| Author | Message | ||
     Reesa Citizen Username: Reesa Post Number: 164 Registered: 7-2005 |
Ate there tonight for the second time (we order yummy sushi from there often). Had a terrible experience - they were less than accomodating of our 19 month old - wouldn't give a small/ side order of anything - then charged $1 extra for tofu and tried charging another $1 for a side of teriyaki sauce someone ordered. The waitress kept giving us the evil eye and a nasty attitude. I am so disappointed as we really like their sushi, but I don't plan on spending any more money there. Are there any other local options for good sushi besides Samurai? | ||
| combustion Citizen Username: Spontaneous Post Number: 464 Registered: 4-2006  |
Wow. I was at Ariyoshi tonight and it was wonderful. The food and the service were both excellent. I'm sorry to say, but you're not going to get any sympathy from me in regards to a toddler being in a restaurant, unless it's a diner or a fast food joint. | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 4972 Registered: 5-2001 |
Reesa, we really like the sushi at Pinang in Springfield (Morris Ave), in the same shopping center as NYSC. It's a thai/malaysian place that opened a few months ago, and their sushi menu has steadily grown— we've commented to the owner and she told us more people have started going there specifically for the sushi so they've added to it. I must say, we generally get rolls (as opposed to sashimi) at most of the local places, but they are especially good there, and last time we ordered a large sushi platter for 2 and it was very good. | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 4973 Registered: 5-2001 |
Oh, and we've brought our kids there on numerous occasions. I think it's important for kids to be exposed to more than diner food! | ||
| Scully Citizen Username: Scully Post Number: 1005 Registered: 8-2005 |
You got an evil eye and nasty attitude for a quiet, restrained child? Or was yours allowed free range in the walkways putting themselves and the servers at risk? Under a certain age it would be kinder to have the wee ones watched when you eat out, or taken to a self serve kind of place (even in a diner you'll have servers rushing to and fro with sometimes hot food). Then when they're old enough to sit through the meal start them on diners and family style restaurants and work your way up. I've only eaten at Ariyoshi's once but had a totally pleasant experience and definitely plan to go back. | ||
| Morrisa da Silva Citizen Username: Mod Post Number: 532 Registered: 12-2003 |
Try Sonos in Millburn. We used to go regularly many years ago but we started trying all the new japanese restaurants. Recently, we went back (2 months agot) and we were very happy with the sushi, the larger menu and the gracious service. They also have a back room as well as a few private tatami rooms which may be more suitable with toddlers. | ||
| doulamomma Citizen Username: Doulamomma Post Number: 1777 Registered: 3-2002 |
We have enjoyed the private rooms of both Ariyoshi & Sono with kids... | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 1773 Registered: 3-2002 |
Those of you assuming behavior issues should reread Reesa's comment...it was about not being able to order a small portion of something for a small child. Kind of cruel to jump to the assumption that her child was not well behaved/well controlled. Keeping kids on a diet of only diners and family-style restaurants for years is a great way to raise a generation of kids who don't know how to eat anything except chicken fingers, hot dogs and mac and cheese in restaurants. Not good for the kids, not a good way of raising the next generation of foodies! Watching my little one discover roe sushi at age 4 was one of the unexpected pleasures of parenting... | ||
| Wendyn Supporter Username: Wendyn Post Number: 3238 Registered: 9-2002  |
We are not big sushi/japanese food fans but we went to Monster in Summit last weekend. It is very kid friendly with a kid's menu, crayons and high chairs. We enjoyed our meal. Found it pretty pricey for a family of 4, even kid's meals were a bit more than we normally spend, but a nice change from our standard places. I did get a spicy california roll (the only sushi I remember that I like) and it was very good. | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 205 Registered: 10-2005 |
Why is that, combustion? bklyngirl | ||
| doulamomma Citizen Username: Doulamomma Post Number: 1778 Registered: 3-2002 |
Agreed, Susan1014 - hope my comment didn't imply I was assuming the kid was the problem...but since I know mine can annoy *me* when they are all together & dinner takes a bit, *I've* had a better time & maybe gotten better service with a bit of barrier when it's available. There are certainly places I wouldn't take my kids at all for now, but the japanese places around here are not on such a list... On one occasion a thai restaurant tried to charge in a weird way b/c of kids & we asked them to take the charge off the biil, as it was not posted & had not been explained - they happily removed the charges. I also have fun seeing my kids eat food more exotic than diner fare! | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 1775 Registered: 3-2002 |
No doulamomma, wasn't responding to you! We've all had bad restaurant nights (and spent time walking the sidewalk in the drizzle sometimes!). No clue what the actual behavior was (we've never had problems with Ariyoshi and kids), but I'm just tired of seeing people make assumptions about children in restaurants. We worked darn hard to make our daughter a good restaurant patron, and have generally been proud of the results. (by age 4 or 5, she was well able to manage stately dinners in fine restaurants on vacations, with the help of palm pilot games and the bribe of dessert!) Soon we'll be trying it with two more, and I'm hoping that we can avoid a 5 year sentance to diners and family style restaurants, as desired by those who have no "sympathy from me in regards to a toddler being in a restaurant, unless it's a diner or a fast food joint." (thanks combustion) It all depends on how the toddler in question is managed. (Scully, have you priced out babysitters recently?? I'm going to eat out at decent restaurants more often than I'm willing to pay $10/hour for babysitting to do it! I'll do my best to keep my kids from bugging you, but I'm not hiding them at home either.) | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 4981 Registered: 5-2001 |
Eating out with our kids is one of our greatest joys...sure we like to go it alone every so often, but like Susan says, it's not always practical. (They have to eat too!) | ||
| Reesa Citizen Username: Reesa Post Number: 165 Registered: 7-2005 |
My daughter sat in her chair, read books, colored, and looked at the fish. I do not believe that she only belongs in diners or fast food joints (I don't even eat fast food myself). The evil eye had nothing to do with my daughter's behavior. There was a table behind us with much older children who were wandering around by the fish tank while my toddler sat in her booster seat. Thanks to those who have suggested other places - I will give them a try. | ||
| John Caffrey Citizen Username: Jerseyjack Post Number: 560 Registered: 11-2005 |
Scully -- free range kids! Now I remember our dear oldest in Grunings when she got her leg caught in the high chair and the waitress had to bring butter to grease the kid's leg in order to get it out. Now I ain't saying this was free range, but it sure wasn't proper restaurant behavior. | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 206 Registered: 10-2005 |
I'm really curious to read what combustion meant by his/her comment. I totally agree with what you've all written re: children in restaurants. bklyngirl | ||
| Wendyn Supporter Username: Wendyn Post Number: 3241 Registered: 9-2002 |
Combustion probably meant he/she didn't enjoy dining with toddlers. I don't blame him/her as I don't either. And I have one. My 3 year old wanted the udon soup at Monster and was trying to eat it with chopsticks (which she had never seen before). (Note to 3 year olds: soup is pretty hard to eat with chopsticks. Pressing the chopsticks in the bowl will cause the soup to spill.) Then she popped one of the chopsticks out of the training plastic piece and hit me in the head with it. Meanwhile 5 year old is eating rice grain by grain with chopsticks (she manages them better than I do) while singing Disney Princess songs which echoed through the restaurant. Fortunately we go to dinner very early and were not the only family with young children there. But every week when we take our kids out we wonder why we put ourselves through it. I wish I could be more like Susan or VIG and relish the experience it is giving my angels, but instead I want to beat my head against a wall. Sit down. Keep your voice more quiet. Sit down. Quiet. Sit down. Shh. Sit down. You are singing too loudly. Sit down sit down sit down!!!!!! And yet we continue to go out once a week... | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 4982 Registered: 5-2001 |
I didn't say it was relaxing! | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 207 Registered: 10-2005 |
It didn't read that way to me, but maybe you're right. I came away with him/her meaning that Reesa derserved to be treated badly, because he/she shouldn't have brought kids to the type of restaurant in the first place. bklyngirl | ||
| combustion Citizen Username: Spontaneous Post Number: 469 Registered: 4-2006 |
If you can't afford both dinner out AND a baby sitter, then maybe you should be eating home more often. On more than one occasion I have had a nice dinner ruined by unruly or temper tantrum throwing toddlers who's parents were trying to expose their children to "restaurant manners." Once, the mother of a screaming toddler decided to be nice to her dinner mates and picked up the child. Did she leave the restaurant? NO!!! She walked to the other end of the restaurant and stood RIGHT NEXT TO MY TABLE!!! By the way, there is no such thing as restaurant manners. If your kids can't behave at home, what makes you think they'll suddenly act like perfect angels because they're in a restaurant? Oh, and did it ever occur to you that there might be a reason why some restaurants don't have children's menus? | ||
| I'm Only Sleeping Citizen Username: Imonlysleeping Post Number: 245 Registered: 8-2005 |
Sounds like the problem was with those children (or, more likely, those parents). Doesn't mean nobody should ever take their kids to restaurants. I mean, I've sat next to lots of rude adults in restaurants, too. Doesn't mean no adults should go out. Just means those particular ones were rude. | ||
| combustion Citizen Username: Spontaneous Post Number: 471 Registered: 4-2006 |
Yeah, I've sat next to rude adults, but never one's who screeched at the top of their lungs or threw things. The difference is, when you're next to the table with patrons from hell, they tend to be the exception to the average adult. But when you're next to a table with toddlers WHO ARE ACTUALLY BEHAVING, that is the exception. It is unreasonable to expect the average toddler to be able to sit down quietly through an entire meal. | ||
| Lizziecat Citizen Username: Lizziecat Post Number: 1396 Registered: 5-2003 |
Timing is critical. When I take my granddaughters--ages 5.5 and almost 10--out, I figure we have about 45 minutes before they begin to melt down. So we go to places where ther service is prompt and where something, eg. bread or crackers or noodles or soup comes to the table RIGHT AWAY. Sometimes we can push it to an hour, if the food keeps coming, and they like it, but beyond that, it doesn't work. The kids get antsy, someone slides under the table, something spills, and we leave. | ||
| combustion Citizen Username: Spontaneous Post Number: 472 Registered: 4-2006 |
And by the way, I wasn't trying to imply that Reesa's child was acting like this, just that the average restaurant employee AND patron has come to the point where they roll their eyes in disgust when they see customers enter an establishment with young children. Call it conditioning if you want, kind of like Pavlov's dog. | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave  Post Number: 10634 Registered: 4-1997  |
Remind me again how to detect the Evil Eye. Something to do with a squint? | ||
| Dego Diva Citizen Username: Fmingione Post Number: 837 Registered: 12-2003 |
Reesa, could it be possible that you're over-reacting simply because the restaurant was unable to bend their rules for you? $1 for a small order of tofu is not unreasonable - the sauce maybe, but if you're making a special request, you have to be willing to pay for it. As for the smaller orders, well, I recently went to a place I love and asked for the same thing for MYSELF, and it simply was not something that they do. Yeah, it put me off a bit, but by no means would I say that I'll never go back. They're running a business after all, and they have their rules. Personally, I've been in situations when I've gotten pissy because I can't get my way, and suddenly EVERYTHING is wrong with the restaurant/business, whatever, and, as dramatic as Scarlet Ohara, I "vow never to return". We all do it sometimes! Could the waitress have gotten nasty in reaction to your frequent requests for diversions from the menu, and maybe because you gave her a bit of attitude too?? Look, all I'm saying is, there are several versions to every story, and Ariyoshi is a fine restaurant in which I've seen plenty of kids. Take a step back from the situation, and examine your behavior just as much as the waitress'. | ||
| John Caffrey Citizen Username: Jerseyjack Post Number: 562 Registered: 11-2005 |
The apex for me was in a chinese restaurant on 86th and lex. Kids were bouncing off the wall, playing with decorations and being nuisances. Finally the mom had enough. She attempted to resolve the problem by ASKING THE WAITER to tell her darlings to sit down and behave. WTF? | ||
| Reesa Citizen Username: Reesa Post Number: 167 Registered: 7-2005 |
Point well taken Diva. Just for the record, I do not care for loud, wild children in restaurants either. | ||
| Scully Citizen Username: Scully Post Number: 1006 Registered: 8-2005 |
John Caffrey: How is getting stuck in a high chair not 'proper restaurant behavior'? What was the incorrect behavior? Growing? Think before you post. susan1014: I must apologise for certain assumptions I had about having the kids 'watched'. I almost always had friends and family available to sit and so hadn't considered the financial angle. And waiting until your child can sit through a meal at home before taking them public will not damn them to a limited diet unless that's all they get fed at home too (sad, but it happens). Reesa: I was not assuming that your toddler was ill behaved, just questioning why a quiet well behaved child would draw the 'evil eye'. My personal bottom line for children (of ANY age) to eat out is respect for others and the ability to sit through a meal. You don't teach 'restaurant manners' in public. You teach them in your own home every time you sit down to a meal! | ||
| vocallee Citizen Username: Vocallee Post Number: 41 Registered: 9-2001 |
Same experience... It has nothing to do with kids. It has everything to do with Customer Service. The reality is there are many sushi restaurants, there is competition. What's gonna make you choose to go back there than all the other sushi restaurants. I already feel sorry for the fish that are way too big for the tank. I went there with adults and well-behaved children, enjoyed the food but the service was more than lacking. A friend of mine went there at 3 in afternoon, with kids, they wouldn't give the lunch bento box price for real small well-behaved children. Samurai will give you that price ANY time. I tried them again. Just two adults. With big smile on and kindness, I asked if I could describe the double dragon roll, the woman gave me the "evil eye," kept a stern face and basically barked at me..."No, you can only order what's on the menu." Never experienced that at any other sushi restaurant. I smiled and said "Oh, OK" and we ordered. When she left, my friend said "Hope we don't like the food, cause obviously we won't be eating here anymore" (He didn't want the double dragon roll, I did... But he runs a Marketing company) That's how you loose customers. Even if the request wasn't possible, there is nice and respectful way to communicate, that acknowledges that the customer/person is important to you and the success of your business. It's unfortunate because I would bet if I asked while sitting at the sushi bar area Vs. the table, they would smile and say "sure." Their restaurant service is hurting them. We tipped 30% and they won't see us or my friends again. I have placed a call into the owner to help them understand why they may not be seeing repeat customers. Local places other than Samurai: Place across from Rite Aid, they made me the best Double dragon roll ever.(Sakana) Place on Academy street...don't know the name. | ||
| Reesa Citizen Username: Reesa Post Number: 170 Registered: 7-2005 |
Thank you Vocallee, I knew I wasn't crazy. | ||
| mrmaplewood Citizen Username: Mrmaplewood Post Number: 400 Registered: 5-2001 |
You tipped 30%? What are you trying to do, reward the wait staff's poor customer relations? | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 10650 Registered: 4-1997 |
A 10% tip would have sent a clearer message regarding service. I've only experienced excellent service at Ariyoshi and its former incarnation, Taste of Asia. Everyone has bad days though. | ||
| Eats Shoots & Leaves Citizen Username: Mfpark Post Number: 3599 Registered: 9-2001  |
I am with Dave, everyone has off times. But it is also critical for an owner/manager to hear about this and try to minimize it, and then make sure she reminds the staff repeatedly about how to avoid burnout and keep a good attitude. I hope the manager calls you back and listens to what you have to say. I have been to Ariyoshi several times with my three very rambunctious sons and some of their friends--and just little old me trying to keep them in control. The staff was fine with us, even when my youngest spilled soy sauce and a drink on the table (he was making a rather dramatic point and swept his hand in front of him). | ||
| Jersey_Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 1759 Registered: 1-2006  |
Why the hell did you tip 30%? Doesn't ANYONE understand tipping? J.B. | ||
| Shanabana Citizen Username: Shanabana Post Number: 1058 Registered: 10-2005  |
"A friend of mine went there at 3 in afternoon, with kids, they wouldn't give the lunch bento box price for real small well-behaved children. Samurai will give you that price ANY time. I tried them again. Just two adults. With big smile on and kindness, I asked if I could describe the double dragon roll, the woman gave me the "evil eye," kept a stern face and basically barked at me..."No, you can only order what's on the menu." " Vocalee, you have described trying to get services that this institution does not provide. Sorry to say, you sound like an annoying customer. And a ficlke one too! (30%!) | ||
| vocallee Citizen Username: Vocallee Post Number: 43 Registered: 9-2001 |
Hey no worries. I won't be a staple here. Just so you know... If I ever post... I will only post once. I addressed Reesa's original post to validate her experience in the hopes that she and her kids could find the sushi dining she's looking for...and we all deserve. "why the hell" and "doesn't ANYONE" and making judgements about my character... that all belongs to you. I wish you... and yours... all the best. | ||
| Shanabana Citizen Username: Shanabana Post Number: 1072 Registered: 10-2005 |
Hey, vocalee, I didn't really mean to be mean. Your opinions/experiences deserve to be on this board as much as anyone elses. | ||
| Bklyngirl Citizen Username: Bklyngirl Post Number: 212 Registered: 10-2005 |
Nothing directed at you, Shana, but I like vocalee's response. He/she felt insulted by what you wrote, but his/her reaction was not to insult you back. Very classy response. bklyngirl | ||
| Jersey_Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 1787 Registered: 1-2006 |
She could have continued without insulting anyone. I would have been interested in the explanation for tipping 30% for terrible service. It's not really that useful to say and do totally illogical things and then disappear from the conversation that it generates. Sure, maybe I shouldn't have used the "h" word, but I was shocked. Also, I may have been venting a little of my left over frustration from the "tipping" thread. J.B. |
