Izakaya Japanese Restaurant & Sake Bar Reviews Summary

Authenticity and Flavor of Food

Pros:

• "Absolutely amazing little gem. The food was so good that you'd be forgiven to think you'd stepped into an actual 'Izakaya'."
• "Food arrived quickly and tasted amazing, best sushi we've had and the octopus was fantastic."
• "An excellent selection of food that has been lovingly prepared."
• "The food was fresh and delicious. The soft shell crab was out of this world."
• "I ordered the Chicken Kaarage, it was so crispy and the lemon and the sauce along with the shredded cabbage just made it 10/10."
• "The food was delicious as always. I tried a new dish which was delicious."
• "“I don’t know why people are complaining about the authenticity, it tastes great!” - my Japanese wife."
• "Food was amazing, and probably one of the best sushi I've had in Bristol."

Cons:

• "The tonkotsu tasted nothing like the ones in Japan. This more of a bar than a restaurant."
• "The beef don is pretty good. However, the Takoyaki are little soft, not crispy."
• "I never taste any noodle soup like that in Japan before."
• "The only thing that I didn’t like was that the teriyaki sauce was just a drop on my salmon."
• "I ordered the tapas, some tune maki and miso soup. The chicken karage was bland."
• "Avoid the Gyudon, was really slimy, assuming really cheap meat used."
• "As a traveler to various small towns and cities. Eel is also very much microwaved, no taste and hard."
• "The Sashimi tasted fishy and not fresh/was mushy, everything with batter was soggy and not with any crispness."

Service and Staff

Pros:

• "The service was outstanding; quick, efficient, very friendly and welcoming."
• "Was seated promptly without have to book in advance."
• "The staff are very welcoming and friendly. Service is quick as well."
• "The service in the 2nd time was great. The waitresses had smiles always."
• "The staff were very attentive and fast, and the atmosphere was very relaxing."
• "Really fast service and super nice! The food is very good quality."
• "The reservation went very smoothly and we were welcomed very kindly in the restaurant."
• "The staff were noticeably attentive and friendly, they helped us order some great dishes too."

Cons:

• "Service could be improved, they didn't have our booking and we had to go up to find someone to pay."
• "Waited 35 mins for my main course whilst my partner ate hers alone."
• "We were totally ignored. You're just another payee, they are keen to get you in and out."
• "The only improvement I would recommend is to do something about the door as it was too cold."
• "Service was fast but not attentive and the menu is limited."
• "We waited a full hour before the food arrived on the table."
• "Had to ask for water 4 times, had to ask for chopsticks twice."
• "We had to go somewhere else to eat."

Ambiance and Environment

Pros:

• "Very cosy atmosphere (can even go on your own)."
• "The foods are really good though to be honestly, a little expensive for this amount."
• "Having never been to a Japanese restaurant before, we were a little apprehensive. No need to worry though."
• "The atmosphere was great as we were able to sit outside and enjoy the heat wave."
• "We were a group of four and seated outside, the outside was lovely and warm with blankets provided."
• "Felt like we were transported back to Tokyo! Really cool vibe and has a nice hustle to it."
• "Authentic Japanese in the heart of Bristol. Very small and simple like a lot of Japanese restaurants."
• "This is a lovely restaurant with very friendly staff. Food is absolutely delicious."

Cons:

• "Be warned that it can be cramped so isn't suitable for large parties unless you're booking well in advance."
• "One downside of sitting outdoors is the restaurant is located on a slope, so be careful with if you are ordering soups!"
• "Service was okay, when going to the toilet the waitress asked where either was sitting. Made me feel uncomfortable being questioned."
• "Turns a bit sloppy if left for too long."
• "However, the experience was somewhat disappointing."
• "I was offered a seat inside, but then she changed her mind and put me in a tent on the pavement."
• "It was very popular with Asians as well as others which is always a good sign when going to an Asian restaurant."
• "Small shop with not enough toilets and tables, chicken karaage was too salty."

Pricing and Value

Pros:

• "The food was brought out promptly but not overwhelmingly, although our eagerness to eat it might have contributed to that."
• "2 of us ate and it was just over £42 which saw us have several dishes. For the cuisine and dishes, I was very impressed with the price."
• "The staff could not be more helpful with allergies or what to have. Warm saké was very good."
• "The food was delicious and the service good as well. The only thing is the price is quite high for what you get."
• "Very good authentic Japanese.. way better than Wagamamas (and I love Wagas)."
• "I've been here more than 5 times before, and have brought both friends and family members here too."
• "The set menu lunch is a bargain as long as you read it properly."
• "Best restaurant i have ever been to in my life!!"

Cons:

• "The foods are really good though to be honestly, a little expensive for this amount."
• "For us it wasn’t 'deluxe' for £12.50. We thought that the bill was quite high (£60+) for the 4 dishes we had."
• "Only thing was that the outside seating area was a bit cramped."
• "Paid £16 and left hungry. Cold food, microwaved, not fresh, and a measly amount."
• "The mixed sashimi platter (£28) was a bit expensive though."
• "The only thing is the price is quite high for what you get."
• "Food was OK good. Turns a bit sloppy if left for too long."
• "The price is quite high, but I will come again because of the delicious salmonella don."