A Disappointing Dining Experience in Japan
Recently, I traveled to Japan for the first time with two friends and, full of anticipation, chose a high-end restaurant in Fukuoka to try the legendary Kobe beef. However, this dining experience not only disappointed us but also left us feeling extremely unpleasant, even making us question the restaurant's food safety and service attitude.
The restaurant's location seemed great, and it had excellent reviews, so we decided to give it a try. The total cost for the three of us was 36,000 yen, averaging over 12,000 yen per person, which is considered mid-to-high-end pricing in Fukuoka. Given the high price, we naturally had very high expectations for both the food and service, especially for Kobe beef, which is known as one of Japan's top-tier ingredients.
Following the chef's recommendations, we ordered two Kobe beef combo, eager to savor tender, juicy, and flavourful high-quality beef. However, when the dishes were brought to the table, we immediately noticed that one of the pieces of meat had a distinct sour taste and did not resemble fresh beef at all. We promptly informed the chef about the issue, who casually responded, "This piece might not have been cooked properly. I'll reprocess it." He then took the meat back and re-cooked it, adding a large amount of salt and pepper, clearly attempting to mask the flavour.
Even after reprocessing, the sour taste remained, and the excessive seasoning made the meat overly salty. We raised our concerns again with the staff, but the restaurant never acknowledged the problem or provided any reasonable explanation. What was most disappointing was their complete lack of apology or compensation, such as replacing the dish or offering a discount on the bill.
As first-time visitors to Japan, we trusted the restaurant's high ratings and prices, only to be let down by their dismissive attitude. The chef and staff seemed completely unaware of the severity of the issue, let alone showing any respect or remorse toward their customers. We had spent a significant amount of money expecting an unforgettable culinary experience, but instead, it turned into an awkward and unfortunate "incident.
This experience left me highly disappointed in the restaurant. Despite the high price, the quality of the food and the service fell far short of what should have been expected. The issue with the Kobe beef, in particular, made us question whether the restaurant had problems with ingredient procurement or storage. For a high-end restaurant, such mistakes and handling are completely unacceptable.
I strongly recommend that other travelers, especially first-time visitors to Japan, be cautious when choosing restaurants and not blindly trust high reviews. If you are looking for a high-quality dining experience, this restaurant is likely not the best option.
I hope this review will serve as a wake-up call for the restaurant and also remind other travelers to do their homework when selecting restaurants to avoid similar disappointments.
Summary: A Restaurant Not Worth Recommending
