Sakura Japanese Restaurant

2 Not Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

We cannot make comment on the food because the service is so poor we left without eating (despite having to pay for the meal). We arrived at 6.15 pm on a Saturday night and the restaurant was less than half full. We ordered the sukiyaki and after asking twice for them to hurry up with the meal arriving, it arrived after an hour and 15 minutes only to find we were expected to cook it ourselves at the table!

This was not explained in the menu or by the waitress. Confronted with a portable gas burner, a pot, 2 raw eggs in bowls, a plate of raw vegetables and a plate of raw sliced beef on our table, we asked the waitress what we were meant to do with it all and she basically mumbled a few words and left us to our own devices. The table beside us who had ordered the same meal looked equally confused. This may be an authentic Japanese experience but it was not at all what we expected particularly after such a long wait.

Deciding that it was not worth the wait or effort (we can cook our own meals at home thanks very much, that is not why we choose to go out to dinner!), we got up and left, only to be charged full price and no apology, no offer of our discount, with no one at the restaurant seeming to have the slightest idea about customer service. Our parting promise was that we would never return and we would tell all of our friends not to eat here.

Aug 29, 2010 

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

We recently moved to Norman Park and love Japanese food as well as love going to local restaurants so we decided to give Sakura a go. Bad decision. This was by far the worst Japanese Restaurant my wife and I had ever been to. First of all the service was extremely slow. We waited over for just over an hour for our assorted sashimi entree which when it finally arrived was pathetically small for the price.

Luckily we didn't have to wait another hour for our main meal of the Waqyu beef Sukyaki, only half an hour. At $38.00 per person ($76.00 for two) I'm sorry to say the sukiyaki was a joke. It had some lousy cabbage ends. 3 slices of carrot, a handful of udon noodles and last but not least one shiitake mushroom, yes that's right one for the two of us. There were six fine slices of beef.

Needless to say my wife and I left this restaurant not only extremely disappointed in the service but we also left rather hungry. The bill came to $145.00 including a $30.00 bottle of wine. This would have been acceptable if there was enough food and the service was more timely. Our Sakura experience was extremely disappointing. Don't waist your time and money with this restaurant.

Dec 04, 2009 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

The food is great and fresh. The restaurant can be busy at times towards the end of the week but is also quiet mid-week, the service is quick and efficient. The staff members are polite and helpful. Great pick for good Japanese in the suburbs.

Nov 04, 2009 

3.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  2     

A very disappointing experience for our family! We waited for over an hour for the food to arrive and when it finally did, they were served over 20 minutes apart, not complete (no rice, no miso soup, no dipping sauce unless asked) and two of us got our orders wrong! The food was average and expensive! Service definitely needs to be improved and wait staff need to be able to speak English better. When customer expresses dissatisfaction, saying "I'm sorry" is just not enough. It was my son's birthday dinner, but Sakura had ruined it for him. We definitely do not recommend this restaurant!

Aug 30, 2009 

5 Average

Food  8      Ambience  2      Service  5      Value  5     

Food good, but small servings. Atmosphere, noisy and cafeteria like. Service slow but pleasant. Not a dining experience that would draw you back.

Jun 09, 2009 

7 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  5     

Nice place to eat at. The service was equally good. Very attractive table service. Food was very tasty - however depending on what you got, would still be hungry afterwards. Food is also somewhat expansive compared to other Japanese places.

Jan 28, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  7     

Superb food and great service! We didn't have a booking, Friday night, but able to get table outside. Waitress was very attentive. Food was delicious. A little dearer than we had anticipated but worth it.

Oct 10, 2008 

7.3 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  7     

The food is amazing at Sakura. The Sashimi is always great and have sampled a lot of the menu options and are yet to be disappointed. Service is sometimes slow, but other times is good, so may depend on the day you are dining. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

Aug 05, 2008 

4.5 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  4     

You should not go there on Friday and Saturday because that's what a majority of people do. Service is quite good on Saturday though not on Friday...depends on the day. Better do takeaways but check what you have got before or soon after you paid because you sometimes don't get what you should have had. Once you hadn't got a sauce - too bad.

Price has gone up due to inflation. Sakura's sushi is nice regardless to its price. But teriyakis are a bit too thick. Otherwise they are fine.

Aug 30, 2007 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

We had an enjoyable evening with our first taste of stingray (it was worth it). We had no difficulty with our service - just in choosing what we planned to eat! We will definitely be going back.

Aug 04, 2007