I really really did not want to rate this place because I understand the sweat and tears that go into making a business. And it's a very personal thing for someone to see a negative review about their business but I just have to put my story out there.
First of all I have been to this location 4 times (shabu side)
Grand opening to regular business hours.
I have legitamitely given this place a chance.
The good:
Service seems good.
When it was busy they didn't seem to want to come to our table as much but, eh. Service was fine.
The not so okay:
(I did not try to hibachi so I can not review on the Hibachi. This is on all their other food)
Food.
First of all, I don't even like Hibachi that much. I get it the whole jist of Hibachi, but to me it's a restaurant copping out making good food by filling you up with vegetables, rice and little bit of meat then charging you 15-20$ a head.
Sushi- I've tried the sushi here .... 3 times? 3/4 times I came here. It was sub par. If you read my other reviews I frequent sushi restaurants not out of snootiness but because I can't always eat meat very much. Fish is a very important staple in my life and when the fish I receive is wrong in coloring, or even when my sushi roll unravels itself even before it reaches my table, I'm going to have a frown on my face. Also tried the philly roll for kicks, I thing 3/4 of the roll was the cream cheese. Thank you if I wanted to eat a Cream cheese roll, I would grabbed a chunk of cream cheese from Meijer and just put it on some nori and made it at home.
Ramen- I was super excited to see that Osaka would have Ramen in their menu when they first opened. Unfortunately I was unable to order it the first two times I went because they were "out of stock". After patiently waiting I went back in my 4th visit and asked if the Ramen was available. Yes! It was. I was delighted to hear that and in my mind I was thinking "No longer will I have to travel 2-3 hours for some Ramen. I can just have it in GR!"
Let me tell you I didn't have this ... super high expectation. On a scale of 1-10 I would've been content with 5~6.
I rather would have ate Ichiban ramen and I should have it would've saved me alot of heartbreak because I already know what to expect of it.
I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen to find water reeking of pork, no depth, no oil to the broth. The pork itself, was inedible. The noodles were very complex. It seemed like it was half cooked but also at the same time tasted like the pork water.
The vegetables? Oh I would've been content if I could have eaten some vegetables. Some big spinach were thrown in on top like it was a garnish.
I know that Ramen is a pork based broth.
I didn't complain. What was I supposed to do?
I paid for my meal because I ordered it, it was my mistake for even thinking Osaka would put "Ramen" on their menu because they COULD make it.
Now I realize what happened. Osaka put Ramen on their menu because it is a idealized "Japanese" dish. Even if they weren't ready or prepared to make it, because they are a "Japanese" restaurant.
I probably won't return here again. I didn't even talk about the shabu shabu because that itself is another 3 paragraphs.
You might enjoy it if you enjoy Hibachi(Teppanyaki), cheap sushi that's cheap for a reason.
But please, do not order that Ramen. Just don't. read more