood sauce is a crowd pleaser. I see people drawing their food in the sauce. Whether it's their rice, veggies, or any kind of meat, it gets drenched in the sauce.
(3)Rachel E.
Why so many negative reviews? I don't get it... I've been to a few hibachi/teppanyaki restaurants and this was one of the best. Every time I drive past this place, there's a line out the door. We went on a Saturday as soon as they opened, hoping to beat this crowd I always see, and there was already a line. I was really worried I would have to gnaw on my arm outside but luckily it was just a large party and we got right in before them. I will say the service is slower than desired but I will take slow service over "fast food" any day. It was kind of a bummer that the sushi menus aren't put on the table. I would have gotten a roll had it been available, and only realized it wasn't because someone at our table had to ask for the menu after everyone already ordered. The server was polite and brought out the soup/salad right away, even though he never asked if we wanted or needed anything else. The chef however.... he was obviously just another Gainesville bro. If he was trying to look interested or engaged, I must have missed it. While waiting for him to come to the table, we watched every table around us get the whole "show" with friendly chefs who paid special attention to making the children laugh. Our table did not have any children so I guess we weren't gettin' any consideration. As a twentysomething adult who has already seen food be cooked this way, it really wasn't that big of a deal. But it certainly was a let down. Anyways, the only thing that matters is the food. And it did not disappoint. I had the Yamato Special (chicken, shrimp, beef) and my girlfriend got the chicken. I'm sitting at home the next day, happily eating the leftovers as I write this (they're even better now). The seafood sauce is outta this world, obviously. I dunno what that junk is, but it is incredible. I wanna put it on my PB&Js
(4)Luke M.
Yamato's is everything you would expect from a japanese steak table restaurant. All the Chefs ive had were very talented and made the meal a fun experience as the food is cooked right infront of you. The hibachi is delicious and the shrimp sauce they give you is even better. The only thing i would complain about is the price, it can get expensive if you are paying for two or add in a sushi roll/app. For one the bill is around $18-$22 but the price can get towards $45-$50 quickly for two if your not careful. Great food and service though, highly recommended on birthdays i think you get a free meal if you can prove its your birthday.
(4)Jake D.
So today was my birthday and several friends and some family took me to Yamato's steakhouse. This was not my first trip here, Ive been several times and have always enjoyed myself. I came with a group of 14 which I highly recommend calling in advance for reservations with a large group like this. All of us were able to share a single hibachi table and because of the shape of the table we were all for the most part facing each other which made conversation across table not so difficult. After your drink and meal orders are taken this is what happens.. The server will bring everybody a bowl some sort of onion soup Then you will be served a bowl of salad with a ginger dressing About the time you are finishing your salad the chef roll his cart out to the table . He confirms all orders and starts his thing **** there is allot of flair in the cooking***** its not like he just cooks your food there is allot of show involved in it. so i don't ruin any surprises i will not go into detail. Once he starts cooking he will whip up a big batch of fried rice. Split it up and serve it. Then he will cook each individual piece of meat to preference. and serve right off the hot cook top. lastly he will cook up some noodles and veggies. Tonight i ordered the teryiaki chicken with no noodles and extra veggies in place of the noodles. Some people prefer extra rice in place of the noodles but i love there veggies. Others in my party order fillet Mignon, steak, salmon, scallops and shrimp..... Everything was cooked to perfection.... Absolute perfection. Others in my party ordered several rolls of sushi , salmon rolls, crab rolls, California rolls and chicken teriyaki rolls. Again everybody had a chance to try one of each and everything was expertly assembled and tasted very good. Bottom line-- This is an amazing place to eat and for large groups its the best. Its dinner and a show, and fun for everybody no matter your age. The food is delicious and atmosphere is upbeat. THE ONE BAD THING-- I don't quite understand why they do this but they will not seat your party until you are all present and accounted for. So like tonight i had a party of 14..... Two of our party were running late so the 12 of us sitting there had to wait to be sat down... This is kind of silly but don't plan on sitting down until all of your party is right there and ready to go. I hope this helps!!!!
(5)Lauren O.
I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews. I actually thought twice about going after reading some of them, but people from work were getting together there so... It was on a Monday night so there was no wait and it wasn't crowded or rushed at all. The service was excellent. Our server was especially nice since I was there by myself with two little kids. She didn't give me a hassle about the kids sharing a kids portion meal even though it says no sharing on the menu (kind of hard to justify spending 8 dollars for each when I know darn well they aren't going to eat enough to fill a birds tummy). The food is no great inspiration but it is hot and fresh and plentiful and they serve a selection of different dipping sauces to add additional flavor. The chefs are fun to watch and add a dinner show like quality to the meal to create a little more of an "experience". I'm not a steak lover (I ordered the tofu and it was just ok) but the rice, veggies, soup and salad more than make up for any deficiency in the protein. In fact, next time I think I'll either get the veggies only or order vegetable tempura off the menu. In short, I think some of the 1 and 2 star reviews were a little unfair. I'm guessing they were from weekend nights when it was really busy or something.
(4)Dani W.
A fun place for birthdays because of the shtick. There's better food to be had, true, but it's just a really fun place to eat. Go for the hibachi, not the normal food. Mixed drinks are pretty good.
(4)Belle C.
The food is good and it's fun for groups (hibachi tables seat 8). Though on my last visit I didn't appreciate the not-so-subtle cues, starting from the moment our chef finished serving our dinners, to hurry along so they could seat the next reservation. Yeah, it's a zoo on football game weekends and they want to turn the tables. But asking who wants a to-go box and delivering the checks as soon as our food is served is a bit much. So is the no-dessert-on-weekends policy. So is outright asking us to leave (albeit politely) almost the instant the last bite of food went into a mouth.
(3)Andres T.
My wife and I love it every time we go and a lot of times we just get the food to go and it's just as great. I think there's been one or two occasions where the chef wasn't the greatest but overall the food is amazing.
(5)Stockton M.
Terrible. How could Japanese food be bad, would be my question hearing that kind of rating? Well, it appears to be a Japanese steakouse with a sushibar that does a decent amount of take-out. I had a noodle dish, two maki rolls, and 3 single pieces of sushi with an iced tea and the total was $36 with tax/tip. That would have been fine if not for the poor hygeine, obnoxious staff, and sub-par food. Oh, also Yelp lists the address wrong. Instead of NEast 6th St., it's on NWest 60th St. Two big differences that made this let-down even worse after having read two nice reviews. I admit to having high standards for Japanese food but the following issues were below expectations for ANY restaurant, which is what earns this the lowest possible rating. Here are the details: CLEANLINESS: 1) There was a hair in my napkin 2) A fly was buzzing around the sushi bar 3) While the sushi chef wore plastic gloves, he sneezed at one point in to the air, not covering his face. He did not wash his hands afterwards. 4) Finally, a worker came out from the kitchen (not in any uniform but in a t-shirt and pants) and without washing his hands or putting on gloves, opened the sushi case, took out 3 sticks of imitation crab, unwrapped them, mashed them into strings; put bare unclean hands into a bowl of wasabi that the sushi chef was using for plating, mixed it with the crab into a tupperware he found behind the sushi bar; squeezed in some hot mayo sauce; then swiped 2 of 4 pieces of shrimp tempura that were pending for the sushi chef to put into a dish and topped off his tupperware creation. He turns to the sushi chef as says, "I'm making it for him in the kitchen; see I'm nice to people who are nice to me." They chuckle and the t-shirted guy leaves and the sushi chef continues to use all of the items/food this guy just touched. It just sets a bad impression. 5) A busboy bin of ?clean/?used dishes and cups sat on the corner of the sushi bar along with other plates ready to be used. SERVICE: 1) While sitting and eating, the sushi chef talks over me to the waitress behind me, saying "she said she pinched his ass" apparently about an intra-waitstaff event. 2) Later during my meal a worker comes up to the sushi bar and asks the chef if he wants a beer. "If it's allowed," he says. The worker returns and says--"oh it's not allowed to drink on the job; do you want me to sneak it for you." The chef says "no, it's against the rules." Then a third worker comes up to the sushi bar and yells quite loudly about the other worker, "See that guy! He's the best here. Give him the best sushi. Always give him the best!" Besides the fact that the worker was not even there to eat (he was on the job), he screams this right over my head! 3) Unfortunately, I spilled something on my shirt. I was looking for the waitress and the chef says, "do you need something?" I told him I was looking for a glass of water to clean myself up. He went to look for her in the kitchen, returned and said she must be somewhere else. I sat there for some time and finally, he decided to get it for me himself. Waitress just MIA. ATMOSPHERE: 1) While I was there, aparty was going on apparently in a private room. Lot's of hooting and hollaring could be heard even though the event was far across the restaurant. 2) There was a bar for drinks with a tv showing basketball, but it was pretty vacant. There were some chic blue cobalt lights above the bar. 3) The rest of the restaurant was stucco and wood paneling which looked like a Mexican restaurant which had been converted to a Japanese restarant. FOOD: 1) The sushi itself was dry appearing with no "glistening" that you would expect of fresh fish. One maki roll was somewhat fishy tasting (in the bad way). With all of the above having transpired, I just stopped eating it. Little fishwas used such that there was a space in the center of the maki rolls where there actually was no fish. 2) A noodle dish (yaki udon) was over-soy'd with that overly tangy taste that is unrewarding. On the positive side, the shrimp and vegetables were nicely grilled in it, albeit sparse. 3) The noodles came with a wimpy salad seriously drowning in a soy-based dressing and a soup which was bland but had a couple slices of mushrooms, which were ok. 4) I saw brown, rotten part of an avodado used for someone else's sushi. 3) I did not eat at the steakhouse grills where the chefs cook in front of the customers. People appeared to be enjoying it there. Seemed like that was a major thrust of the restaurant.
(1)Tu-van L.
Your typical habachi-style Japanese steakhouse. Flavors are mild and mainstream catering to the American/local ACR pallete. Great for accomodating large parties.
(3)Esther B.
DO NOT EAT AT YAMATO! My husband took me to Yamato tonight for a nice dinner. Turned out to be NOT so nice! Mid way through my meal I notice a large ant crawling around in my food! I tell the chef, who sits and watches it and says "oh" but keeps on cooking! I waited a moment to see what he would do- nothing! So I got up and found the first employee and told him to clear our plates because we will not be eating anything else because there is an ant in my food. He took my plate and sent over the manager who did not apolpogize, but rather said "you're worried about an ant?" and offered to have fresh food cooked for me. Makes me wonder what else I should worry about if not an ant, or are they so used to the ants that they don't think it is a big deal??? Needless to say, we did not want any more food from them, fresh or not! They still charged for my husbands meal but took mine off the check. Not a big deal for them as they give free dinner away constantly on people's birthdays. It ruined my husband's dinner and experience just as much, but the rude little manager didn't seem to understand that and said "the chef probably didn't understand". Really? Because he watched an ant crawl around my food, don't think you have to have good English to understand that! It's too bad because this used to be one of my favorites, but I have to say the few experiences were not very good either.
(1)Logan f.
I got hit with a piece of chicken. Overpriced and stingy portions.
(3)Ron K.
This is the best Japanese Steak House in Gainesville. When you go you have to sit at the Hibachi table! The meal comes with soup and salad and the entree comes with your choice of meat (or meats, if you are hungry!), vegetable medley, rice, and noodles. It is a fun place to go with friends, I am wary of going there with a date (especially a first date) because it does get loud in there (so keep that in mind). They also have a selection of sushi. If you still have room after dinner make sure you get the fried ice cream (it's always a great way to end a meal!!)
(5)Connie C.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Gainesville. I love their shrimp and scallops (seared to perfection). The meal come with soup and salad. And you entree comes with rice, noodles, and vegetables. The seafood sauce (also known as the yum yum sauce) is the best. It is a fun place to go with friends, and you can always call ahead and make reservations. The only time I don't recommend going is the night of graduation (it is total chaos and they have a fixed menu)
(5)Tim G.
It seemed to be a little pricey for the food, but this place is a great night for a group.
(4)Kristen C.
If I reviewed Yamato solely based on their food, I would give it five stars - hands down - because the food is definitely very good. But my frustration with Yamato is the HORRENDOUSLY POOR SERVICE we received during our last visit. Look, I'm usually pretty laid-back, forgiving and understanding when it comes to those in food service because I've been there -- but come on, Yamato. I don't like to write play-by-play reviews but this one is necessary. Our party of six was seated at about 9:30 PM and another party of four was seated at the same table with us. The other party happened to be a well-known pastor in Gainesville and his family. The hostess came by and took our drink orders and about ten minutes later, took our dinner orders. We all received our soups soon after. Then, we waited for our chef. And waited. And waited some more. Finally, my husband went to inquire about our missing chef. The manager proceeds to tell my husband that the other party at our table (the pastor's party) had requested a "special" and specific chef and that's why we were waiting. My husband let the manager know how it is bad management practice to allow one party to wait for another party's request, especially without giving the party any kind of notice of what the hell is going on. The manager tells him, "Well, what would you like me to do about it? There is nothing I can do." My husband came back to the table. About ten minutes later, our chef magically appeared. Once the chef began serving everyone it became immediately apparent that he was serving the pastor's party more food than our party. Sure, it sounds petty but we were frustrated at this point. Again, my husband sought relief from the manager. NOPE. Nothing he could do or cared to do. NOTHING. No one came to our table to apologize for our inconvenience. At the very least, that is what should have happened. When I spoke with the manager on our way out of the restaurant, he was extremely nonchalant and unapologetic. The best part of the night? The pastor and his family were taking their food TO-GO.
(2)April O.
A friend suggested that we eat here this past Saturday afternoon. Neither of us was aware that the store only served dinner on the weekends. So I walked in at 3, could barely get anyone to even acknowledge me to tell me that we were 2 hours too early to eat, and then had the unenviable pleasure of being discussed in another language and openly laughed at by the serving staff. Classy. I'm sure the food is fine, but I won't be returning to find out.
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