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Sushi Restaurant Pet Peeves
Most readers in this group have been to @ least several sushi
restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you are in a Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any specific order): - Having to ask for low-sodium soy sauce - When the server does not know the brand name of the house "hot sake" - Ordering any sashimi and not having the shiso leaf come w/the order (instead maybe some regular lettuce. - Not being given a spoon for agedashi tofu - Ordering a roll and it automatically comes in the "inside-out roll" style. Why, and since when, has inside-out roll style replaced the more traditional seaweed-on-the-outside style? - Female workers dressed in kimonos. Isn't that cruel and unusual punishment to force someone to work in that restrictive clothing in a restaurant environment? I rarely see a Chinese or Thai restaurant where the workers are still dressing in their native dress in order to "add flavor to the eating experience." Just serving delicious food in a nice environment should be enough. Kimonos should be left in the closet. Do you have any others? (Please do not mention any specific establishments) :-) |
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"lazrowp" > writes:
> - Having to ask for low-sodium soy sauce Why would asking for a specialty item be a peeve? I can see you being unhappy if they didn't provide it when asked, but is there a reason it should be out on the table by default? > - When the server does not know the brand name of the house "hot > sake" It's cheap house sake. If you care about brand, you're going to order by brand anyway. But, yeah, the server should at least be able to go and find out and tell you. > - Ordering any sashimi and not having the shiso leaf come w/the > order (instead maybe some regular lettuce. I wasn't aware that shiso was a requirement for sashimi. It's nice, but is it necessary? Doesn't it also depend on the fish as well? > - Not being given a spoon for agedashi tofu That'd just be weird. > - Ordering a roll and it automatically comes in the "inside-out > roll" style. Why, and since when, has inside-out roll style > replaced the more traditional seaweed-on-the-outside style? Often it says on the menu whether or not it comes inside-out. I don't normally care, since I very very rarely order a roll anyway. > - Female workers dressed in kimonos. Isn't that cruel and unusual Nothing wrong with it. It's no different than any other restaurant requiring an appropriate work uniform. The more casual places don't seem to do the kimono thing, just as they are less likely to have a maitre'd wearing a tux or suit. No big deal. > "add flavor to the eating experience." Just serving delicious food in > a nice environment should be enough. Kimonos should be left in the > closet. It's supposed to be part of the 'nice environment'. My peeves? Ordering an assortment and the server not being able to tell me what's what. Server not speaking English adequately to communicate well. Server not knowing specials. Specials board still listing things that are sold out. Lack of a specials board or any seasonal items. -- Plain Bread alone for e-mail, thanks. The rest gets trashed. No HTML in E-Mail! -- http://www.expita.com/nomime.html Are you posting responses that are easy for others to follow? http://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/2000/06/14/quoting |
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"lazrowp" > writes:
> - Having to ask for low-sodium soy sauce Why would asking for a specialty item be a peeve? I can see you being unhappy if they didn't provide it when asked, but is there a reason it should be out on the table by default? > - When the server does not know the brand name of the house "hot > sake" It's cheap house sake. If you care about brand, you're going to order by brand anyway. But, yeah, the server should at least be able to go and find out and tell you. > - Ordering any sashimi and not having the shiso leaf come w/the > order (instead maybe some regular lettuce. I wasn't aware that shiso was a requirement for sashimi. It's nice, but is it necessary? Doesn't it also depend on the fish as well? > - Not being given a spoon for agedashi tofu That'd just be weird. > - Ordering a roll and it automatically comes in the "inside-out > roll" style. Why, and since when, has inside-out roll style > replaced the more traditional seaweed-on-the-outside style? Often it says on the menu whether or not it comes inside-out. I don't normally care, since I very very rarely order a roll anyway. > - Female workers dressed in kimonos. Isn't that cruel and unusual Nothing wrong with it. It's no different than any other restaurant requiring an appropriate work uniform. The more casual places don't seem to do the kimono thing, just as they are less likely to have a maitre'd wearing a tux or suit. No big deal. > "add flavor to the eating experience." Just serving delicious food in > a nice environment should be enough. Kimonos should be left in the > closet. It's supposed to be part of the 'nice environment'. My peeves? Ordering an assortment and the server not being able to tell me what's what. Server not speaking English adequately to communicate well. Server not knowing specials. Specials board still listing things that are sold out. Lack of a specials board or any seasonal items. -- Plain Bread alone for e-mail, thanks. The rest gets trashed. No HTML in E-Mail! -- http://www.expita.com/nomime.html Are you posting responses that are easy for others to follow? http://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/2000/06/14/quoting |
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lazrowp wrote:
> Most readers in this group have been to @ least several sushi > restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you are in a > Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any specific order): > > > - Having to ask for low-sodium soy sauce Green lid a good clue. > > - When the server does not know the brand name of the house "hot > sake" The hot one is rotgut being pumped from a big hot tea-style dispenser in the back anyway, so why bother. Order a premium cold sake or beer. > > - Ordering any sashimi and not having the shiso leaf come w/the order > (instead maybe some regular lettuce. > Shiso is up to the itamae. > - Not being given a spoon for agedashi tofu > Asked and asnwered. > - Ordering a roll and it automatically comes in the "inside-out roll" > style. Why, and since when, has inside-out roll style replaced the > more traditional seaweed-on-the-outside style? > Delivered as the itamae wants it to be served. <<snip>> > > Do you have any others? (Please do not mention any specific > establishments) > Waiters who don't know what the cold premium sake choices are. "Sushi restaurants" (as many in my part of L.A.) where there is not a single Japanese or Japanese-speaking waiter or sushi cutter (intentionally not using the word itamae here) in the entire place. When I order in Japanese I get a strange look. Zenbu hankokujin desu. |
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lazrowp wrote:
> Most readers in this group have been to @ least several sushi > restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you are in a > Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any specific order): > > > - Having to ask for low-sodium soy sauce Green lid a good clue. > > - When the server does not know the brand name of the house "hot > sake" The hot one is rotgut being pumped from a big hot tea-style dispenser in the back anyway, so why bother. Order a premium cold sake or beer. > > - Ordering any sashimi and not having the shiso leaf come w/the order > (instead maybe some regular lettuce. > Shiso is up to the itamae. > - Not being given a spoon for agedashi tofu > Asked and asnwered. > - Ordering a roll and it automatically comes in the "inside-out roll" > style. Why, and since when, has inside-out roll style replaced the > more traditional seaweed-on-the-outside style? > Delivered as the itamae wants it to be served. <<snip>> > > Do you have any others? (Please do not mention any specific > establishments) > Waiters who don't know what the cold premium sake choices are. "Sushi restaurants" (as many in my part of L.A.) where there is not a single Japanese or Japanese-speaking waiter or sushi cutter (intentionally not using the word itamae here) in the entire place. When I order in Japanese I get a strange look. Zenbu hankokujin desu. |
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In article . com>,
"lazrowp" > wrote: > Most readers in this group have been to @ least several sushi > restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you are in a > Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any specific order): > > Do you have any others? (Please do not mention any specific > establishments) Showing up for Dirty Pair night and finding out they switched it with Sanrio. The Naked Sushi chick needs a wax job. funny looks when i order okonomiyaki ping pong balls floating with the kaitan ..max -- the part of > was played by maxwell monningh 8-p |
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Geoff wrote: > lazrowp wrote: > > Most readers in this group have been to @ least several sushi > > restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you are in a > > Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any specific order): > > > > > > - Having to ask for low-sodium soy sauce > > Green lid a good clue. > > > > > - When the server does not know the brand name of the house "hot > > sake" > > The hot one is rotgut being pumped from a big hot tea-style dispenser in > the back anyway, so why bother. Order a premium cold sake or beer. > > > > > - Ordering any sashimi and not having the shiso leaf come w/the order > > (instead maybe some regular lettuce. > > > > Shiso is up to the itamae. > > > - Not being given a spoon for agedashi tofu > > > > Asked and asnwered. > > > - Ordering a roll and it automatically comes in the "inside-out roll" > > style. Why, and since when, has inside-out roll style replaced the > > more traditional seaweed-on-the-outside style? > > > > Delivered as the itamae wants it to be served. > > <<snip>> > > > > > Do you have any others? (Please do not mention any specific > > establishments) > > > Waiters who don't know what the cold premium sake choices are. > > "Sushi restaurants" (as many in my part of L.A.) where there is not a > single Japanese or Japanese-speaking waiter or sushi cutter > (intentionally not using the word itamae here) in the entire place. When > I order in Japanese I get a strange look. Zenbu hankokujin desu. |
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Geoff wrote: > lazrowp wrote: > > Most readers in this group have been to @ least several sushi > > restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you are in a > > Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any specific order): > > > > > > - Having to ask for low-sodium soy sauce > > Green lid a good clue. > > > > > - When the server does not know the brand name of the house "hot > > sake" > > The hot one is rotgut being pumped from a big hot tea-style dispenser in > the back anyway, so why bother. Order a premium cold sake or beer. > > > > > - Ordering any sashimi and not having the shiso leaf come w/the order > > (instead maybe some regular lettuce. > > > > Shiso is up to the itamae. > > > - Not being given a spoon for agedashi tofu > > > > Asked and asnwered. > > > - Ordering a roll and it automatically comes in the "inside-out roll" > > style. Why, and since when, has inside-out roll style replaced the > > more traditional seaweed-on-the-outside style? > > > > Delivered as the itamae wants it to be served. > > <<snip>> > > > > > Do you have any others? (Please do not mention any specific > > establishments) > > > Waiters who don't know what the cold premium sake choices are. > > "Sushi restaurants" (as many in my part of L.A.) where there is not a > single Japanese or Japanese-speaking waiter or sushi cutter > (intentionally not using the word itamae here) in the entire place. When > I order in Japanese I get a strange look. Zenbu hankokujin desu. "kankokujin" desho? |
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lazrowp wrote:
> Geoff wrote: > > When > >>I order in Japanese I get a strange look. Zenbu hankokujin desu. > > "kankokujin" desho? > Hai, so desu. Thanks. My primary Asian language is Chinese (Mandarin han guo ren, Cantonese Hon gwok yan) and my Japanese is rusty. Sometimes I forget the correct Chinese to onyomi mapping. No mistaking the "all-you-can-eat" or "two-for-one" signs and thick artless cutting at some of those places, though. Must add my remark was limited to my first-hand experience of 4-5 places in my area, so not intended to express a generalization or disparage any particular group. |
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lazrowp wrote:
> Geoff wrote: > > When > >>I order in Japanese I get a strange look. Zenbu hankokujin desu. > > "kankokujin" desho? > Hai, so desu. Thanks. My primary Asian language is Chinese (Mandarin han guo ren, Cantonese Hon gwok yan) and my Japanese is rusty. Sometimes I forget the correct Chinese to onyomi mapping. No mistaking the "all-you-can-eat" or "two-for-one" signs and thick artless cutting at some of those places, though. Must add my remark was limited to my first-hand experience of 4-5 places in my area, so not intended to express a generalization or disparage any particular group. |
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"lazrowp" > wrote in message
ups.com... > Most readers in this group have been to @ least several sushi > restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you are in a > Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any specific order): > > > - Ordering a roll and it automatically comes in the "inside-out roll" > style. Why, and since when, has inside-out roll style replaced the > more traditional seaweed-on-the-outside style? > They should come the way they are meant to. On the other hand, I can't find a place that will do negihama correctly. Here, it's inside-out. If they understand what I'm talking about at all, they'll generally give me a hamachi maki. > - Female workers dressed in kimonos. Isn't that cruel and unusual > punishment to force someone to work in that restrictive clothing in a > restaurant environment? I rarely see a Chinese or Thai restaurant > where the workers are still dressing in their native dress in order to > "add flavor to the eating experience." Just serving delicious food in > a nice environment should be enough. Kimonos should be left in the > closet. > I think they should be dressed comfortably. But I prefer it if they actually speak Japanese. Short of that, they should at least understand what they are serving. > > Do you have any others? (Please do not mention any specific > establishments) > I do NOT appreciate hip joints and places with attitude. I do NOT like places where the staff are nattily dressed with thin ties and where they play hip music. If they have to do music, they should play traditional Japanese. Koto, shakuhachi. I prefer traditional decor, but PLEASE no ultra modern decor with or without Japanese anime robots. > > :-) > |
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> wrote in message
... > Server not speaking English adequately to communicate well. > Personally, I don't have a problem with this if the server is Japanese, but I think in an American place, they should be able to get by in Eniglsh. I stopped going to one place in Denver because the owner, who knew me and we spoke Japanese together, started having her new help practice on my wife and I. The one that did it for us was the totally untrained one who spoke neither English nor Japanese. Sigh. > Server not knowing specials. > > Specials board still listing things that are sold out. > > Lack of a specials board or any seasonal items. > It would be nice if the specials board actually listed specials, instead of the same items all year round. > -- > Plain Bread alone for e-mail, thanks. The rest gets trashed. > No HTML in E-Mail! -- http://www.expita.com/nomime.html > Are you posting responses that are easy for others to follow? > http://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/2000/06/14/quoting |
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"Dan Logcher" > wrote in message
... > wrote: > > "lazrowp" > writes: > > > Lack of a specials board or any seasonal items. > > This is a big one! One place I go doesn't have the specials board, > but often has special items.. so I have to ask if they have them every > time. > At least, the server or itamae-san should tell you on first contact. > Being given a spoon with miso soup (small one, since I just don't use it) > Being a traditionalist, I hate that. I simply take it out and put it down, but... > Itamae doesn't squeeze out the liquid from gari before putting on the serving dish. > > Not being asked if I want more sushi, cuz I always do. > > Asking what is fresh today and being told everything. > > -- > Dan |
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"lazrowp" > wrote in message = ups.com... > Most readers in this group have been to @ least several sushi > restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you are in a > Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any specific order): >=20 > - Having to ask for low-sodium soy sauce >=20 Understandable if you are watching your sodium intake. However, nearly = every sushi place I've been to that even offers a low-sodium soy sauce uses = that green-capped kikkoman stuff that tastes like garbage. I've personally tried perhaps = 5-6 low sodium soy sauces and found only one called KIN BUE that has a taste good = enough for sushi and sashimi. Unfortunately I can't find it all the time but when I do, I = pick up a couple of bottles. > - When the server does not know the brand name of the house "hot > sake" >=20 Most waiters and waitresses won't know this. Firstly, in many places = they are not even Japanese to start with and couldn't name one sake brand off the top = of their heads. Secondly, usually they are use to American customers wanting "hot socky" = who wouldn't know any brands either. Japanese run places that attract Japanese = businessmen at night invariably have the biggest seclection of sake as well as knowledgable servers. =20 > - Ordering any sashimi and not having the shiso leaf come w/the = order > (instead maybe some regular lettuce. Shiso is really a seasonal thing, mostly late spring through early fall. = However, it can be bought pretty much year round, although the price is higher in winter. = Sometimes, if shiso is not available sashimi will be served with other tsuma including various = seaweeds. Nevertheless, lettuce no matter what kind, is not something that should = be served with sashimi. Ever. Calls for punishment. =20 > - Not being given a spoon for agedashi tofu I would be more annoyed at being given a metal spoon instead of a = traditional Renge (a white ceramic oval spoon of chinese origin). >=20 > - Ordering a roll and it automatically comes in the "inside-out = roll" > style. Why, and since when, has inside-out roll style replaced the > more traditional seaweed-on-the-outside style? >=20 Yes, unless so specified, whoever made that gyaku-maki should be = punished. > - Female workers dressed in kimonos. Isn't that cruel and unusual > punishment to force someone to work in that restrictive clothing in a > restaurant environment? Not every woman looks "good" in a Kimono. It requires a certain type of = build, shoulders not too wide, (and hips too) for example to wear a Kimono = well. I have in the past seen some girls in Kimonos where my having to look at = them was cruel and unusual punishment. To even put on a Kimono by yourself requires training (called Kitsuke) = and usually Kimonos are put on with help. Some of the very top level Japanese restaurants in = NY City have servers dressed in Kimonos and they are done properly. However, when any-old = Japanese, or imitation Japanese place, that wouldn't know a Kimono from a bathrobe throws them = onto girls who have no idea what they are wearing, I find it laughable at best, = offensive at worst. =20 > I rarely see a Chinese or Thai restaurant > where the workers are still dressing in their native dress in order to > "add flavor to the eating experience." Just serving delicious food in > a nice environment should be enough. Kimonos should be left in the > closet. Some of the very top level Chinese restaurants in Manhattan have at = least the hostesse(s) wearing the classic beautiful China dresses. I certainly have no problem = with that  > Do you have any others? (Please do not mention any specific > establishments) >=20 - Asking for something in Japanese and the server isn't Japanese. So I have to repeat it in English. - Asking for something in Japanese, the server IS Japanese and still = doesn't know what I'm talking about because he/she doesn't know sushi = terminology. This is far more infuriating than the former. - A server that doesn't know what I'm talking about in Japanese OR = English. Calls for punishment. - Servers who fail to mention from the start which items they are out = of, rather than waiting for me to order 10 things before they tell me which 5 things = they are out of. Calls for death. Musashi |
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Can Altinbay wrote:
> "Dan Logcher" > wrote in message > ... > wrote: >> >>>"lazrowp" > writes: >>> >>>Lack of a specials board or any seasonal items. >>> >>This is a big one! One place I go doesn't have the specials board, >>but often has special items.. so I have to ask if they have them every >>time. >> >> > > At least, the server or itamae-san should tell you on first contact. This isn't a problem when sitting at the bar, I usually ask what is fresh anyway. But the waitstaff will never know, and have to go back and ask the chef and then comeback and try to explain it to me the way they think I'll understand.. and I know they would hold back things that they don't think I would want. I've had that happen. They had special items they didn't tell me about. >>Being given a spoon with miso soup (small one, since I just don't use it) > > Being a traditionalist, I hate that. I simply take it out and put it down, > but... If I'm with my son, 3 years old, I will use it for him. But otherwise it is just a slight annoyance. -- Dan |
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"Musashi" > writes:
> - Asking for something in Japanese and the server isn't Japanese. > So I have to repeat it in English. In a sushi bar in the US, I don't think it's essential that the staff speak Japanese. They need to be able to communicate with their clients - that's way more important. Do you expect every server at every Italian restaurant to speak Italian? Perhaps at the more traditional or higher-end places, but not everywhere. I do find it a little annoying to not necessarily know before hand if I can expect a traditional, japanese-run sushi place or if a given sushi place is americanized or korean-run or whatnot. But "sushi" seems no longer to mean specifically Japanese, but, rather, any place serving certain foods which can be called Sushi. There are plenty of brick-oven pizza places which are in no way Italian, so, too, are there plenty of sushi places which aren't Japanese. These things happen. I don't expect the server at, say, Bertucci's to speak Italian or for all the dishes to be traditional. I don't expect the sushi at Mr. Sushi (local Korean-run place) to be all traditional, nor for the servers there to speak Japanese. I do, however, expect servers in both places to speak English. For those who get upset when the server doesn't speak Japanese - look at the menu. If it's got bibimbap and kimchi on it, don't expect to speak Japanese to your server. And if you start naming items in Japanese and they don't know what you mean, plan on pointing at things in the menu. If you want Japanese-speaking servers and all the amenities we have talked about here, plan on spending a little more and finding a higher-end Japanese-run traditional sushi bar. Chances are that Joe's Sushi on the corner is not it. -- Plain Bread alone for e-mail, thanks. The rest gets trashed. No HTML in E-Mail! -- http://www.expita.com/nomime.html Are you posting responses that are easy for others to follow? http://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/2000/06/14/quoting |
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when I order sashimi, nigiri, and maki... and the sushi comes first. -- "But to live outside the law, you must be honest" Bob Dylan - Absolutely Sweet Marie - 1966 |
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"Musashi" > wrote in message . com... I was refering to some high-end places where I get greeted at the entrance in Japanese, if I pass the counter the Itamae may say irrashaimase, then when I start to order the server doesn't speak Japanese. Sounds like a strange scenario doesn't it? Try Hatsuana in New York City for lunch sometime. All the sushi restaurants that I eat in around here greet me in Japanese, at least that's what I think they are doing (g), as does the chef when I leave. It is accompanied by mutual nodding and I find it quaint and pleasant but I speak no Japanese and, sitting at a table in the US, I expect the waitresses to adequately understand my English if the restaurant expects me to return. I have generally found that the waitresses seem to understand Japanese-looking customers but that doesn't matter to me. -- James V. Silverton Potomac, Maryland, USA |
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"James Silverton" > wrote in message = ... >=20 > "Musashi" > wrote in message=20 > . com... >=20 > I was refering to some high-end places where I get greeted at the=20 > entrance in Japanese, > if I pass the counter the Itamae may say irrashaimase, then when I=20 > start to order > the server doesn't speak Japanese. Sounds like a strange scenario=20 > doesn't it? > Try Hatsuana in New York City for lunch sometime. >=20 > All the sushi restaurants that I eat in around here greet me in=20 > Japanese, at least that's what I think they are doing (g), as does the = > chef when I leave. It is accompanied by mutual nodding and I find it=20 > quaint and pleasant but I speak no Japanese and, sitting at a table in = > the US, I expect the waitresses to adequately understand my English if = > the restaurant expects me to return. I have generally found that the=20 > waitresses seem to understand Japanese-looking customers but that=20 > doesn't matter to me. >=20 Yes, that is basically "normal" and expected. |
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My peeves:
When "spicy sauce" is just that.. straight hot sauce. I prefer spicy mayo. When I'm served a spoon with my soup. (Also in Chinese restaurants, when everyone else is eating with chopsticks, and the server gives me a fork). Places that price the a la carte nigiri by the piece, instead of by the pair. Lack of a daily specials board. When the menu describes the sushi deluxe as (for example) "12 nigiris and a California roll" without describing what the 12 nigiris are. (Gee, if I had known I was going to get 4 each of whitefish, tuna, and salmon, I wouldv'e ordered a la carte instead). Having to eat a California roll (unless it's the hot scallop topped California roll at Midori in Sherman Oaks, California. Heaven!) When they don't have uni on the menu. When the saba is lousy. (Strongly pickled). Lack of natto maki (I like it, but not many places serve it). Getting charged for green tea. Being with someone who lacks the basic sushi etiquette (using a fork and knife - gah!, putting ginger on every piece, drowning their pieces in soy sauce) There's probably more, but I'm already complaining enough as it is. --Art |
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In ups.com,
lazrowp > typed: > Most readers in this group have been to @ least several sushi > restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you are > in a > Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any specific > order): As far I can see, nobody has yet mentioned my single biggest peeve: having specials listed in Japanese, but not in English (presumably because they are things they think that Westerners won't eat.) -- Ken Blake Please reply to the newsgroup |
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"Art" > wrote in message ... > My peeves: > > When "spicy sauce" is just that.. straight hot sauce. I prefer spicy mayo. > > When I'm served a spoon with my soup. (Also in Chinese restaurants, when > everyone else is eating with chopsticks, and the server gives me a fork). > Places that have forks waiting for you at the table. (In many Chinese restaurants, you have to ask two or three times for chopsticks!) > Places that price the a la carte nigiri by the piece, instead of by the pair. > > Lack of a daily specials board. > > When the menu describes the sushi deluxe as (for example) "12 nigiris and a > California roll" without describing what the 12 nigiris are. (Gee, if I had > known I was going to get 4 each of whitefish, tuna, and salmon, I wouldv'e > ordered a la carte instead). > > Having to eat a California roll (unless it's the hot scallop topped California > roll at Midori in Sherman Oaks, California. Heaven!) > I won't order combinations with Ca. rolls, unless they are willing to substitute. Some places do. Boo hiss to those that don't. > When they don't have uni on the menu. > > When the saba is lousy. (Strongly pickled). > > Lack of natto maki (I like it, but not many places serve it). > > Getting charged for green tea. > I hate that. I've even been charged for green tea TEABAGS! Getting charged for the hot towels. Not getting hot towels at all. > Being with someone who lacks the basic sushi etiquette (using a fork and knife > - gah!, putting ginger on every piece, drowning their pieces in soy sauce) > > There's probably more, but I'm already complaining enough as it is. > Oh, go for it. > --Art |
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"Musashi" > wrote in message
om... - Asking for something in Japanese, the server IS Japanese and still doesn't know what I'm talking about because he/she doesn't know sushi terminology. This is far more infuriating than the former. At least in Tokyo and Yokohama, they aren't weirded out any more when a henna gaijin like me speaks to them in perfect Japanese. It used to be a problem, especially when they hear you, look at you, then conclude that they didn't understand what you said. (Of course, when I was much younger, there was a gaijin speaking impeccable Japanese at a record store. I approached him and said, "Nihongo ojouzu desune.") |
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> wrote in message
... > "Musashi" > writes: > > > - Asking for something in Japanese and the server isn't Japanese. > > So I have to repeat it in English. > > In a sushi bar in the US, I don't think it's essential that > the staff speak Japanese. They need to be able to communicate > with their clients - that's way more important. > Of course, if Musashi-san is in a Japanese restaurant in Japan and the help doesn't understand Japanese... I'd be VERY annoyed, too. |
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> wrote in message
... > "Musashi" > writes: > > > - Asking for something in Japanese and the server isn't Japanese. > > So I have to repeat it in English. > > In a sushi bar in the US, I don't think it's essential that > the staff speak Japanese. They need to be able to communicate > with their clients - that's way more important. > > Do you expect every server at every Italian restaurant > to speak Italian? Perhaps at the more traditional or > higher-end places, but not everywhere. > > I do find it a little annoying to not necessarily > know before hand if I can expect a traditional, > japanese-run sushi place or if a given sushi place > is americanized or korean-run or whatnot. But > "sushi" seems no longer to mean specifically Japanese, > but, rather, any place serving certain foods which > can be called Sushi. There are plenty of brick-oven > pizza places which are in no way Italian, so, too, > are there plenty of sushi places which aren't Japanese. > These things happen. I don't expect the server at, > say, Bertucci's to speak Italian or for all the > dishes to be traditional. I don't expect the sushi > at Mr. Sushi (local Korean-run place) to be all > traditional, nor for the servers there to speak Japanese. > > I do, however, expect servers in both places to speak > English. > > For those who get upset when the server doesn't > speak Japanese - look at the menu. If it's got > bibimbap and kimchi on it, don't expect to speak > Japanese to your server. And if you start naming > items in Japanese and they don't know what you mean, > plan on pointing at things in the menu. > I can usually tell when a Japanese restaurant is not run by Japanese. The ones runs by Koreans that I've been to have had great food. You can usually tell because they have yakiniku on the menu, and often even kimchee. And the staff is speaking a non-Japanese Asian language. The places with bibimbap usually call themselves Korean, but there is a place here in Indy which does not. I've been there for lunch twice and have ordered the one Korean lunch special both times. I think their Japanese food is probably good, but the Korean food is so good, I can't bear to try anything else. By the way, of 3 Korean places in the neighborhood (I think the town has one other place), this one serves the best Korean food. > If you want Japanese-speaking servers and all the > amenities we have talked about here, plan on spending > a little more and finding a higher-end Japanese-run > traditional sushi bar. Chances are that Joe's Sushi > on the corner is not it. > Finding great sushi is not at all easy. My wife and I have been spoiled by Mori in Denver. To begin with, most "Japanese" restaurants in Indy are teppanyaki joints. So far, the best I had was at Tokyo Joe's (not the chain), owned by a Singaporan and whose itamae-san is Chinese. > -- > Plain Bread alone for e-mail, thanks. The rest gets trashed. > No HTML in E-Mail! -- http://www.expita.com/nomime.html > Are you posting responses that are easy for others to follow? > http://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/2000/06/14/quoting |
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"Ken Blake" > wrote in message
... > In ups.com, > lazrowp > typed: > > > Most readers in this group have been to @ least several sushi > > restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you are > > in a > > Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any specific > > order): > > > As far I can see, nobody has yet mentioned my single biggest > peeve: having specials listed in Japanese, but not in English > (presumably because they are things they think that Westerners > won't eat.) > This is more common in Chinese restaurants. Often, you won't even know that there IS an alternate menu. If I find it out, I will ask. Of course, I have that advantage that I read Japanese, so I can get an idea of what it might be by looking at the characters. At Sunny China Cafe in Denver, I spotted one of my favorites - spicy beef soup. The waiter told us he doesn't usually recommend it to people like us, but we insisted. Yum. Hadn't had it since moving back to Denver from the San Francisco area. |
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"Dan Logcher" > wrote in message
... > > But I hear ya.. Chinese restaurants do that, have Chinese only > menus. I recently went there to get take out after having a > great meal with my wife's family and one of them read the Chinese > menu and ordered.. so I ordered that off the English menu from > home and it wasn't the dish. > > -- > Dan Sometimes if you are having a late lunch, they'll set a large table with stuff that's not on the menu for the help to eat. I've sometimes felt like asking for some of that. |
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Can Altinbay wrote:
> "Dan Logcher" > wrote in message > ... > >>But I hear ya.. Chinese restaurants do that, have Chinese only >>menus. I recently went there to get take out after having a >>great meal with my wife's family and one of them read the Chinese >>menu and ordered.. so I ordered that off the English menu from >>home and it wasn't the dish. >> > > Sometimes if you are having a late lunch, they'll set a large table with > stuff that's not on the menu for the help to eat. I've sometimes felt like > asking for some of that. I've seen this too.. and it does look good. -- Dan |
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Can Altinbay wrote:
> "Dan Logcher" > wrote in message > ... > >>But I hear ya.. Chinese restaurants do that, have Chinese only >>menus. I recently went there to get take out after having a >>great meal with my wife's family and one of them read the Chinese >>menu and ordered.. so I ordered that off the English menu from >>home and it wasn't the dish. >> > > Sometimes if you are having a late lunch, they'll set a large table with > stuff that's not on the menu for the help to eat. I've sometimes felt like > asking for some of that. I've seen this too.. and it does look good. -- Dan |
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In ,
Dan Logcher > typed: > Ken Blake wrote: >> In ups.com, >> lazrowp > typed: >> >> >>>Most readers in this group have been to @ least several sushi >>>restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you >>>are >>>in a >>>Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any specific >>>order): >> >> >> >> As far I can see, nobody has yet mentioned my single biggest >> peeve: having specials listed in Japanese, but not in English >> (presumably because they are things they think that Westerners >> won't eat.) > > Most places that have specials boards are in English or both.. That's probably true, but nevertheless *some* do it just in Japanese, and I hate it. > But I hear ya.. Chinese restaurants do that, have Chinese only > menus. I recently went there to get take out after having a > great meal with my wife's family and one of them read the > Chinese > menu and ordered.. so I ordered that off the English menu from > home and it wasn't the dish. I used to go a Chinese Restaurant here in Tucson (now closed) that had two separate menus--one in English, the other in Chinese--with different things on them. One evening I took the Chinese menu home with me and mailed it to my sister-in-law, who is Chinese. She translated it, wrote in the English names and mailed it back to me. From then on, whenever I went to the place, I brought my own menu. -- Ken Blake Please reply to the newsgroup |
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In link.net,
Can Altinbay > typed: > "Ken Blake" > wrote in message > ... >> In ups.com, >> lazrowp > typed: >> >> > Most readers in this group have been to @ least several >> > sushi >> > restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you >> > are >> > in a >> > Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any >> > specific >> > order): >> >> >> As far I can see, nobody has yet mentioned my single biggest >> peeve: having specials listed in Japanese, but not in English >> (presumably because they are things they think that Westerners >> won't eat.) >> > > This is more common in Chinese restaurants. True, but it happens in Japanese restaurants too. > Often, you won't even > know that there IS an alternate menu. True, but sometimes specials are written on signs posted on the wall, so it's obvious. I also sometimes ask if there's a special menu, because if I'm lucky it will be in both languages. > If I find it out, I will ask. > Of course, I have that advantage that I read Japanese, so I can > get > an idea of what it might be by looking at the characters. > > At Sunny China Cafe in Denver, I spotted one of my favorites - > spicy > beef soup. The waiter told us he doesn't usually recommend it > to > people like us, but we insisted. Reminds me of the time I ate in a small Indian restaurant in NYC. I ordered a particular curry and the waiter said, "No, that's too spicy for you." The conversation went something like this: "That's OK. I like spicy food." "But this is very spicy. Only Indians can eat it." "No, I can eat it too." "I can't give it to you. You'll want me to take it back and I won't be able to." "It's OK. Just bring it." "No, I can't." "BRING IT AND MAKE IT EXTRA SPICY!" He did. It was tough, but I finished it all. -- Ken Blake Please reply to the newsgroup |
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"Can Altinbay" > wrote in message = nk.net... > > wrote in message > ... > > "Musashi" > writes: > > > > > - Asking for something in Japanese and the server isn't Japanese. > > > So I have to repeat it in English. > > > > In a sushi bar in the US, I don't think it's essential that > > the staff speak Japanese. They need to be able to communicate > > with their clients - that's way more important. > > >=20 > Of course, if Musashi-san is in a Japanese restaurant in Japan and the = help > doesn't understand Japanese... > I'd be VERY annoyed, too. >=20 >=20 Just for kicks... Imagine if you are in Tokyo, and go to an "American Diner-style = Restaurant", where the American hostess greets you, you pass through the = place and can hear English being spoken by the short order cooks behind the counter area, you sit down and the server = appears and you start to place your order and the server turns out to be Rumanian and doesn't = speak any English. Wouldn't you consider this to be a weird experience? |
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"Can Altinbay" > wrote in message = nk.net... > > wrote in message > ... > > "Musashi" > writes: > > > > > - Asking for something in Japanese and the server isn't Japanese. > > > So I have to repeat it in English. > > > > In a sushi bar in the US, I don't think it's essential that > > the staff speak Japanese. They need to be able to communicate > > with their clients - that's way more important. > > >=20 > Of course, if Musashi-san is in a Japanese restaurant in Japan and the = help > doesn't understand Japanese... > I'd be VERY annoyed, too. >=20 >=20 Just for kicks... Imagine if you are in Tokyo, and go to an "American Diner-style = Restaurant", where the American hostess greets you, you pass through the = place and can hear English being spoken by the short order cooks behind the counter area, you sit down and the server = appears and you start to place your order and the server turns out to be Rumanian and doesn't = speak any English. Wouldn't you consider this to be a weird experience? |
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"Ken Blake" > wrote in message
... > > Reminds me of the time I ate in a small Indian restaurant in NYC. > I ordered a particular curry and the waiter said, "No, that's too > spicy for you." The conversation went something like this: > .... > -- > Ken Blake Years ago, I had pretty much the same experience at an Indian place in Hollywood. He kept repeating, "Ser pliz, you do not want it that hot." Bringing it back to the Orient, Chinese restaurants are the biggest purveyors of unspicy "hot" food. I ask for extra spicy, and I get bland way too often. And no, having extra red peppers on the side does not work. |
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"Ken Blake" > wrote in message
... > > Reminds me of the time I ate in a small Indian restaurant in NYC. > I ordered a particular curry and the waiter said, "No, that's too > spicy for you." The conversation went something like this: > .... > -- > Ken Blake Years ago, I had pretty much the same experience at an Indian place in Hollywood. He kept repeating, "Ser pliz, you do not want it that hot." Bringing it back to the Orient, Chinese restaurants are the biggest purveyors of unspicy "hot" food. I ask for extra spicy, and I get bland way too often. And no, having extra red peppers on the side does not work. |
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"Can Altinbay" > wrote in message = nk.net... > "Musashi" > wrote in message > om... >=20 > - Asking for something in Japanese, the server IS Japanese and still = doesn't > know what I'm talking about because he/she doesn't know sushi = terminology. > This is far more infuriating than the former. >=20 >=20 > At least in Tokyo and Yokohama, they aren't weirded out any more when = a > henna gaijin like me speaks to them in perfect Japanese. It used to = be a > problem, especially when they hear you, look at you, then conclude = that they > didn't understand what you said. >=20 Yes that is something that has changed and continues to change. With more non-Japanese celebrities, such as Thane Camus and Dave Spector appearing on TV speaking totally fluent Japanese, the old stereotype that "foreigners don't speak Japanese" is dissappearing. Which is a good = thing. > (Of course, when I was much younger, there was a gaijin speaking = impeccable > Japanese at a record store. I approached him and said, "Nihongo = ojouzu > desune.") >=20 And he said...Hai, watashi wa furansujin desukara nande mo jouzu desu? LOL |
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"Can Altinbay" > wrote in message = nk.net... > "Musashi" > wrote in message > om... >=20 > - Asking for something in Japanese, the server IS Japanese and still = doesn't > know what I'm talking about because he/she doesn't know sushi = terminology. > This is far more infuriating than the former. >=20 >=20 > At least in Tokyo and Yokohama, they aren't weirded out any more when = a > henna gaijin like me speaks to them in perfect Japanese. It used to = be a > problem, especially when they hear you, look at you, then conclude = that they > didn't understand what you said. >=20 Yes that is something that has changed and continues to change. With more non-Japanese celebrities, such as Thane Camus and Dave Spector appearing on TV speaking totally fluent Japanese, the old stereotype that "foreigners don't speak Japanese" is dissappearing. Which is a good = thing. > (Of course, when I was much younger, there was a gaijin speaking = impeccable > Japanese at a record store. I approached him and said, "Nihongo = ojouzu > desune.") >=20 And he said...Hai, watashi wa furansujin desukara nande mo jouzu desu? LOL |
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"Ken Blake" > wrote in message = ... > In ups.com, > lazrowp > typed: >=20 > > Most readers in this group have been to @ least several sushi > > restaurants. I am curious about your "pet peeves" when you are=20 > > in a > > Japanese sushi restaurant. My short-list (not in any specific=20 > > order): >=20 >=20 > As far I can see, nobody has yet mentioned my single biggest=20 > peeve: having specials listed in Japanese, but not in English=20 > (presumably because they are things they think that Westerners=20 > won't eat.) >=20 Yes that would be quite irritating. I have never seen that though. In my favorite place the specials are = listed on a little board on the table and one side is in Japanese and the other side is in = English. One thing I can say from having been to alot of Japanese restaurants is = that if the specials aren't written anywhere in English, the possible reason = that they didn't have anyone with enough confidence or capability to = translate it properly is right up there with their assumption that the items would not be of = interest to a non-Japanese crowd. These days, the latter reason is hardly valid = since a great many Americans including non-Japanese Americans of Asian decent know enough = about Japanese foods that it would not be in the restarant's interest to not = have the specials listed in English. Musashi |
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