Benihana - Carlsbad, CA

Review summary

1. L

   Leanne

   San Diego

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined today

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   Made a reservation days in advance however our wait was still over an hour. Habatchi chef wasn't entertaining sweet guy but was disappointed. Food was good not great. I won't be coming back unless attending ar someone else's invitation
   

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2. j

   jennifer

   VIP

   Phoenix

   5 reviews

   1.0

   5 reviews

   Dined today

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   We had a reservation but when we got there then they said they were running 45minutes behind for reservations. The place was a mess (food drinks used plates etc) everywhere.
   

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3. L

   Lara

   VIP

   Salt Lake City

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined today

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   We had a reservation at 5:45 we didn’t get seated until 7:20
   

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4. L

   Lucas

   San Diego

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined today

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   We had a 5:15 reservation and knowing that service isn’t always going to be great on Christmas Day due to limited staff, our group of 5 remained patient. The people at the counter were telling people that they were running 45 minutes or so behind but that clearly wasn’t true just false hope. No sign of a manager trying to be apologetic or anything just young adults trying not to deliver bad news to people that took the time to make a reservation only to wait almost 2 hours in a lobby. We finally got seated around 7:00 and the rest of the experience was about what you would expect if you have been to this type of restaurant before. I would never return to this location and would probably think twice about going to another one.
   

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5. N

   Nora

   San Diego

   2 reviews

   2.0

   2 reviews

   Dined today

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   We had a 5pm reservation, arrived at 4:45 the hostess said even though we had a reservation we had an hour wait. This has happened before. We asked about sitting in the Cafe away from the big dinning areas we were told that was closed, big mistake! After we waited an hour and a half, food was good, same as usual. Service very slow! Disappointing
   

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6. M

   Marina

   VIP

   Las Vegas

   8 reviews

   2.0

   8 reviews

   Dined today

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   Please don’t come here on Christmas, reservation was at 5 and didn’t get seated until 6:30, pretty much torture when you show up to your reservation hungry and don’t get seated for over an hour. Food was good but was HANGRY by the time it was time to eat lol also paid for 6 course meal but didn’t have ice cream which was the last course, sad
   

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7. J

   Jennifer

   San Diego

   3 reviews

   1.0

   3 reviews

   Dined today

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   We had decided to make reservations on Christmas day so we wouldn't have to cook. Reservation were for 4:30 and upon arrival we were told that our table wouldn't be ready for 30-45 minutes. At this point you could see about 75 people waiting in the lobby. Lots of very unhappy folks. The hostess said they don't put a cap on their online reservations and it happens all the time. We ended up waiting for 90 minutes before we were finally seated. Normally I would never wait that long for a table but it was my first time experience at Benihanna's and I was also starving. The staff was obviously overwhelmed, but did their best. There was dirty glasses piled on the bar and the restrooms were in need of service. I asked 3 times for someone to replenish the toilet paper and handsoap. One of the toilets was clogged. No one ever checked on this during my 4 hour visit. As for the food, it was just OK. Nothing that great. The " performance " by the chef was underwhelming. So $200 later, I left knowing I would NEVER return. Save your time and money, and go somewhere else!
   

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8. J

   John

   VIP

   San Diego

   38 reviews

   3.0

   38 reviews

   Dined today

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Really need to work on timing of reservations. Our reservation was at 4 PM did not get seated till 5 PM. Understand it was Christmas but an hour wait with a 4pm reservation seems like you over booked. Our chef Trevor was great, which made up for the long wait.
   

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9. A

   Angela

   San Diego

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Bad seating in bar AREA no the bar as we reserved. Food was very average. Nothing special
   

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10. T

    Thomas

    VIP

    San Diego

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1

    Got there at 8:20pm for my 8:30pm reservation only to be notified that they were still seating 7:00pm reservations. Benihanas sucks.
    

    Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded today

    Thanks for visiting us, Thomas. We're truly sorry to hear about your experience at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. We understand how frustrating it can be to wait for a reservation that's later than expected. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused and we are looking into this matter to ensure it doesn't happen again. We appreciate your feedback and hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future.
    

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