Desaki Restaurant
2054 Rt 611, Swiftwater, PA, 18370
Desaki Restaurant Menu
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Address :
2054 Rt 611
Swiftwater, PA, 18370 - Phone (570) 839-2500
- Website https://desakirestaurant.com/thegarden.html
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
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 : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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J. D.
When we walked in, I was impressed..it is a beautifully decorated restaurant and spacious...we had to wait a bit for a table (it was Saturday and packed) so we stood on the balloon animal line. When it wasn't moving after 15 minutes, we went to wait on the Face Painting line, but after 15 more minutes of waiting, we were being seated. So we sat at an upstairs table and were cramped and extremely close to the other tables. When the cooking started, it was fun. The chef was pelting food at us, made the flame volcano onion and smiled a lot. Unfortunately the food was only ok. We went back down to get a balloon and/or face painting and they were closed;( When we got the bill, we were shocked at the prices! Very overpriced for underwhelming food. I was disappointed in the waiter service as our plates were dirty & we had to ask several times for replacements. Anyway you pay for bells& whistles& if you go in a big group& drink alcohol, then you won't mind spending the big bucks!
(3)Jason S.
Went with my kids and parents for Father's day dinner. While overall we enjoyed ourself, the experience was only ok. Food was "fine", if a bit salty. Chef was very personable, and entertaining - though other staff were not particularly attentive. In particular - while we were seated very quickly, and appetizers and soup were very fast, it took a long, long time to get a chef. Also - they have a 'no water' policy that seems designed to push up the check.
(3)Adrienne C.
I'm so sad..... We've eaten here a few times. Food is always very good. That's why we come back.. bUT the service is horrible. Tonight we didn't even get a plate an saucer for our sushi!! Wtf!!! Which came out before the appitiZer! AND the plates were plastic!!! For the high prices this place charges, give me a real plate! The waitress was mediocre at best. It was a special 50%night and I think because of that hey jacked the prices ..my glass of wine was $13!! ??? AND They have an automatic 18% gratuity, I get that for large parties but not parties of 2! I believe in tipping really well when its good service and less when it's bad. Lastly.. They put in more hibachi tables, and it's so cramped you can hear the people next to you chewing for gods sake!! After 14 years in the Poconos ..il take my business elsewhere...we've been here 4x now & this is most likely are last!
(3)Athena W.
Love the fresh sushi here. We will usually get the Japanese soup which has fried onions within it, seaweed salad, Japanese wings and dragon roll whenever you are here. Dragon roll relates to eel (sweet, cooked fish). They do a good dish of crispy soft shell crab here as well! You have to come here on Tuesdays because it's half-priced!
(4)Mariellis S.
We came to this place at our first night of staying down here. It was very good, service was good, food amazing and chef was funny as usual. Refill for drinks without asking, and I enjoyed it. We came a little late, and I felt like they were trying to get us out of there and I didn't enjoy that at all, so get there before closing. The chairs slid on the floor like crazy, so don't were heels. But all in all, good job.
(4)Jen R.
This was my first time at Hibachi and overall it was a great experience. Our server Kyle was great!! There were some off putting signs around letting everyone know "stay off the grass" "stay off the rocks" "don't touch the waterfall". Lol. The landscaping out front was pretty. The chefs and the food were good. We really enjoyed the Teriyaki chicken and the NY Strip. The noodles were very tasty but the rice was a little bland. The edamame was a great way to start the meal. The only issue, which was pretty annoying came after the chefs finished cooking. A new chef Nate (Caucasian) was fun to watch since he was in training and he did a great job. Back to the point. The chefs finished cooking and not 5 minutes after we were given the bill and boxes for our food. Kyle did say take your time but another 5 minutes passed and a busboy came over and said want me to box anything? We were still eating clearly but 5 minutes later another busboy came and asked if we're done and needed boxes. We were a party of 8 with 5 kids and dropped a pretty penny so of course my mom and cousin started mentioning to the busboys how awkward it was that we were basically being pushed out. They were sweet but it was not a good way to end the experience.
(3)Sherrice B.
Disappointed!! This place is beautiful to look at. The Chefs were fantastic and entertaining. The food could use a little work, very tasteless and the chicken was over cooked. The prices are ridiculous an they add a 18% gratuity to your check. The waiter added his spu at the end of our meal that the tip is for the chef, the waiter, and the bartender and if we wanted to leave him a little extra we could. My girlfriend and her daughter order sodas after they drank the sodas the waiter asked if they wanted another and another, NEVER mentioning that they are not free refills so she ended up paying 20.00 in sodas fees. At 9:20pm we were still eating an the waiter came asking if he could put our food in boxes. I thgt that was rude being as thgh you close til 10:00 an there's is still another table waiting to eat their food. I just didn't understand why we were being rushed !!
(3)Brooke J.
Yarrrr. The monetisation monster, she's gone wild, Captain. From the second you set foot inside the picturesque location, it's inescapable that literally every breath you take has been weighed by a bean counter. Even our edamame looked tortured and counted out. When you go for hibachi, you expect a show. Front of the house and back of the house are meant to blend, and they're meant to make you laugh. You know that embarrassment that comes with a birthday party? Well they don't limit it to once a year: cameras are shoved in peoples' faces every Friday night. Hooray! Why no, I don't want to sing for my supper over a track that's blaring at airport levels of noise. I would have loved to talk to other diners, but it simply wasn't possible. They do ensure that you're crammed in like sardines with your plastic plates. We did get the new guy on the grill. It was painfully obvious. On top of how nervous he was, his pit boss was looming behind him about 20 paces away. Seriously, it was just like being in Vegas without the cards. How that possibly qualifies as management, I don't know. I wonder how my experience would have been if I had got a veteran teppan yaki chef. Have fun waiting a bit for dinner. It's like the manager is waiting for you to finish your first drink so that they can gauchely charge you for a refill. Don't worry, asking for water results in Salvation Army Nestlé Water. Nevermind that this place sits on one of the best aquifers in the country, have some boiled bottled tasteless crap at a premium. Accounting has assured that the food is bland through removing spring onion, garlic, and ginger. This wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if they used an infused oil. They don't. It tasted like bottom line canola, which was very obvious since it lacked other flavours. Salt? Nah. Literally one piece of sweet corn, one pea, and three pieces of egg in my fried rice. It was mystifying since the mixed vegetables were delicious, though in unbelievably short supply. Super disappointing given that the rice was the proper grain and well prepared. I was hunting about for the furikake, but being Americatown, they didn't have any. They don't even have soy sauce at the table. Be prepared for some seriously bleh chicken. No advanced prep? No problem, serve it anyway, gristle and all! I actually spit out my first piece. I suppose the pit boss had better things to do than inquire as to what was wrong. With each cube of chicken a totally different size, some are raw and some are burnt. The steak is a _little_ better, but that's not saying much. At least the flavouring on the protein is better than the lack thereof on the rice. What is with the timing in this joint? There are some grilles that crank things out separately, but I always feel like it's worth the wait. Not here. It might as well come all at once in a tsunami of suck. The noodles are just as awful as the rice, so alas, copious amounts of starch will not save you. The show itself is lacking. It's as if there's a timer and they have to crank out three tricks in their allotted time or face firing. The staff are all very stiff. I can only assume they bear the brunt of unreasonable pricing and an 18% mandatory gratuity. That's not for a party of 10 or more, that's for everyone that sits down. Customers NEVER appreciate being forced to pay a premium, and the management here just don't get that. I wouldn't have had much of an issue with this restaurant if the price to quality ratio was correct. It is FAR from that. I've eaten many times for over a hundred dollars a plate. I am willing to pay a lot if I get something unique or tasty. I am more than comfortable stating that this place is not worth the $35 minimum you'll pay. You can't share a plate without a ridiculous charge, either. At this price point, I expect doting service, a clean restroom (not disgusting gas station hell!), and moderate food quality. I'm feeling very generous giving this place 2 stars by virtue of the fact that it probably won't poision you. The bottom line: stop caring about the bottom line so much. Management should road trip to the Culinary Institute for some wisdom on how to make money and not make it look like that's the raison d'etre. I assume they've done the calculations based on pissing people off so that they only stiff us once, but it makes far more sense to go for return business.
(2)Catherine V.
Absolutely love this restaurant. The food was delicious. Since my move from Florida to New York, I've been in search for a new hibachi restaurant favorite. I finally found it but saddened it's in PA. They have yum yum sauce like Kobe's Japanese Steak House and their scallops are to die for. The server was fantastic. His tricks focused on the fact that everyone at my table has been to a hibachi restaurant so we already knew the routine/tricks. He surprisingly showed us tricks we had never seen. GREAT experience and PHENOMENAL food with military discount of 25% off. Couldn't ask for more.
(5)R.B. D.
The food at Desaki is pretty good, the restaurant is beautiful and they offer things like face painting and balloons for the kids. Unfortunately, that's all that is good about this restaurant and you pay for all of that with very high prices that are absolutely not worth it. Never sit upstairs in that modified attic they call a dining room. I'm not sure how this place packs in the crowds, but I will never be among them again.
(2)Philip F.
The food was average Hibachi. This place is way over priced(should have read the other reviews). I tipped the first guy $20 on a Tuesday to get a private table... He then places us in a cafeteria style area. (Fail) The best scam was after handing me a $260 bill for 2 adults and 4 kids (2 alcohol drinks @$11 each )... The waiter says that we put an 18% surcharge on the bill and he only gets half... He has to split with the bus boys and cooks...please feel free to add to the 18% service charge (Really) .... Next scam was... I asked 2 people if I show a players card from Mt. Pocono ,do they honor the 10% discount ... Both said yes... I get the bill and $6 is knocked off the bill. He says only your meal gets10% off not the entire table.... AVIOD! I was better off eating at the casino ! We were offered water that .25 cents per bottle goes to the Salvation Army... I doubt it!!! Avoid Avoid Aviod
(1)Noah R.
Good sushi Tuesday deal was great half off sushi. Very big like a cafeteria, open and loud. The hibachi is good the portion is as little small and the food is pricey. A fun place to take the kids when visiting Mt Pocono.
(3)Sharon w.
The sushi is fresh and the rolls are huge, I did have to send two out of four rolls back because they were made incorrectly. Maybe the chef was having an off night, overall the place is well decorated and has a large variety of hibachi and sushi choices. I think overall it's a much better eating experience than what they have to offer at the great wolf lodge, so makes a good dinner option of you are staying near by.
(4)Sherry T.
OVERPRICED! I should have known better, but gave into the kids desire to have Hibachi this past Saturday night. I live in Hoboken, so I am used to NYC prices; but this was OUTRAGEOUS and additionally the food was not good. The service was good, the chef at the table was totally boring - didn't even do the Sake in our mouths trick. They also build in the tip; which is stupid if you wanted to pay for great service and horrible if you wanted to stick to 15%. So - $100.00 later - I had veggie hibachi (couldn't bring myself to pay another $10.00 for chicken) - kids each had chicken (2 kids) - we had a california roll and i had a house glass of wine. STAY AWAY!!!!!
(1)E C.
Terrible, terrible, terrible. We have not had such a bad experience as we did here in a very long time. Ridiculously overpriced, poor service, and a rip off joint. I don't usually complain about prices as I don't mind paying for quality and service. But here? Are you kidding me? $33 for small scallop hibachi dinner that is mostly rice? Where are the scallops? The chef accidentally threw some fried rice in to my husband's glass of beer and therefore asked the waiter to bring my husband another beer. The waiter asked if we were willing to pay for another beer. They weren't going to replace the fried rice "contaminated" beer. And they charged us for it too. Seriously? They automatically add 18% gratuity. I now know why!
(1)Chris D.
Our waiter Andrew was vey plesant and provided exceptioal service, chef David put on a great show while preparing an outstanding meal. Food was great though a bit over priced. Selection is limited to hibachi or sushi. It's a hibachi restaurant more so than a Japanese restaurant.
(4)M Y.
The food was okay, but very small amount and overpriced. I have been visiting the area on weekends for over 15 years and have been at this place several times. Recently they started this new thing where a 18% gratuity is automatically charged regardless of the size of the party. Then at the end of the meal, the waiter comes to explain in that he only gets a gratuity of 4.5%, because it's split among the busboy and the chef and bartender, so he wants more gratuity. The chefs and busboys should fully paid by the restaurant and their pay should not be passed on to the customers. I would never return again. There are other good sushi places in the area.
(1)Cibi A.
The two of us went on a Thursday evening for dinner, had no wait and a friendly waiter. I had a Dynamite roll, I was hoping with a name like that for some heat...but it didn't deliver and the sauce was oddly sweet. Had the shrimp tempura roll which was large and pretty standard. Had a bite of the Pocono mountain special roll, and other than the actual fish pieces being delicious, it was not worth the price ($17) at all. I don't think I would visit again, the ambience is nice inside and it's large but I found the entire sushi menu entirely overpriced. Everything was ok, but far best I've had... If we did ever come here again, maybe the hibachi entertainment / meal would up a star rating.
(2)Nick C.
First off, to call this a Japanese restaurant would be a misnomer. Your two choices for food are hibachi or sushi--no ramen, no udon, no teriyaki, or any other hot Japanese dishes. This was a real disappointment because I really wanted a hot bowl of noodles. Ultimately, my wife and I decided to try the sushi. Unfortunately, this was worst sushi we've ever tasted. We ordered the salmon skin, spider, and dynamite rolls. The first disappointment we noticed was the presentation. These rolls were the diameter of golfballs, as if they had Shrek in the back rolling their sushi. They fell apart once I picked them up with my chopsticks. As far as taste goes, the rice had the texture of pre-made Costco sushi, the crab in the spider roll was soggy, the salmon skin was tasteless, and the "desaki sauce" they drizzled over the dynamite roll completely masked the taste of the fish. To make it worse, an 18% tip gets automagically added to your bill. Since when does a restaurant do that for a party of two?! I'd rather lose my money at the nearby casino than spend it at this place again. Fail!
(1)Farmerken L.
Mediocre food made up for by great service and good ambience. Pros: extremely friendly staff and great service. Hibachi chefs were entertaining. If you are staying at Great Wolf Lodge, they offer a shuttle service to and from the restaurant. Note you will need to tip the driver. Upside is that you can get your drink on. Hibachi entrees includes rice, veggies, lo mein and miso soup. The decor is nice for the Poconos area and if you sit on the left side of the dining room, you will see some deer thru the window. They leave like a wooden box of feed to attract the deers. They add in a 19% gratuity, so make sure to check ur bill and don't double up the tip. Cons: Pricey, a surf and turf combo will run you about $40 ($45 if u want filet). Sushi and rolls are priced at what a top NYC restaurant would charge and more. We didn't opt for sushi and just did hibachi. You get lots of food when you order the entrees, but its all made the same way. Butter, salt, pepper and soy. Asides from the texture of lobster vs. Steak, it all tasted the same -guess that's why I have never been a big fan of hibachi. Worst miso soup ever. Must have been the oil from the grill because the floors were very slippery. Be careful Conclusion: My daughter (4 yrs old) and her cousins (teens) were entertained by the hibachi chef's showmanship. Service by the staff was excellent and I really appreciate good service. Food pricey and mediocre at best. To be honest, you are paying for the service, brief entertainment, ambience and not the food. Overall a positive experience! Breakdown of my review: Service: 4.5 stars Decor: 4 Food: 2.5 Pricepoint: 2.5 (food quality does not justify the cost) Cleanliness: 3.5 (4 if the floors weren't so slippery) Overall: 3 stars (4 if the floors weren't slippery and they lowered the price a little)
(3)Blond B.
My husband really wanted to go as we love the food .... Once again it reminded me why I do not go there ... The service is beyond crap!
(1)Rebecca D.
Very disappointed but my visit. I had very high hopes for this restaurant. Staff was friendly, typical hibachi jokes but he seemed to genuinely enjoy doing it as opposed to just reciting the same lines. great setup with lots of tables to accomadate a vary large number rof people. dance floor, xboxs. I started with sushi. the rolls were fresh and very good quality but over priced. Rhea hibachi itself was thoroughly unsatisfying. The rice was far to salty and overcooked. The meat was bland and rubbery. Another place I would definitely give another shot. We went on an extremely busy night.
(2)R. W.
A1! What a great night we had. Visited with my wife and two children. This was their first time in a Hibachi style restaurant and they had a blast. The place was clean and quite beautiful. The owners were present and you can see the pride and fruits of their labor. From the welcome greeting of our Hostesses, Insightfulness of our Waitress Nicola down to the funny charm of Chef Stanley, all were terrific. At first sight of menu one might think a little pricey but after you do the math you will learn that all is fair. You should expect to pay a tad more for fine ambiance, delicious & plenty-ful food and fun staff that all will make for a perfect family night out! PS. My son & daughter both gave 5 Stars! Rich Walker. L.I., NY
(5)N M.
Let me get some things out of the way before I go into the greatness of my dining experiences here. First off, servers make 2.83 an hour and it is "customary" to tip your chef. So anyone complaining about 18% added gratuity "wtf!!" Stay home and cook for your cheap self. Second is that the bottled water is 25 cents!!! WHAT r u people complaining about 25 damn cents!!! Refer to the above statement on that one. Rant... Over. So onto the greatness! The building itself is awesome to look at. We saw it from the Dunkin Donuts across the street and it just looks awesome with the stone work and the lodge feeling of it. So we go in and right off the bat greeted with all smiles. Our server Bart took us to the table explained all the policies. And told us about some of their rolls to start. The Katana was awesome, the seaweed topping was a nice touch:) I got the salmon which was DELICIOUS! Donny, our chef, really knows his stuff! It was flakey and buttery lemon goodness. Then, he turns off the lights and does his little grand finale. My nephew is 9 and had a blast. I mean this kid talked about Desaki all night. When a 9 year old says "I love those people!" You know they're going out of their way to make sure you had an experience. So basically if you're looking to be offended, then their policies may do just that. But in the grand scheme they're not ludicrous ( if you think so, maybe you're just a complainer??). Overall food was delicious hibachi with an awesome presentation. Service was excellent and our server was so cute and charming. In the words of my nephew " Delicious and the show was fantastic!!" Desaki definitely calls for 5 stars.
(5)Chuck C.
Not giving any Hibachi a 5 star rating, but this was very good. Great Sushi rolls and the chef made a fantastic filet. Quite expensive, but it's a tourist area and you really go for the show. On this night the service was impeccable. I only add this comment in contrast to the reviews about poor service. The bartenders were good, the wait staff good and the chef very entertaining. In short everything we wanted in a Hibachi and Sushi restaurant. I wouldn't go often, but I would go again.
(4)Michael And Deborah R.
We had a party of 5 stop in on a Sunday afternoon in August. Not crowded at that time. We were seated at a hibachi people along with the 3 other patrons. I left to visit the ladies room and evidently at that time, a wait staff arrived and gave a speech regarding the menu and the fact that a gratuity was automatically added to the bill. I missed that speech. The food was acceptable, nothing great, nothing bad. Typical hibachi. Tons of rice, throw in an egg and some chopped chicken and charge too much for what it is. When we wrapped up, our waiter returned and once again informed the guests of the gratuity that would be automatically added, stating that this was shared among so many; the chefs, the waiters, the bar staff, et cet. (Geez, isn't that what wages are for?) He continued to say that it was appreciated if you added additional gratuity to their already factored in charge. Now this was the first I heard this speech, as i mentioned I was previously in the ladies room. However, when I heard this, I immediately remembered a story I had just seen on Good Morning America wherein a New York Attorney was starting a class action lawsuit against several restaurants, including, i believe some in the Darden chain. This reporter revealed how many Manhattan restaurants were "double dipping", by adding on a gratuity, then leaving an additional line for "tip". Patrons that didn't pay close attention were then leaving twice the amount of a tip. This Attorney went on to say that say that restaurants are misusing the term "gratuity'. There needs to be a distinction between a "service charge" and a gratuity. Gratuity and tip being one and the same. When some of the restaurants in Manhattan were interviewed - in their defense- they stated that if a patron did not agree with the gratuity that was automatically added, that 'of course they could cross out that amount and write in what they desired to leave. This story being fresh in my mind, I decided to do just that. So, the bill came and it was close to $250.00 (for lunch for 5, including 2 children). Indeed there was an amount added in. i scratched it out and changed it to a 15% tip rather than their (I believe 18%). The difference was nominal, but it was the principal. We still had a table full of people sitting there, so i called the waiter over me to discreetly make him aware of the change. When i did so, he said he was unable to comply with my change. At that point i asked to speak with a manager. I left the table area and followed him to the bar area (so as not to disrupt the others or to make a scene). Next a young man appeared and asked me what the problem was, and i explained. I was told that I "had to pay as they determined it". That remark truly rubbed me wrong, till this point i was patient. But, being told "I had to pay"? i asked him, well, if i don't, pay that gratuity, then what. He said, "well, we call the police and have you arrested". Can you believe someone had the nerve to say this? So now, I am really getting steamed. Soon, they bring out a woman who i assume may be either an owner or a higher manager as back-up for what the young male manager told me. She seemed to take great pride and delight in standing the ground of DeSaki adding in this automatic charge, and indeed confirmed they would call the police. She went onto tell how they pay premium prices for their fish, how the gratuity is shared among many. On and on and on . Of course none of this had to do with the issue at hand. That being how could they demand that i pay what they determined to be a proper tip. With that, i decided to call one of my employers. i happen to work for two very different attorneys and phoned the younger, more aggressive one. Course the owner made the comment "how disgusting that you have your attorney on speed-dial, what a litigious society we live in". Little did she know that he was my employer. So I got the attorney on the phone, briefly explained the situation, and he advised me to stay there and let them arrest me. However, unfortunately, right at this time, my grandaughter came to me begging and pleading to leave. Not only was a scene being created by this time, but she had to return to the summer camp that she was attending nearby. I chose to leave and pay what they asked at this time. i have however vowed to return, this time with two attorneys in tow (for an office lunch), wait until the restaurant is crowded and try the same situation. Then, let them call the police and arrest me. As long as i am prepared and don't have anything pressing, sitting in won't be an issue. Then - it is my intent to have one of the attorneys set precedent on this issue and create a winning lawsuit that will finally force establishments such as this to properly categorize their charges. Either raise the prices of the meals (although they are sufficiently high) or add a "service charge" Our total bill was close to $250.00
(1)Diane B.
Truly sad.... It was never the best to begin with but today is just horrendous.
(1)Kathy S.
The prices have DOUBLED since we were last here and the portions are smaller. They do not offer tap water. They let children play around the diners. This place is definitely off my list.
(1)Emily H.
I have been here twice. The decor is very nice and the restaurant is clean. Prices are so-so, about the same as what you would expect from a hibachi place. The food is pretty good, not AMAZING or the best I've ever had, but still good. It's definitely a fun time when drinks are involved. Parking lot is nice and big also.
(3)Tamara K.
Worst sushi everrrr! Wouldn't even give this restaurant a second twirl.
(1)Chad M.
This is the the new name for Shiro. See many more reviews under that name here on Yelp. I ate there with family this year and it was NOT good. Prices were way too high and portions way too small.
(2)K. S.
Went on a Friday night for dinner with friends and a toddler. The parking lot was completely full, but you'd never have known it from the space inside, it's enormous! And yet in theme with Japanese style as well, despite it's supersize-ness. And acoustics good, despite the size of the facility (which it really is, not just a restaurant). Definitely meticulously thought out interior, open and spacious and elegant. We sat near the door where there's a water feature my son was dying to touch. The dance floor wasn't really active yet, but it's promising. The hibachi was a great performance, even though I have been to others. The food was darn good for everyone but me, I just don't love how salty it was. The fried rice was just not my thing and it's waaay too much butter--which is probably true for any other restaurant but here you can see how much! We had 3 dinners on the hibachi and one sushi dinner and I should have been sushi dinner #2 instead of the teppan-yaki, I think. Everyone else loved their meal but I loved my husband's. With 2 cokes, 1 juice, and 3 alcoholic drinks, that was $191. Drinks were excellent. It definitely is above what most restaurants cost in the Poconos, but it's a restaurant unlike others in many respects. We'll definitely go back again, though I will have sushi next time. I heard they have salsa and swing on Sundays, which is curious--that's such different crowds and music, but I'm intrigued.
(4)Steven S.
I never ever write reviews or even take the time out to write a review. Desaki deserves me to take time out to share my experience. Decor AWESOME! Food, mediocre, probably because service was real bad and prices were way out of line. For $40 hibachi filet and scallop combo i should not see the waitstaff serving me and my children with his fingers inside the bowl. On the menu it says they do not serve tap water, no free refills, and regardless of party size automatic 18% gratuity. Oh and our server Josh made sure we knew that he had to split the 18% gratuity between the cook, bartender and himself, so he advised us we should leave extra on top of it for him. Party of 4 adults and 6 kids(2-8 year old) $300 + $60 mandatory tip= $360 and thats with 10% discount.. This place is not worth it. They try to bribe you with 10% coupons on top of it.
(1)Helene D.
For the Poconos, Shiro( Now Deasaki) is definitely a step up. However, having lived in Manhattan, Queens and most recently, Las Vegas (before moving here 10 months ago--LONG STORY), Shiro is mostly average, even if it's prices are not. The most glaring issue I had was with the HORRIFIC service. If you have the money to build a 12,000 sqft restaurant then you had darn well better invest some money and time training your staff. My server looked like she was on crack she was shaking so much and then had the nerve to tell me that I ordered my meal incorrectly when SHE brought out the wrong item at the wrong time. The appetizers came out after the entree was served without even one apology or explanation from the server. Just a nightmare! And here is the irony of this whole review. I'm waiting for my BF to come home from Shiro with some sushi to-go that I was NOT able to order over the phone. Their phone message is so long and annoying- you have to wait a full 90 seconds listening to some woman droll on and on about everything available that when she finally gets to the options menu, your eyes are so glazed over from the boredom of it all that you miss your option and have to listen to the whole damn thing all over again...yet this is still not the kicker... The kicker is that they did not answer the phone at all!!!! So my BF had to drive down there, order, and then WAIT.....so far...not so good is my rating on Shiro. Since they are new, they get the proverbial 3 strikes...I just hope this sushi is good and that I'm awake when it finally gets here.
(2)Ellen B.
The service was fast and good. The food was pricey considering they charge you an automatic 18% gratuity, however the drinks were tasty and actually had liquor in them when most mixed drinks are watered down. We enjoyed the hibachi which was absolutely yummy and our chef was truly entertaining which our girls would love! Definitely going back again.
(4)anita r.
Went to Mount Airy and when we left we were hungry. We passed Desaki and figured how bad could it be for a late lunch. We were greeted by the hostess and seated even though it was before 4pm. The sushi chef was cordial and said hello as we entered. The waiter was nice enough, and took our order, ever mindful to recommend the special, which was on a board behind the sushi bar without a price, but how much could a spicy tuna roll with seaweed salad cost. We ordered one and a couple other rolls. When the food came we asked for water and were informed they do not serve tap water only bottled water. Really? Okay forget the water. Im not paying for water because you wont give me free water. The food was decent. Nothing amazing. When the bill came I was shocked to see I was charged 25.00 for the special roll, which really wasnt all that special. They then took our Mt Airy card and gave us a 10% discount and charged us an 18% gratuity! When I confronted the hostess/manager she informed me I shouldve asked for prices before we ordered. The beer they pushed on me was the only one not on the menu and was 8 dollars and change for a domestic brewed beer. All in all, avoid this place like the plague!
(1)Melly N.
So on vacation my boyfriend and I went to Desaki for dinner. The chef was great and entertaining. The atmosphere is very inviting and colorful. I found that he put a lot soy sauce in all the dishes making them a bit salty. Now the prices were very high. If you used a Mt. Airy Casino card, you get 10% off your entree which is not bad. If you sign up for a coupon you get 25% off your entree. I wish I had known that before entering, if you do not have any of these discounts, you are going to pay way more for food that does not have great quality. You are better off going to Sonic for more flavorful food and quicker service. Also the 18% gratuity is pretty much forced upon you. They do tell you that it is split between the server, the chef and the staff so you are supposed to feel less hesitant on giving almost a $20 tip that is just OK. So my fellow Yelpers, if you choose to go here for hibachi, remember to get your discounts and your credit card because you are going to need it.
(3)Melissa G.
The pros = the place is very nice looking and inviting, great location, the waitresses and hostesses are nice (my hubby like that they were all dressed in sexy black outfits), they have 3 full bars, a dance floor, videos playing all the time. Check out their bathrooms - they are fully automated so it automatically dispenses toilet paper, towels, soap, water - even at the exit there is a tissue to use to open the door with. Very cool :) I don't agree with people that say that this was built for the locals though. This was totally built for the tourists, specifically those familes visiting Great Wolf Lodge. They even offer a shuttle bus from GWL. OK, the cons - its very expensive especially for The Poconos (we paid $92 for 2 people with one person not having drinks and eating sushi instead of the habachi). It is WAY overcrowded - they try to fit way too many people at the habachi tables. At our table they had 3 people on the end - too many - and so uncomfortable that when they stuck us in the middle, we asked to wait for another table. I guess they count that some of the patrons will be kids and be small. The sushi and sashimi is small and pityful and very, very basic (and expensive for what you get). The shumai is straight out of a frozen package from the grocery store and just soggy and terrible (and for $9 - shame on them!). But let's be serious - people are coming here for the hibachi and the entertainment. The hibachi food is pretty good - the rice and noodles are excellent, the filet mignon melts in your mouth. The seasonings are very simple though - salt, pepper, soy sauce, oil and butter. The quantity is pretty good on the hibachi food but I would not recommend ordering the sushi except for an appetizer. All in all, its OK but for almost $100 for dinner is a bit much. Oh, and PLEASE NOTE gratuity is included!
(2)Beetle G.
Went to Shiro on 8/13/09 with some friends, a party of 5 total. We were mostly socializing and I did not get to eat much, so my review here is for the management's customer service which I greatly appreciated, and not for the food (sorry, yelpers, next time I will eat more!) We decided to buy dinner for everyone, and we did not notice that this restaurant chooses to automatically add and 18% gratuity charge to the bill, no matter the size of your party. We did not realize it, and in a rush we tipped an additional 20%. When we got home to San Diego and reviewed our travel expenses, I practically had a heart attack seeing that we tipped 38%!! I called the manager, reported the situation, and she called me back the next day. She refunded the 18% gratuity that they auto-charged, and kept the 20% that we wanted to leave. The credit appeared on my charge card the next business day. It was a relief to find out they were willing to do this. I wanted to tell others here about the 18% auto-charge - lookout for it on your bill, and hopefully you enjoy the food!
(4)Harold T.
Ever since my daughters "graduated high school", I don't find much reason to go up towards the Swiftwater/Mt. Pocono area any more. It's kinda desolate and the gun violence is much higher. Unfortunately for me our Township holiday party was held at Desaki this year. If you live in the area, you have no doubt have heard of this place. I'm fairly certain that they have purchased every available billboard in a 40 mile radius. Driving on 33, I saw their two-part billboard where some sushi guy was flipping a shrimp on one sign and a lady was catching it in her mouth on the other. While trying to wrap my head around this wizardry, I ended up wrapping my Oldsmobile around a guard rail. This happened 3 weeks in a row. Cost me over $15,000 in auto repairs. Needless to say I don't drive on 33 anymore because of those voodoo billboards. But anyway, their damn signs are everywhere. For those of you who are familiar, Desaki sits on the same plot of land that mafia-run Fanucci's restaurant used to sit on. You know, that weird looking restaurant that looked like a pirate wine barrel and no one ever went to. I went there once; after 30 minutes of sitting in the dark and not seeing anyone, I realized it was probably shut down. I guess having to break down the boarded-up door should have been a clue. Anyway, Desaki looks pretty nice on the inside and out. The woodwork is top notch but I must say I've never seen that much wood without a few deer antlers, bear heads, or lake trout displayed proudly on the inside walls. They look awfully empty; like pancakes without syrup, chocolate sauce, strawberry glaze, and crushed up pecans. Our group went for the Hitachi, so we all sat around a table while some guy did a whole bunch of tricks with our food. This may have been cute if I was 40 years younger, but I just wanted the damn food. Lemme get this straight, I'm gonna pay $25 more a plate than it should cost, just so I can see some guy bang around his Ginsu knives and spatulas? Bullshit. I looked away for a second and this genius had completely lost my egg he was flipping just a second earlier. I reached my boiling point, hurdled the counter and grabbed this guy's apron demanding that he tell me where the egg was. This Japanese Merlin tipped his head down and the egg tumbled out of his foofy hat. Everybody at our table cheered and I looked like a complete dumbass. I still don't know how he did it. I grabbed his hat and looked for more eggs and hidden compartments but found nothing. The food was ok, but Merlin seemed too concerned about his sleight of hand rather than the food itself. The noodles weren't cooked thoroughly and the meat to vegetable ratio was pathetic. Everything was drenched in salt-laden sauces so I got real thirsty real quick. I think our waitress may have been fired mid-shift because I never saw her again. I ended up taking my cup and refilling it with water from the bathroom. I guess this place was going for the 'dinner and a show' as one, kinda theme. Welp, they missed the mark. I'll do China III take out and an episode of Cops over Desucki anyday. I won't be returning or driving down 33 anytime soon
(2)Lisa P.
We had a party of 19. For such a large size. Devon our server was great. Have to say all of the staff was on it for our group. Food is very good. Show was good but left out throwing veggies in kids mouths. As you know I love clean places thumbs up very clean. Bathroom even has a hand towel dispenser by the door just for opening the door after washing. Decor is nice.
(5)Jamie S.
Very bad service . Wouldn't recommend this place to anybody , service was slow . Waste of money . Service with bad attitudes . Very unprofessional.
(1)Nikki A.
I've never been to a restaurant in the United States that did not offer free tap water. Are you kidding? They forced us to buy water bottles and did not offer free refills on any drinks. Very irritating. The food was very mediocre. The fried rice was undercooked. The noodles, soup, and edamame were dece. The only redemption was the strip steak, which was absolutely delish. All in all, the food was overpriced for the quality. They also tack on an automatic 18% to every bill, no matter the size of the party. And don't you worry, our server reminded us several times that we could tip more if we'd like. He event went out of his way to mention one party that left a $60 tip on top of the 18%. Talk about tacky. This place advertises like no other. My friends and I must have seen 30 signs for this place during our stay in the Poconos. It became a running joke amongst us. Our hotel (The Inn at Pocono Manor) offered a free complimentary shuttle to the restaurant, which was a nice touch. Overall, I would not recommend. Save your money for a better meal.
(2)Alison M.
Better and better! We came here, despite iffy reviews because we had been here before and remembered it being good. We sat at the hibachi table and had Mickey for our chef. It was early and only 3 were in our party at 630 on a Friday night but he treated us to the best hibachi show we have seen yet! The food was cooked to perfection and he kept us laughing the whole time. Nichola was our waitress and despite the restaurant filling up quickly after we arrived, her service never faltered. I had a 25% off coupon from checking in on Yelp and had forgot to use it. I mentioned being annoyed with myself for forgetting and although the bill had been settled, they gave me a credit!! It should be mentioned that my chicken and salmon hibachi dinner cost $35 before the discount. I feel this is more than fair as it included edamame, a soup course and a plentiful helping if sides (fried rice, veggies and even lo mein). The sauces were the best I ever had (the yummy creamy garlic sauce was my favorite) and service was impeccable. The gratuity was configured in on the bill but this was clearly explained- 18%, half to Mickey, the other half for wait staff). It is up to you to add it up (with any additional tip if you choose) on the bill. Couple this with the Yelp coupon and free shuttle to and fro the local casino, great wolf lodge, etc and you have an award winning night out! Their commitment to their customers is palpable. Definitely give it a try!!
(5)Jim M.
Just great service and great food. The sushi is excellent and the hibachi chef was very entertaining
(5)Tracy S.
If this place could focus on their service, their ratings would drastically improve. I should first mention that I dined here on New Year's Eve so it wasn't a typical night for them. They don't take reservations but when we called the night prior, they advised about their own private event starting at 9pm, but that they thought we would be able to sit right down - even with a party of 8 - if we arrived before 7pm. We thought that was too good to be true -- and it was as we had to wait about 30 minutes. No idea if they were genuinely surprised to be so busy -- they were packed - or they just were trying to get as much business as possible and didn't want to scare us off. While waiting, the kids in our party went to play a video game and put in $1. A server immediately came by to say that all of the machines were broken and that he would ask the manager to reimburse their dollar. We overhead the waiter asking the manager, who replied 'I'm too busy to deal with that right now'. Needless to say, the kids never got their dollar back. When we did sit down, they were one menu short for our party but never returned with it. The waiter was distracted and could barely be bothered to take drink orders or check back with us for refills. And he couldn't wait to drop that check to rush us out the door. The food however was quite good and the hibachi chefs (not just ours - all around the restaurant) were friendly and fun. Ours gave particular attention to the kids at our table, which was great. The prices are high -- which to me makes the service issues even more unforgivable. That being said, it was a fun night out with good food. And given my experience was on the holiday, I would give it one other chance. However it doesn't bode well for them that there are so many other reviews that negatively rate the service.
(3)Angie R.
This place is freakin' awesome! The staff is so pleasant and kind....they make you feel like family. After recently relocating to the area I am glad that my family and I have a place that we really enjoy. We just had a great....no SUPERB experience with them hosting my sister's wedding. Not to mention the food is AMAZING, both banquet and restaurant (including the sushi). Desaki Family see you guys soon!! :-)
(5)J G.
Just had dinner. VERY expensive! Good experience as staff and atmosphere are great. Quantity of food was extra large. Food was pretty good and left full. Gratuity was included.
(3)Zina L.
Decent hebachi place. Entertaining for the kids, staff was very friendly and the food typical hibachi fare.
(4)Francesca B.
Absolutely not worth spending a nickle here! DO NOT ENTER!!!!!!!!!!!! Great decor, but over priced!! I had the unfortunate experience to go here twice, of course being a New Yorker I figured I give it a second chance. First, the service was terrible, everything we ordered was late to the plate & burnt! I took 5 teenagers who were well behaved & they complained as well in February for my son's 16th birthday. No tap water for $400. I went again with my family last week March 26, 2013 for dinner with two other couples and all our children and again the food was burnt & I asked for the manager and he gave us 25% from now on! Really? No way-they can keep the discount - I wouldn't go here if it was for free!! I own a home in PA and I would never ever recommend this place again - I should have read the reviews first, what a great disappointment!
(1)Jerry W.
I visited Desaki in mid April 2013 with my wife and 5 year old son. We hadn't been to Desaki in awhile and it hadn't changed. We were seated at the hibachi and placed our order. The server was friendly and attentive, but I was a little confused why I couldn't get tap water. This is the only restaurant I've ever been to where I couldn't get tap water. We got the sushi special and it was very good, but expensive for the area. A woman at our table had a fish and chicken allergy and asked if her food could be cooked first or have her food cooked in the back. The server said they couldn't cook it in the back. I would recommend you NOT eating hibachi if you have both a fish and chicken allergy. There were four small children at the table and now they had to wait. The chef put on a decent show and was great with the kids. The food on the other hand was a let down. I ordered the salmon and it was extremely over cooked. The rice and vegetables were bland. My wife and son got the filet. They ordered it medium rare and received well done. Bottom line; got to Ichiban in Bartonsville. The show is just as good, the food is much better, and the price is more family friendly.
(2)Martha K.
Food was good, not amazing. Drinks were good. Server was annoying, felt like I was at Disney World. the chefs were great. Too bad Mickey Mouse didn't show up.
(3)James A.
Beautiful space and fun hibachi chefs. Better than any of the unappealing restaurant options at the depressing Mount Airy Casino around the corner. Stopped by on a whim because of the Yelp coupon. Had a decent meal, but I was most impressed by the space itself. I saw deer feeding on the grass right outside the window, which provided a bucolic backdrop to my pleasant, but oily, meal.
(3)JOHN P.
I have been to my share of hibachi restaurants over the years and this place held its own I'm from R.i. And figured I'd give this place a try and we weren't disappointed the prices are right where I would expect for a place like this staff was friendly and helpful overall a good experience would definitely go back if we ever visit again.
(4)Kal M.
I already see that there are negative reviews so i will add to the negativity because wherever you go in Poconos, DON'T COME HERE. First, what restaurant doesn't have tofu? Really? That is so ridiculous for a Japanese restaurant to not have that. Secondly, totally overpriced. Really, $30 for a roll? granted it was big and had a lot but still not worth it! Thirdly, 18% gratuity tacked on for no reason ? that is so messed up-- you do not know how angry I was to spend $100 for two people-- i can go to St Marks for $15 for 2 people! wtf Fourth-- what restaurant has no dessert? Really? That is just the worst of the worst and i never ever want to see this restaurant and hope that it closes down soon-- that is how angry i was. Sad-- just because it is in the middle of the highway and has fancy benihana grills and slightly nice decoration doesn't mean that it should overcharge customers. Never will i come again.
(1)Christina L.
i am going to make it short! we went here for LUNCH around 1:30 on Sunday! Ordered two of the cheapest Hibachi meals and one glass wine, came to OVER $70! NOT pleased!!!
(2)Cameron H.
Overall, nice place. We walked in about 30 minutes prior to them closing. Our options were Sushi table or Hibachi table. Since my partner never had the Hibachi experience, we did that option. Since I've done it prior, I knew they weren't going to do it with only two people. So, even though we had our appetizers, we still had to wait for more people to arrive. Luckily, another couple arrived about 10 minutes later. Our chef was really nice. From Spain actually, and decided to move to the states to cook. Not sure how he got to the Pocono area but it looked as though he enjoyed what he was doing. The food, typical for Hibachi style. Everything tasted the same being that all was cooked with butter, garlic, sesame seed, and soy sauce. I would go back. This experience was more for my partner. He thoroughly enjoyed it.
(3)Ken D.
Dreary, garish and expensive. A tacky hybrid of a Times Square Benihana's and a downscale Vegas lounge (which makes Desaki sound much more interesting than it is.) The service is terrible. The food is inconsistent at best and consistently over-priced. And the loud, overbearing awful music makes for an unsettling experience.
(1)Daria F.
Overpriced. Satto is across the way and has great sushi for 1/2 the price. They did have great service and a wonderfully extravagant atmosphere, but I wouldn't go back - way too pricey for what it is.
(2)Laura D.
It is just Fine. 50 cents for a water bottle. They don't have tap. At least it was a bottled water, and pretty cheap for that. The prices were about $5 more than a normal habachi dinner. Still really good. BIG problem is that they sit you sooooooo close to the other people, that you are on top of them. They need to sit less people per habachi table. The cook goes pretty fast, not as much of an experience as other places. They make you tip 18% no matter what, if service was bad or not. Overall. Ok.
(3)Kathy B.
This place is awful. If I could give zero stars, I would. The music is blasting so loud, the server couldn't hear our order and brought the wrong food. I think the reason jthey automatically add an 18% gratuity to the check, regardless of the size of the party is because service is so bad. Food is completely bland and ridiculously overpriced. If you want good Asian food, try Fume , further down on Rt. 611.
(1)Mandy O.
From the outside this looks like an impressive place, particularly for a rural region such as this one. Then you walk in. The food here is overpriced and mediocre. I've heard through the grapevine that they order lesser quality food from vendors than as advertised and when I tasted it, I had to concur. It's just food, not good or bad. Plus, I felt very squashed and claustrophobic, there just wasn't enough room. It seems like a fun place to hang out and have a few cocktails. but again it's very overpriced. If you're from a city or know anything about truly excellent food from great restaurants than this isn't the place for you. I'm surprised no one has mentioned the mean hostesses that they always seem to have. I didn't know "Stick in Ass" was a job requirement for a door greeter, but I do now. I've been here all of 3 times and we along with the others have been subjected to a mean girl. I like my tempura with a side of courtesy not hostility, but that's me. One more gripe, then I'm done. Who thought building the interior entirely in Cedar was a great idea? It's all you can smell. I had a guinea pig as a child and we lined his cage with Cedar Chips and that's what it reminds me of. In conclusion, Shiro = My dead Guinea Pig. RIP Mr. Pretzels.
(2)Jj S.
Don't be fooled !!!!!This is the worst restaurant on Earth., Our waiter was rude and disrespectful.., She started explaining the huge and "OVERPRICED" menu, and was sooo condescending to us., Every question we had , she answered it sarcastically. The menu is a joke $30 dollars for undercooked rice and noddles. Plus $10 dollars extra if you shared your plate with someone else. And what is it to share? The food portion is Sooo small that is barely enough for one person.. The hibachi chef had to order extra noddles and rice, because he realized it wasn't enough for all of us. We were 4 couples, and all of us shared our plates, we were charged $376.20 for mediocre noddles and rice --- and $50 dollar mandated gratitude!! The service is so poor they barely deserve a tip. You would rather expend your money at the Dunkin Donuts across the street. I am sure even McDonald's has a better service than here.This place is a great disappointment.
(1)Diana B.
The service & food was amazing . Everyone was so wonderful . I love my waiter Andrew & my chef Ben
(5)Tu H.
The restaurant is nice, big and clean. This restaurant is pricey for the food but you're also paying for the chef to cook at the table not to mention the entertainment he's providing. This is a tourist trap but whatever, you're on vacation.
(3)Altje H.
Way too expensive, like most Hibachi places. We waited nearly an hour for the Hibachi chef to start because they wanted to fill up our table. The drinks and food were pretty good, but after a couple of drinks, an app, and a Hibachi entree each, we spent a small fortune on dinner. It's nice and modern inside and on the weekends, there is a dance floor that opens around 10pm. Not really what you would expect in the Poconos.
(3)Allen L.
I love this place! great food and company!
(5)Tanya L.
Honestly, we should have read the reviews before coming here. I am extremely disappointed. I don't where to start. You have to read this menu like you would a legal contract. I've never seen a place with so many policies.I've eaten many establishments around the world. 1. There is no tap water. However bottled water is 25 cents a bottle which isn't a big deal. They don't offer free refills on their soft drinks. 2. Extremely overpriced and extremely small portions. $10 plate sharing fee like there would be enough to want to share. 3. Fried Rice and Noodles: Extremely bland. They just put soy sause on them and mix them on the grill. 4. I have no problem with them including the 18% tip. I usually tip over 20% anywhere I go. However, the service is horrible and it wasn't til the end I was able to get another drink. 5. The food was extremely salty unbearable to eat. The Japanese onion soup that comes with the meal was like salt brine. I believe this is done on purpose to get you to buy more drinks. That would be doable if you could get someone to bring you more drinks.The steak was overly salted and all fatty. 6. Sushi is extremely small portions. $28 for a sashmi sampler that would have been $13 anywhere else and at better quality. Overall, I don't recommend this place.
(1)Natesha F.
I am so disappointed!!! I went here in Feb. 2011 (when it was Shiro) and it was delish. I LOVED my food.I live in NJ and I was so excited to go back. I went this weekend and was so disappointed!! The food lacked flavor! I don't know what happened to the taste, but it was so bland. I will never do back there again, and for a $100 bill (no alcohol!) for 2 people, nope. never. Oh, I only tried the Hibachi and Japanese chicken wings (which were plain, like, where in the world was the sticky sauce that the menu talked about? they gave hot sauce and peanut sauce to dip) Beautiful restaurant though, I've got to give it that.
(2)Ariel D.
I went to Desaki after my Niece's graduation to celebrate. The atmosphere was great. The restaurant looks like a large ski lodge and it is very modern and clean. Our server was very nice and the guy that manned the Tepan grill was really cool. We all had a great time. For food I had the Vegetable Spring rolls and the Vegetable Hibachi. The spring rolls were really good and the dipping sauce was great. The ginger dressing on the salad was pretty bad though which is really disappointing because I love ginger dressing. All the other food was pretty average, but a bit salty for my tastes. It also seemed a bit overpriced but they comp'd my Niece's meal which was pretty awesome.
(3)Stacey M.
I went to Desaki with my friend on July 12th, 2013 for dinner. My family lives in the area and I have never been there so I decided to give it a try. The hostess was nice and it was also her birthday (they did a little birthday celebration for her and it was unique). Our server was great and was working to become an actor. He talked to us and made it more enjoyable. I forget his name but he had the best personality and smile. Billy bob was our chef. He was entertaining. I love cheesy jokes so it was cracking me up!! Drinks were strong but yummy (razz lemonade and the punch). Loved the lob. filet, and chick! The rice and noodles were delicious. The prices were on the high end but I left with leftovers so it was worth it. I love how they start the meal with edamame. When I visit next time, I will return :)
(5)Kim W.
While visiting my friend and her family up in the Poconos, we went out for a late night dinner at Shiros. Hearing good things about it from all locals how it is always packed, we decided to check it out. Strike 1 - if you go in to eat dinner after 10 p.m., you will have to pay the cover charge for the louge regardless. And you must not wear a hat. $20 right at the door for the four of us. Seriously? We had to sit at the bar since they would NOT allow us to sit anywhere else. We made the best of it and the four of us ordered a beer and decided on our sushi. Strike 2 - the sushi had no flavor. None at all. As my friend put it, it's as if they "sprayed it with blah". Coming from the City, I guess I know what good & flavorful sushi is. And this was most certainly not it. Not to mention, one of my fellow guests ordered a roll that came with cream cheese - when the dish came out, an alert was sounded: Cream Cheese has gone MIA!!!! Strike 3: From what I experienced of the music portion of this lounge, they believe in living in the past, playing past hits, rather than the current ones. I got to jam out to old Usher hits while nibbling on my sushi. One thing I can say is that the bartenders were great. Good service. Very attentive. Very cute. So, basically I'm out. Maybe the hibachi is better. Maybe it actually has some flavor. What it comes down to is: this place is WAY OVERPRICED for a spot that charges entrance fee to eat dinner, and doesn't know how to seem to get their own maki right. P.S. People from the area - don't judge us City folk just because we don't like your bland, overpriced sushi. We know good food. And this place most certainly is NOT it.
(2)Kyle S.
I have so many bad things to say about this restaurant, but it can all be summed up into one sentence: WE WERE REFUSED TAP WATER. Yes. We were not allowed to have tap water for free. Our disastrous experience started with the absolutely disgusting edamame served to us by a horribly inconsiderate waiter, who instructed us not to judge the rest of the food by the edamame. Well, you put it out in front of us, what else were we supposed to go by?! Everything that is served is a representation of the establishment. No exceptions, first impressions are everything. The food is overpriced. When we asked for water, we were told that this is policy, and they do not have to serve it to us. If we didn't like that, we could leave. Really?! They lost out on a $300+ bill over TAP WATER?? Come on guys. NOT how you run a business. So what did we do? We left, not risking any more of the disgusting food. P.S. They bragged about having a chef from Morimoto or something. Let me tell you something Desaki. You are located in the a**hole of Pennsylvania. I live in the middle of Philadelphia and have experienced the nation's top cuisine up and down the east coast. You sure as heck don't have an award-winning chef hiding out in your rural back-country kitchen. Nice try.
(1)Matt N.
As other reviewer mentioned, this is the same overpriced disappointment as Shiro. Same owners, servers, bartenders...same restaurant, just changed their name. To summarize the restaurant: a big letdown. Very average on nearly all levels, especially the sushi. (Which is all that really matters at a sushi/hibachi place) One thing that isn't average is the price, which is extraordinary. High. Pricey. Extravagant. Unwarranted. Punishing. Comical. I'd skip this restaurant if I had a choice in the matter.
(1)Phil S.
What a waste.... Decor/Atmosphere **** Desaki is a very attractive restaurant with towering post and beam type construction and a large central bar. Service ** Our server seemed capable but may have been overwhelmed in the end. She took our order fine but disappeared after that. Oddly they don't take reservations so if a couple of big tables show up I can see how they can get overwhelmed. The sushi we ordered as an appetizer was never delivered. I noticed sushi plates piling up at the nearby sushi bar so I went there to find our order and bring it back to the table, "self serve". Other mishaps include the chef showed up missing one of the entrees. I had to get up and go to the hostess to order more drinks. The chef must have been finishing up his shift as he sped through the show so fast that not only were the kids disappointed he failed to cook most of the food properly. Just after you receive your food and the chef leaves someone shows up and starts dousing the grill with water and cleaning it. Plumes of steam and grime added to our dining pleasure. Food ** Bacon wrapped scallops weren't bad and the Miso soup was very good (more like an onion soup). Spicy Tuna sushi lacked any flavor. As mentioned before the chef rushed through the process so fast that the rice was crunchy and lukewarm, the noodles cold and disgusting and the rest of the entrees lacked any flavor at all. One tablemate ordered the steak and chicken combo but never received the chicken. Value * $121 for 2 adults and 2 kids is awful for inedible food. They have 5 Xbox stations for kids to play while waiting for a table which seems like a nice idea until you realize it costs $1 to play for 6 minutes. To me it turns a nice idea into a pain as now the kids start pestering you for a $1. It doesn't seem worth it for the restaurant if you ask me, the most they can make is $10 an hour times 5 machines for maybe a couple of hours around dinner. It is just obnoxious to me, by the way while we were there not single person was playing. Overall ** The hotel we stayed at recommended Desaki and we went there even though the Yelp reviews were terrible. Once again should have trusted Yelp. They must have spent millions on the construction and design of the restaurant but need to invest some money for better management.
(2)Scott B.
Stopped by to try the newly opened Shiro Restaurant. It's just down the block from the Pocono Brewing Company. They tore down whatever was in the spot before (Fanucci's?) and built this place from the ground up. It's 12,000 sq feet... big! They layout of the place is... interesting. The have about 10 hibachi tables set up, a sushi bar, 3 full scale drink bars, a dance floor (with VIP sections?) and arcade. Certainly interesting to look at when you are in there. They try to come across as upscale/classy, but they fall short. It's actually kinda cheesy... Here are some examples: -A golf cart in the parking lot to shuttle people to the front door -Doormen... they actually pay some kids to open the doors for you -The hostesses are dressed in some 1970's cocktail waitress outfits After being seated one waitress came over, who told us she was not our waitress... then seconds later the other waitress came and took out order... The waitress informed us that since she we were sitting in the 'sushi bar section' we could not order any hibachi food. oooook. She pointed to one section of the menu we could not pick from... after order/bringing our drinks, she went to take our food order. We were THEN informed that we could only order sushi or appetizers... oooooook. So we ordered a bunch of appetizers instead. While waiting for the food I noticed that my napkin was USED! WTF! DISGUSTING! ooook. Got another one. My appetizer of chicken teriyaki came out and guess what... no teriyaki sauce at all! Just a piece overly grilled chicken. The crab miso soup and the sushi was pretty good. The gyoza was just very salty. The food is ok, the service is weak, and the music is awful. Yeah, they were blasting some bizarre mix of 70s, 80s, Frank Sinatra. And when I say blasting, I mean we had to shout at the table... and they had the disco lights pumping full force. Looks the they tried to do to much under one roof. Oh and the wine... $7.25 for a glass of Cavit Pinot Grigio? If you're gonna charge that for wine, fine. But at least get a better brand. And the manager was your typical old guy with no class giving fake smile to everyone as they walked in while adjusting his cheap toupee. He was unnecessarily nasty to his employees also. I would not go back, but someone else might like it. It's worth going once. Maybe they'll even let you sit in the VIP section! LOL! Bottom line? Expensive and tacky.
(1)Toni D.
This place is expensive but ohhhh so worth it. The best habachi I have ever had.
(5)Tom S.
I visited Desaki recently for dinner and a comedy show. I sat at the bar with a friend and when we saw the prices we decided just to order a few appetizers. I had read Yelp reviews and a lot of them mentioned high prices and below average food, so there was no way I was going to order a $35 dinner and maybe end up disappointed. We ordered edamame, bacon wrapped scallops, spring rolls and a seaweed salad. The salad came first. It was pretty good, not the best, but it got my hopes up for the other apps. Then came the shit show. The edamame looked a putrid green as though they were overcooked, when in fact they were severely under-cooked, some were even still cold. The spring rolls tasted like Palmolive and the scallops were edible...tasteless, but edible. Then came the bill. The food and four beers, Miller Lite mind you, $75 + tip (the bartender didn't add the automatic 18% gratuity that the menu states) An extra star for the rebel bartender, otherwise it's a 1 star review.
(2)Marino S.
The best sushi and hibachi in the Poconos. The staff is very cordial and the teppanyaki chefs are very entertaining. It can be a little pricey, but the food is worth it.
(5)Kendyl C.
Went here for a nice dinner with my friends while on vacation and it was enjoyable. The food was a bit pricey, but as to be expected for sushi and hibachi. I would certainly go back if I was in the area.
(3)Stephanie G.
I love hibachi but one thing I'm always weary about is it is usually a great place for families with young kids. Which let me just say i think it's awesome, if i had kids, it's where I'd go too! so fun for them and usually very affordable. This place is no different. My boyfriend and I were away just the 2 of us for some r&r, just looking to relax and get away. We stayed at MT Airy and wanted to venture out for dinners and on the way to the hotel we saw no exaggeration about 15 billboards for this restaurant so we said, " this has to be a sign, LET'S try it!" Walked in, beautiful place, really stunning!! there were a few tables sat and we were sat right away. they took us over to a table with a family with about 5 kids, i didn't like the idea but i didn't say anything, i would never be rude. The mom at the table said "oh my god i feel so bad our kids are rowdy and you guys are on a date" and nicely asked the waitress if there was another table for us because she didn't want her kids interrupting us. i thought this was so thoughtful and so nice of her, she clearly saw we were alone and were looking to just hang back and relax. The hostess said "no we don't this is the only table" there were at least 4 other free tables...so the lady said to her "really our kids are being very rowdy and we don't want to disturb them" and i said "it's okay with us but if you do have another table we would appreciate it so the kids have more space" even after requesting it myself she refused to move us so we sat and made the best of it, kids throwing straws and falling off chairs and all. The food was really great and probably among the best hibachi I've ever had however I really think the hostess should have been more accommodating, it really made all of us a little anxious at the table, i didn't want the parents uneasy about worrying about their kids and to be honest I wanted to have a quieter dinner with my boyfriend. All in all I would most definitely go back if we're in the area but I will also definitely call beforehand and reserve a table. 3 stars for food and only 1 for service, sorry!
(4)Jim Y.
I've been to many hibachi restaurants, from NJ, PA, to California. This is the worst hibachi I've ever had so far, period. First of all, the plates are VERY dirty! You can see the food residuals on them. We have to ask the waiter to change every single plates on our table. But they are STILL dirty! After wiping the plates with napkins, the napkins turn to BLACK... We have to ask for fresh plates right out of dishwasher. Secondly, the food is dull, with no flavor at all. When judging a hibachi restaurant, fried rice normally the first thing come to my mind. The fried rice in Desaki is dry, with no flavor what so ever. At the same time, the NY strips are very very dry with no flavor as well. The salmon is under cooked, of course, no flavor... Thirdly, they charge you 18% tips no matter you are happy or not (maybe for dinner only?) BTW, we only have 4 people in our party... Overall, Desaki is the worst hibachi so far. Please don't be fooled by their numerals sings along the road. Avoid it if you can. Good luck if you want to try it out.
(1)Cristina A.
Desaki, while somewhat tasty and entertaining, has an ass of a Manager/Owner. The night we went (8/17) he was berating one of his staff in front of a full restaurant. Not professional at all, it really put a damper on the experience and if he feels that he needs to humiliate his staff like that I'm wary of what other business practices are afoot. I also concur with previous reviewers that it is unnecessarily expensive. Plus, very few vegetarian options. I personally eat meat however I'm not always in the mood. I will not be back.
(1)Dennis B.
Never again!! Rude hostess and the cook screwed up my meal totally. They refused to do anything for me. STAY AWAY!! I through away $300 tonight!
(1)Richie D.
THE WORST! Please read this review. We go out to eat 3 times a week. I am not bragging, just letting the owner know he could be making $1000's+++ per year easy from us if he was not an obnoxious, greedy, egotistical human being. Read all of the bad reviews under this restaurant because they will open your eyes to this place. 18% auto grat no matter how many, pay for water, plates are dirty, overpriced, loud poor music, poor service, (really pitty the people who work under this owner-heard he can't keep any good help because he's so overbearing and he's been that way since it opened) hibachi fans bearly worked, drinks overpriced. I don't want to keep going but I will. We ended up complaining and the manager indicated "the owner just left" HOW CONVENIENT is that? Scared to face his patrons? My suggestion: Go to Fume or better yet Ichiban. There you will get authentic, reasonably priced hibachi AND sushi, great drinks, super and caring service, leaving you quite satisfied and your wallet AND your friends, family will thank you. They are both right down 611 south. As you can see from so many of the reviews, Desaki is a failure for what many people want in a sushi and hibachi restaurant. That's why Desaki has the rating they have. SAVE YOUR MONEY. Enough said.
(1)Rachel T.
Worst Hibachi I have EVER had!! EVER! From start to finish the whole experience was an absolute nightmare! Poor Service, Disgusting Food, Management was useless & Overpriced.....the only nice thing was the decor! Upon arrival a seemingly pleasant girl offered to take my coat, then after handing it over snapped "That'll be $2" Umm excuse me? that should have been explained when you offered to take my coat, and BTW this is the Poconos not NYC!! We headed over to the bar to grab a drink while we waited....one of our group of 6 does not drink alcohol and was told there is a charge for a glass of water! Those things are just minor...believe you me! So moving on, we are seated and after placing our order, are trying to flag down the server to place another round of drinks, no response. Finally the Hibachi chef comes over and starts to do his thing, I asked him don't we get salad & soup to start? He looks around for our server and after a while gets his attention and the server apologizes, he forgot, and finally brings it over. However we already have our entree plates out with part of the meal on them, and now we are trying to juggle soup bowls in hand b/c there is no room to put them down on the table to eat properly. So yes...it gets much worse! The Hibachi Chef while concentrating on our meats forgets about the noodles and BURNS them! He flips the congealed black noodle mess over and proceeds to scrape the black part with his spatula to...I dunno make it look less burnt!? He then served it to us!! We all exclaimed in protest..."the noodles are burnt we cannot eat this!" he just shrugged and continued on with his business! We picked at what we could eat and at this point decided We've all had enough. I ask the server to speak to a manager, the manager comes over and I explain everything that's happened about our disappointing meal & service. The manager listens, offers nothing not even an apology and says he needs to speak to another manager and walks off. Waiting...waiting...waiting. He NEVER returns to our table! Well finally after washing our hands of the place and vowing never to return, grab our coats to leave and you'll never believe what happened next?! My husband had gone to the men's room as the rest of us walked outside. As my husband walked back to leave, passing our table he overhears the Manger and the Server standing there talking about us and Laughing!! I'm glad to know they think their customers are just a joke...because I can tell you for certain that their establishment is nothing more than a Joke too! Bottom Line.....I wouldn't send my worst enemy to this place!
(1)Bruce T.
Definitely NOT the best sushi in the Poconos! My wife and I were looking forward to trying this out since they rebuilt the place following a fire some time ago. We're locals, but like lots of others, "not from here originally". Being originally from California and from the NYC area, we know good sushi joints! This ain't it by a long shot. Even the menu stating that a mandatory 18% gratuity was automatically included (even for just the two of us) wasn't a deal-breaker. Neither was the fact that they don't serve tap water (even if you dropped some cash on a couple of drinks). Couldn't even get a re-fill of hot water for the tea without buying another round...no free refills on anything! What's keeping us away is the very salty "teriyaki" sauce. Tastes just like soy-sauce. And the fact that the tuna roll had the texture of minced fish. Not a piece of tuna like it should be, but it looked and had the texture of leftover pieces jammed into a nugget shape and wrapped in rice. It didn't even taste like tuna! Normally one can taste the difference between tuna and salmon, but this stuff was tasteless. Could've been oatmeal for all I know. A tip for the waitstaff: There's no need to explain to us how the tip gets divided amongst your co-workers (we already know this) thus leaving you with very little...and comment that anything over the "mandatory" amount is all yours (wink, wink). This comes across as dishonest and petty. Should've just lifted my wallet at the door and been done with it....
(1)Alex S.
Great food at a great location. Always a good place to stop after the casino or Camelbeach for the discount!
(5)Steve S.
Food was very overpriced and was bland. We paid for filet mignons but the chef cut and mixed the filets with sirloins. The filet portions were tender, but the sirloin pieces were very tough. We quietly asked for a partial credit and were told - too bad. The manager told us that everyone ordered filets. Not true - we heard other people order sirloins AND we saw the steaks when they were put on the grill. Another customer at our table agreed - not all the steaks were filets. The soup is terrible. Not one person at our table (6 adults + 3 kids) finished it. Don't waste your money. Our tab was $100 for dinner for 2 (2 drinks each), no appetizers.
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