Newly opened in Rosenberg. Not on chain website yet, but I'm assuming it is part of the chain based on the online menu.
No hostess when we arrived. Bartender never noticed us until approached directly, even though we'd been drumming our fingers at the hostess stand for several minutes.
Decided to try sake, featured at the top of their drinks page. They were out of every single unflavored by-the-glass sake on the menu (three of them). Offered me a larger bottle they did have, but no discount on it, which I felt would have been appropriate considering they were out of everything smaller. How can they be out, anyway?! They just opened!!
Much noise (of people chattering and shouting type) from the kitchen. Need better sound insulation or a quieter staff, IMHO - at these prices, I don't expect to have to listen to employees' conversations. I also don't expect paper napkins!
I was pretty grumpy at this point. Should have finished husband's drink (I was in cut-nose-off-to-spite-face mode, as in "if I can't have sake I don't want anything") and left, but ordered a couple of appetizers, only. (No way was I dropping a bunch of money here after the annoyances!)
The food was actually pretty good. "Crab" puffs didn't have any more crab than most places (i.e., none detectable), but they were crispy and tasty, and nicely presented. Tempura vegetables were good but a) boy did they take a long time to arrive considering the restaurant was practically empty and b) I'd have preferred a different sauce than the tasteless soupy thing that came with them. That sort of sauce seems to be the norm based on a web search, though - I tried Googling, but I haven't been able to find the sauce we used to get with tempura onion rings at the Yakitori II on Guam.
The decor is very nice and our booth was very comfortable. I hadn't expected a complete redo from the previous, quickly failed, restaurant, and was pleasantly surprised.
Having written this review, I'll probably give them another try just based on the food and decor, and the fact that they had enough sense to get a liquor license *before* they opened. (Many restaurants in this area have opened with an application in the window but no bar at the time they open, nor for many weeks to months afterward. Apparently many people who open restaurants in this area are stupid.)
I'm still pretty annoyed that they didn't try to do *something* to make up to me that they were completely out of every drink I ordered, drinks that were featured at the top of their drinks page! If they had just offered me something, anything to make up, I would have dropped $70 or more and been back for sure. Like I said, apparently many people who open restaurants in this area are stupid. read more