[jayyeh]

This thread is to warn people who haven't been there yet, or for those who might have shared a similiar experience like me.

I had one of my worst ever dine-out experience in this place!

I've been there before, the food and the variety is not the best (especially when you put the price into consideration, they are asking too much for what you actually get.) I don't think it's very original or authentic at all, but its sort of acceptable.

We had our dinner there on New Year's Day (not much else's open), BAD BAD CHOICE. I know it's public holiday, and i know it's harsh that you gotta work on a public holiday, but HEY! You get paid MORE! What's with the attitude?

The service is not slow, but the only waitress spend more time talking to her friend than making an effort to make sure everything is okay with the customers. She was not friendly at all when we placed our order, and slammed the plates and glasses on the table, and when she came over to pick up empty glasses she didn't even bother to acknowledge us and nearly smashed one against the corner of the table.

It's the whole " I don't really care" attitude that leads to the finale. A WHOLE BOWL of MISO SOUP (with lots of tofu and nori!!!) went straight into my BAG. What have i got inside?? My new book that i haven't read and is totally soaked(arghhh this is the worst for any boo lovers); My camera bag half damped and bits of tofu stuck to my camera; my very expensive designer wallet; my cell phone and makeup bag and a pair of very expensive sunnies...... I'll just leave out the bottom of my skirt, its nothing compare with the bag and its contents.

I was shocked! but i got furious when she just give the outside of the bag a quick wipe and ran off to do her other stuff. (She did appologise, but didn't make me feel any better, and the look she's got on her face was more like: Why did you leave your bag here on the spare seat, rather than sorry) I was left there, with my friends, cleaning everything up, and they all smell of miso soup. What did we get at the end? Waive of 15% holiday surcharge with my meal only.

It's got nothing to do with money (she can not afford to pay for my bag, my wallet, or my camera and cellphone anyway), its her attitude and how things was dealt, i am just very disappointed and angry. I know we all make mistakes, and no one wants to make mistakes, but i just wish she could try to make an effort to fix things up! She's lucky that I am not really an awful grumpy woman or else i would make a scene in the restaurant!! Even a drink right afterward would make me feel a little better and smooth things up a bit. BUT It's her attitude, nothing's really done and I didn't feel that she's sorry for what her mistake.

Arashi is definitely not the kind of place to go for a nice dinner out, and too expensive if you just want quick food (there are other places around That's much better and cheaper). The only advantage they've got is location, for first time suckers like tourists or people who don't know japaness food very well. What they've got to provide is more of a chinese/japanese fusion kind of food adapted to Kiwi tastebuds. Dont get me wrong, the food is actually not bad, it's just not that good for the price you're paying and the service you're receiving. I've always think that customer service is the biggest things when it comes to bussiness, if you cant get that right, the core of the bussiness can't be too good.

So dont be silly and wast your money at Arashi, Kasu (the restaurant, not the sake bar) is much better and far more authentic. (The Kasu Sake Bar right on the top of Arashi is a good place to go and have a drink with friends, they provide yummy finger food for boozing!)