Why bother even taking reservations Makoto? We called at 4:30pm today (Sunday) to make a 7pm reservation for our family of 5. Our full party arrived 10 minutes early for the reservation. We were told there were several parties ahead of us that had been waiting for a table and the hostesses indicated that they would seat us "when they could" and that it wouldn't be at 7pm, but within 10-15 minutes of that, which would have been 20-25 minutes after our arrival. At 7:30pm (40 minutes after our arrival) I asked to speak to a manager. The hostess that went to retrieve the manager took several minutes before she came back alone and told me that there would be an additional wait of several more minutes for me to speak with the manager. The manager did finally appear and I informed her of our situation and the response I received is that we were "next" to be seated. When I replied that this is the exact same promise made by the hostess to the other family of 5 waiting across from us (50+ minutes for them), 15 minutes prior, the manager just shrugged. I told her that we were just going to leave and walk across the parking lot to Hooters before she finally said she could offer us a free appetizer to try to make things right but still couldn't figure out when we would be seated. No thanks. Numerous empty tables throughout the restaurant. Seems like more of a staffing issue than a number of seats at a table. If you want to eat at Makoto make sure to dedicate the rest of your evening to the experience and not have any additional time sensitive plans for after dinner. Hostess and servers very friendly at Hooters and we were seated immediately. Get your crap together Makoto.
(1)
Jose R.
Totally disappointed. My wife, son and I got there to celebrate my wife's birthday. Kept us waiting for 20 minutes for a table-skillet where the chef cooks the food... Bad. They sit is in a square shaped table sitting on the floor (no chairs); and put us together with 9 more people that we didn't even knew! We were in the middle without clearance to go out to the bathroom! No air conditioning I the room, and no chef!!! After waiting another 15 minutes without a chef to cook the meals in the skillet, we left!!! Nobody even asked why we were leaving!! Not going back!!!!
(1)
Michael K.
UPDATE May 2, 2014: I received a management response to my original review, which was very complimentary. The reason I am mentioning this in my review is that it is very rare for management to respond to reviews, but when they do, I see it as a sign that management takes what we write here very seriously. That alone speaks volumes, so I am very happy to to take my review to 5 stars!!!!
To be frank, I have eaten here more times than I should freely admit. In fact, there was a time years ago when my wife and I ate here four-days a week. So if ever I have given a place a review that I truly know and have frequented very, very often - this *is* the place. I have never been disappointed by the service or the food. Whether it be their usual lunch or dinner offerings or the more recent sushi they have on menu - it is all prepared fresh, right in front of you, and both served and cooked with s smile. Simply put, for all the times I have gone and eaten here it has never disappointed me, straight up and hands down. If you're in Melbourne and want to try something special, this is the must-go place.
(5)
Sarah B.
Like anyplace, it can have good nights or bad nights. Tonight was definitely a good night. The staff was very friendly and attentive, and the good was delicious. Tons of rice and veggies, with a decent amount of protein. Are they a bit pricey? Sure. But you're paying for the experience and it's well worth it. Had a wonderful time there tonight and I hope you do to.
(4)
Gary F.
Way too expensive. 80 percent rice, not enough meat with meal. If I wanted 5 lbs of rice I would buy a bag. Wait time for chef is ridiculously too long. Service is just too slow. Employees would probably die if you asked them to smile. Being seated with just anybody is not my way to dine. Kid friendly itnis NOT! Big build up for big let down.
(1)
Dante L.
Ok, so Melbourne is not known for its great Hibachi Japanese; and for good reason. This place is a let down. The portions are huge and its cheap food (I don't mean the cost, its comparable to all other Hibachi, I mean the quality is LOW). I wont be back, the only saving grace was there was good service, but not by the chef. So first Ill say the chef was lame, didn't talk didn't entertain-if you are going to do Hibachi have a personality. Environment was ok, but the carpet was dirty and so was the seating area. I know these places do some traffic but they could pay to clean up some. Food was so so, I used more sauce than I normally do to add flavor, but the fish and shrimp were terrible. I expect this if I was in Iowa or some other landlocked state but this is the coast for heavens sake. Walk to the pier get some fresh fish and bring it back, how can I see the Ocean while I eat and be chewing three year old frozen fish. They need to step it up, the food was not worth the price, Ive had so so so much better in worse towns than this. Melbourne deserves better. Food: Ive had way better. Service: just ok, but you go to these places for the experience, this place falls short, way short! Environment: Ok, kinda cool but more dirty than I like to eat in. Price: on par, but the food was not worth it. I wont be back, DO NOT GET THE SUSHI!
(1)
Priscilla R.
We used to eat here al the time but always thought another place called Yamato's was better so we stopped. Yamato's went out of business for some reason years ago. Our kids treated us again tonight for the first time in years. Again, I wasn't real impressed with the food. The service was good and the wait time was short for a Friday night. The salad was just ok, the fried liver pate was cooked only on one side, the chicken was better than the filet mignon and the cook seemed to be either new or just not that great. Nothing seemed to be actually cooked all the way including the fried rice. Everything just seemed mediocre. We were going to go to Carrabbas and we should have.
(3)
BeachBummerNan E.
Love this place. I'm not a sushi eater so can't comment on their sushi. We have been there for dinner a few times and my husband surprised me for my birthday with 20 guests by reserving the back room. The food is always fresh and they give you way more than you can eat. We always have to have take out containers. Love the show they put on while cooking your food. I have been there for lunch and sat in the regular table section, the food is just as good. Great for carnivores, sea food eaters and vegetarians, something for everyone Would recommend.
(5)
Ottovio M.
Always great food and there lunch special pricing you can't beat. Always have food to take home for left overs. Awesome place less then a mile from my home and work.
(5)
Ashley M.
Very delicious, especially the ginger dressing!! One of the best and largest Japanese hibachi grills I've been too. We had a large group and didn't have to wait long at all. Staff was very attentive and made to-go tinfoil animals for the kids in our group. My only complaints: 1. The "wall booths" in the back need to be cleaned a little better. (Or remove them and put in chairs) 2. The chiefs need to put on a little more show. We had a bigger group and the "show" didn't steal anyone's attention like I feel they should.
(4)
Anthony S.
Being new to the area and an avid sushi eater I took the advise of some locals and came here. All I have to say is either they are accustomed to a different level of sushi as I am being from the NY / NJ area or they are confused. The seaweed salad was one of the best I have had...it was quickly downhill from there. The sushi rice was very under cooked still solid and hard inside and cold. My sashimi portions were huge which is something you would think was great...it wasn't. The fish was "sliced" more like a hack saw was taken to it as you could see the flesh torn by a knife. It also lack uniformity being very thick to very thin. It was not prepped properly at all seeing the way it was being broken down behind the counter left me astounded. The fish wasn't of terrible quality but the manner it was cut left it terrible to chew even gaging twice...all in all I will need to find a place that knows the importance of the prep to the sushi. It's an art. Not understood by the chef here.
(1)
Kyle H.
Fuckin sucked. I'm home drunk and high eating the leftovers and the rice is still halfassed cooked. Our chef couldn't be more lifeless if he was dead. My rice is aldente at best. I have been there many times before but today it just sucked ass. My rice is still crunchy after I nuked it for two minutes. I don't know what happened but I feel ass-raped for my meal. I won't ever go here again, and I used to think it was awesome! F.U. Makotos
(1)
Steve C.
The Sushi Chief is absolutely one of the best you will ever see. I spend a lot of time in Hawaii, and I can tell you the sushi here is just as good as Da Kine Sushi on Da Rock! Sit at the Sushi bar and ask Chief Bo whats good, and let him take care of you!!
(5)
Kevin M.
owner replied to my review and told me to email him. Emailed him and got nothing back. It is what it is.
(2)
Shane Z.
Great hibachi! TONS OF FOOD! I took half of mine back with me! We didn't have to wait long to be seated, but like most, we had to wait forever for the Entertainment/Chef. I had some sushi, and whatever they put on top was still moving...it grossed me out! I pulled off the moving parts, and finished it off. Food was great, the sauce to dip the meat in is excellent! They have remodeled since I first came here, it looks better! Found out my sushi wasn't ALIVE! :) It was Bonito Flakes, which moves due to the steam and the moisture.
(4)
Essence G.
Chef made my sister cry, They painted the floors and put corn starch. All of our shoes are ruined. They didn't even tell us about it, the foods great though.
(1)
Mary L.
It's your basic, run-of-the-mill, hibachi place. They do the minimal shrimp in the hat and the fire onion volcano trick. The food is decent but nothing to write home about. It's clean and the staff is very nice. This is the first time I have been to Makoto's in 15 years and it will probably be another 15 years when I go again. I think Fujiyama is better but again Makotos isn't bad. It's just whatever.....
(3)
Thomas C.
It's a staple for the people in Brevard. You can even buy sauce their from publix. But after eating here I realized people haven't eaten at a lot of other hibachi resturants that have the same kind of recognition. It's not horrible but it's not better than that place in food court.
(1)
Mike D.
Good place, Sushi is pretty good. I just have trouble know what to order sometimes. The Hibachi is ok, some people really like it but its not much different than any other Hibachi. Salad dressing is THE BEST! Just wish I could get it on the side beause they tend to over do it with the dressing. The Cheif is always nice giving you extra veggies and rice. Its well woth the trip, its kind of a "Date Night" type of place. They will wrap your food up in foil made into the shape of an animal. I always like to ask for crazy things because they only have like 5 things to make. Try expanding and offering a Flower, Monkey, ect.
(4)
Deborah C.
Ate here with a friend yesterday (2/3/15) the food was awesome! I will go back again. Very very good!
(5)
Buca D.
Menus, plates and hibachi were very dirty - ironically food was outstanding
(3)
Leontine M.
The food, ambiance, and hibachi were fantastic. It reminded me of Benihana. I adore Japanese food. However, the flatware to my left along with my butter knife were dirty (specs of food). I did not let it destroy my evening, but they should run the dishwasher twice. Will not revisit.
(2)
M. O.
Up until recently when I decided to start new traditions, I had celebrated my birthday here every year for years. I have never had a bad experience. Never. I ate here often, with friends, on first dates, with my ex husband, my birthday dinner every year... very often. I love the dim lights and the ambiance. I love that one drunk chef that needs a stint in AA, he's entertaining. I love the service I get from that one oriental server they have. She always goes out of her way for me. I love the food, especially the rice. All around love for Makotos. One thing about Makotos that sets them apart is the birthday song and pineapple. I don't know if they still do that but they took your picture and sang you a traditional song and gave you half of a fresh pineapple. It was cool. I read a lot of negative reviews about the place and I'm sorry that everyone that wrote negative reviews had that experience. Makotos is a very fond memory for me and I wish others could have experienced the same. Funny how time changes things.
(4)
Michael M.
It has been years since I saw my cousin. What was shocking was the last time I saw him his daughter was just a baby. She is now 19 and I was the same age the last time my cousin and I were together. His wife is just about the kindest person you could ever meet. The two of them helped me through some really rough times when I was young. I was wondering the world looking for my place. Before they opened up their hearts and their home to me I really felt like I had nothing and no one. It took me some time even after I left them to get on my own two feet and truly understand who I was and what I was to do with my life. I will be forever grateful to them both for the caring and kindness they showed me, a troubled young man with very little hope in his heart. My aunt had made arrangements for our family ( a group of 10) to go to lunch at Makoto's one Saturday afternoon. I really enjoy hibachi and I have yet to visit this restaurant so I was excited. When we arrived I noticed that they had recently renovated. From what was described to me it used to be more traditional Japanese but recently had undergone a very extensive and costly renovation. As far as the sushi lounge goes that may be true since it's design is fantastic but the rest of the place looks cheap and uninspired. We were promptly seated which was nice but the bench they sit you on is very uncomfortable and the pillows they give you are absolutely no help at all. I was surprised that the table and the grill had not been updated at all which only fueled my concern of just how good this experience was about to be. After taking our drink order it took so long to get them that a family member actually got up and went into the bar to get a glass of water, unacceptable. We got our drinks and our orders were taken. Shortly after the cook appeared with our orders. I was expecting the usual show with flying shrimp and flaming volcanos but nope, not here folks. The entire cooking experience was boring and the food was not impressive at all. The liver patties were the worst, absolutely no one took more than one bite. The fried rice which is usually my favorite part was bland, a total let down. The shrimp was small, overcooked, and lacked much taste on their own. The vegetables, zzz zzz zzz. The best thing about this meal was the salad, such a let down when the highlight came before the actual cooking. I will never again visit Makoto's especially when a great hibachi restaurant called Fujiyama is near by. I did enjoy spending time with my family, so I guess that makes up for something right?
(2)
Kim N.
Makoto's is a long established Japanese, modern steakhouse, full lounge, sit down sushi bar with 18 grills. It is a Teppan style restaurant where the chefs actually come and cook for you right in front of the table. They cook in front of the audience thus getting dinner and show, sushi, and full liquor bar. Amenities include soji screens, back rooms that accommodate large parties of up to 23 people, and they are decorated in Japanese style--Mt. Fuji, ocean, and an older Japanese village one. Their sushi bars are more of a modern style. At the bar, one can see the sushi chef and all of the fish as the the sushi is prepared. There are two projectors in the room which project scenes from Japan and a few other places around the world. There is also a large porthole that overlooks the restaurant in the sushi bar. This enables the restaurateurs to look at the chefs preparing the food at the table. Several in-house chefs and the owner collaboratively concocted the recipes. Signature items are a sesame chicken/lobster roll, emperor dish is fillet, jumbo shrimp, and chicken), steak and shrimp, fillet, steak and chicken combination. Lunch items are $9 - $15. Dinner entrees range from $16 - $32. The main dining room seats 230, sushi bar seats 40, and the lounge seats 30. There is a small pond with little waterfall in the lobby. They take larger parties of up to fifty to sixty people. On Sundays from 12 PM - 8 PM, children 12 & under eat free with every paid adult dine-in only. The choices are chicken and beef. In regards to lunch service, one can generally expect to be in and out in one hour. I like the teriyaka steak & sesame chicken lunch entree which is $11.55. I've decreased the rating one notch because of the General Manager's lack of follow up.
(3)
Tila D.
I have been going here for years and allways have a very enjoyable time. Food is always wonderful but sometimes the chefs are not always entertaining as the next tables. Have used the catering many times and it is always perfect.
(4)
Wesley S.
I really enjoy this place. They have a fantastic and reasonably priced lunch menu, a new Sushi bar which I have not yet tried but which looks very fancy, talented hibachi and attentive service. If you like a Japanese Steak and Seafood house, this place comes recommended. Might I make a quick recommendation: try the Steak and Scallops (if you are getting lunch ask for the scallops in the mustard sauce instead of the teriyaki if you want a treat). You can also substitute zucchini for carrots during lunch if you would like something different. All in all this venue has a great menu and some amazing sauces. This place is usually pretty crowded so allow a little extra time. Thanks for reading and enjoy.
(4)
Stephen M.
I have been to Makotos over 100 times, I love going there when I am in town. Makotos use to be the place I would go on my day off for lunch. They use to have one in Palm Bay with the same atmosphere, an awsome place to go for lunch or dinner. All the times I have been there, I have never had a bad experience. Whether it was in the bar area for a quick in and out for lunch, or sit at the cooking table for the meal. the chefs always had a smile and talked with the customers... LOVE LOVE LOVE this place...
(4)
Brooke K.
Sushi bar review only: We came in Christmas Eve at 6pm and were able to sit right down at the bar. The raw fish on display was perfect, everything was spotless. We ordered sashimi and the King and I roll. The sashimi pieces were a very generous size and fresh. The roll was beautifully presented and delicious. The highlight of the meal, though, was our sushi chef, Bo. He was fast with preparation and knowledgeable about his product. He even gave us a fried cheesecake for a Christmas treat! This will be a frequent stop when we are in Melbourne, Fl.
(5)
Rob M.
I have been going to Makoto's for 27 years and never had a bad experience. We love the chef's who are always great, the food is great (and there's a ton of it) and I love the added sushi options. My family usually goes for lunch, so my opinion is primarily based on that although I have been for dinner and found those experiences equally top notch.
(5)
Eric S.
Food was average. The cook didn't put on a show like most places like this. The cook also gave the wrong foof to everyone. I won't go back here and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
(1)
John K.
The lunches were very good food at reasonable prices with generous portions. No complaints at all.
(4)
Joseph M.
Place is chronic.... they give you so much food and its so good... there should be a secondary market for Makatos leftovers
(5)
Dave S.
I've been going to Makoto since the early 90s when I went to college at BCC. It never fails to win us over. The prices are a bit much at times (70.00 for both of us) but you most definitely get what you pay for. The only criticism I would have is that this time they were cooking our meal by the time we received our sushi appetizers. Which honestly by the very definition of appetizer is poor timing at most. Great place to have dinner or lunch, but don't expect room for dessert, this place isn't for the "appetite faint of heart."
(4)
Audra P.
So today the lunch time craving came and since I was so close to Makato's I figured...... why not. Normally no matter where you sit during lunch the service and food is wonderful. BUT NOT TODAY!!! I was flying solo today so I sat in the bar area. It was around 1pm so the lunch rush was over. The waitress was fairly quick to the table to get my drink and dinner order. She was back in a flash with my water and soda and premade garden salad. (Ordering a water with any beverage at a restaurant is always a good idea - just in case your dying of thirst and have a slow waiter/waitress.) So far so good. The food took a bit coming out and when it got here it was swimming in a pool of what I assume was a pool of sauce and water from the presteamed then cooked veggies. (I guess the chef forgot to drain them). I drained the brown soup into my half-eaten salad since the waitress didn't bother to take the uneaten salad when she dropped off my food. There was definitely something lacking in the food quality today. It tasted like even the yakiniku I ordered had been given a boiling, then covered with sauce. So as I finished half of my meal I decided that was enough for the sitting and it was time for the check so I pushed my plate off to the side to wait for my waitress to return. ..... and I waited....... ...and waited... and waited. The other girl in the bar area was apparently far too busy with her one table of two customers to be bothered to ask me if I needed anything. So I sat there.... with no soda and waited...... Time seemed to go by sooooo slow. When finally after about 15 minutes of staring of the muted tv the waitress rushed in like she was being inconvenienced and asked if I needed anything. I'm thinking "better service". Instead I say a coke and box to go. So as I'm waiting for these items a customer comes up to the bar to pickup her takeout order. The other girl waitress apparently got a 37 cent tip and was announcing the patrons name and the fact that she was a generous 37 cent tip giver to the patrons who had just come up to the bar. Poor form!!! Regardless of what the cheap person just left you that talk should be kept in the kitchen and not in front of paying guests. So I finally get my receipt back and the waitress is all full of sugar and "hun's" - did I mention that I don't like being called hun? Although she definitely didn't deserve it I gave over 20% (because I've been in the serving shoes before) gathered my food and left. Next time I won't take a chance of getting boiled food and below par service. I'll go cram myself into a table with a bunch of strangers in the main dining area where the chef is in front of you and the waitress is attentive.
(2)
Yethiraj C.
Great Sushi and yummy food :) visited multiple times and never have I been disappointed. Overall great service and food. Lunch is good value and dinners are quite expensive.
(5)
MOna J.
THe food was good the Bloody Mary was missing anything it needed to taste good. I'm sure I'll be back but honestly I mean at least care about your path a little and make me want another drink. I drank 2 sips I tried to drink more, disgusting
(2)
Alan T.
food mediocre. hibachi chef, sleepy. it took over an hour to pay our bill. they never did get the checks matched to the actual food purchased right for some of us. never again.
(1)
Nick M.
My experience here prompted me to make a yelp account. We waited 2 hours for hot sushi and cold rice and vegetables. The waitress assigned to or area had too many tables and couldn't keep up. I will absolutely never recommend this place to anyone nor darken their door myself. Maybe they were having an off day but its still no excuse for the lack of care they put into their product.
(1)
Jennifer F.
We love hibachi grills and were looking so forward to trying this one. We arranged for our toddlers to be at a babysitting service so that we could enjoy the evening out. My hisband made reservations for 7:30 knowing that we didn't have time to risk an hour wait. We arrived at 7:30 and were greeted by three most crabby looking hostesses ever. We waited for FORTY minutes past our reservation time and during that time I never saw any of the three smile other than when they were making fun of what customers were wearing. Really - if you hate your job so much try to find a new one. I was panicked the entire evening that we would have to leave in the middle of dinner since we had to wait FORTY minutes past our reservation time. So much for a relaxing evening out. The food was good. The chef didnt' do any show except for making the onion volcano and flipping shrimp tails into his hat. He didn't put an egg in the fried rice which I've always seen before. The shrimp for the appetizer was great. My husband ordered his meal and added a side of shrimp. His side of shrimp were made at the same time as the appetizer and were the nice large shrimp. The shrimp that were part of the entree were entirely different. They were much smaller and didn't taste as good at all. Overall the food was good, the show was non-existant really, and the hostesses/reservations were HORRIBLE. I told my husband that I didn't want to return because of the flub up with the reservation. I could see a fifteen minute window but FORTY minutes I don't get it. Why take reservations?
(2)
Amanda S.
This place use to be a decent meal, and entertainment, but over the years it has deteriorated. My most recent visit gave me pretty much tasteless food, poor entertainment, sticky tables, and dirty settings. I'd skip it.
(1)
Mark B.
Cavernous restaurant, shades of Benihana. On a Thursday night, this place was crowded and at 6:30PM a 20 minute wait. We sat down at a different area, opting not to have the food cooked in front of you. I can now understand why its crowded, the food is okay nothing to email or write about but there is a great deal. The mainstay of the meals is a small nondescript appetizer, a small questionable salad (ginger dressing atrocious), an entree of your choice (meat, chicken, shrimp) a lot of bean sprouts, and a lot of fried rice. Take my advice if you are hungry and don't want to spend a great deal of $$ try the ubiquitous pig and trough, in other words all you can eat Chinese restaurants at $5 less and tip 10% instead of 18%. I am now starting to look at restaurants based on average meal 4.2 gallons of gas.
(2)
Amanda D.
I don't get what the big deal is about this place. Many of my friends recommended it so I tried it once, and that was enough for me. The food was mediocre at best...and that liver patty thing is nasty, stop serving it!
(2)
Eileen B.
Everything is relative. I have to say I am not a fan of hibachi bar.... mainly an american invention (benihana started this conveyor belt style dining). Makotos is okay. I do like the salad and the famed Ginger dressing. The food is over spiced. The liver patties are NOT appetizers even if u love liver patties... they are often over cooked dryed out. Now on to the show that everyone is talking about... Hispanic "Japanese" chefs just doesn't quite feel the same. I want my real japanese hibachi chef... but then again, I don't want to pay $40 for lunch! Makoto is pretty reasonable for lunch at $10-15. I have never made it there for dinner because I usually go with colleagues.
(3)
Leigh P.
The food is amazing! They give you such large portions that you can have lunch the next day. The salad is delicious and the liver patties are my favorite! Everytime I come back into Melbourne I have to eat here! I love Makotos.
(5)
Roberto C.
Great place for dinner and a show and the food is really good!
This place is awesome! I am from the bay area, and I'm used to going to Kyoto Palace or House of Gingi, and this place is so much better. The prices are decent, and you get a good amount of food. My girlfriend and I split the NY steak, and it was more than enough for both of us. They don't put egg in there fried rice either, and that's how I like it. They also have imported beer on tap, which made my night even better. The people at our table however, were a little weird. This lady kept talking to us about her dogs, like we cared or something. When we finished our meal, the staff came over with a pineapple desert (which was great by the way) and they sang us this anniversary song in Japanese. It was embarrassing, but what the hell. Overall, this is a great place and I highly recommend it to anyone in the Melbourne area.
(5)
LB E.
Its the only hibachi grill in town so this is it for that styly of dining. Food is quite salty and somewhat pricey but you do get a lot of food. Go during lunch and it's half the price.
(3)
Gabby D.
I LOVE Makoto's. It's so good! It was my first exposure to a Japanese Steakhouse place where they cook the food in front of you. I biasly think that the chef entertainment here is the absolute best. The food is always top quality! The salad dressing they serve on their salads has also become so popular that I recently found a bottled version (usually only sold behind the bar at Makotos or Florida Publix restaurants) in yes, Key Foods located in East Village, New York. It's the best thing! I no longer have to stash bottles away in my suitcase on my way home! It's always a fun time, and the perfect spot for two, four or a family night out of 15!
(5)
Road Warrior D.
Not bad for a teppan style place. The choices are pretty typical. Most of the chefs do a respectable job of cooking and entertaining. Be sure to stop at Groucho's comedy club after dinner. It's inside the restaurant.
(2)
Jason J.
Hibachi or Sushi... This place is consistently great. Even on their worst night, they are better than any competitors in Brevard County. Try the Alaskan King roll. Amazing.
(5)
Rose A.
I disagree with the negative reviews. This place has been a Melbourne icon for years and has always been consistently good!!! It is our go to place for birthdays in Melb. and that will never change!!! We all ordered the Makoto's dinner (chicken, shrimp, and steak) and the Emperor (lobster, shrimp, chicken). Both meals come with a free sake or plum wine as well as a cup of broth, salad, appetizer, and zucchini or carrots and fried rice. We all agreed the stars were the lobster and steak during our last visit.
(5)
Joyce X.
Two words. The value. Makoto's is a pretty standard hibachi grill establishment. Their menu consist of familiar meats such as sesame chicken, NY strip steak, shrimp, etc. All the hibachi entrees come with oolong tea, miso soup, salad with ginger dressing, a fried chicken liver patty, and a shrimp appetizer (literally one piece) to start. Then, with your entree, you get friend rice, mixed veggies, your choice of meat, and bean sprouts. I seriously felt like I was eating an endless plate of food. I would take one bite of what was just served to me, look up, and my plate would be full again with the next serving of cooked food. Definitely no complaints about the amount of food; I was able to feed myself for two more meals with the leftovers. That being said, the hibachi entrees aren't something I'd order every time because they are definitely greasy and salty. However, I would definitely like to come back to try their other options on the menu.
this has been my favorite restaurant in the world for awhile now. Cant say enough good things about the food and experience. price wise for a hibachi experience you cant beat it. There is a reason why their sauces are sold all over the southeast US. The liver patties are my favorite. Its like crack to me so is the seafood sauce. The Hinodi shrimp were flavored perfectly with it being crispy on the outside. The soft sweet carrots are unrivaled by most others. Hell even the bean sprouts are awesome, simply done but great. The bad reviews here are laughable. Sorry but if you lose your wallet its not the restaurants fault, its yours. If you didn't like the chicken liver patties then you clearly dont like chicken liver or pate in general, so don't try it. Just like any restaurant you can have some bad service. Every time i have gone it was good so i cannot complain there.
(5)
Virginia C.
Price and quality of the food is Excellent. The best grill veggies I ever tried. Their fried rice is muce nicer than other rest of same style. Tasty is the best word for this restaurant. Staff and chefs are always nice and take care of your needs. Five stars
(5)
Aaron B.
Well this time all I did is stop by for a snack as I cannot pass up the liver patties, "chicken liver a lo Japanese" I believe they call it, small salad with ginger dressing and mushroom broth soup. Just as expected as I have been here since before my daughter was born (12+ years). Always consistent and very good. Seeing negative reviews of this place over stupidity is kind of sad, one star for a dumb ass losing her wallet and another one star for someone that does not know how places like this work makes me wonder why they even review. Yes all hibachi / tempanyaki places sit in a rectangle around the grill and unless you have a large party, yes with people you don't know. I you do not want to sit with others go to the bar and order, they will cook it and bring it to you, even a separate sushi bar area so you not forced to wait to you do not want to, geez. Cheers! Aaron B.
(5)
Jen B.
On our last trip to Melbourne my brother-in-law suggested we go to his favorite Japanese restaurant, Makoto's. The restaurant had more hibachi grills that I have ever seen in one place, had to be close to 20! They also had a small room of regular tables and a bar area. If you like the hibachi style of Japanese cooking than this is your place! I, however am not a fan of the hibachi foods, too much oil for my taste and everything ends up tasting the same. I love all foods Asian, but especially sushi. I didn't realize until we arrived that it was mainly a hibachi grill facility (which is not my favorite), so while everyone else ordered the usual fried rice with meats and a side show, I enjoyed some sashimi and salad. My sunomono salad was perfectly light and delicious, and the sashimi I was served was lovely and fresh. If you like lighter fare, stick to the sushi menu.
(3)
Rachael T.
I don't think I have very high standards for this kind of cuisine and I hated this place when we went. We had a reservation and still waited 20 minutes to be seated. The dining area was hot and poorly ventilated. It seemed like they were trying to seat more people at the tables than they were designed to accommodate. The food was very oily and those liver patties are vile. The shrimp and chicken were both so overcooked it was pretty much inedible. We ordered a sushi roll to share and it was quite possibly the worst sushi I have ever had. Like on sale at the grocery store bad. Our glasses sat empty for the last 15 minutes we were there. The best thing I can say about this place is that I didn't get food poisoning. I've been to Makoto's and Fujiyama and, while neither was the best hibachi ever, I would go back to Fujiyama. You couldn't pay me to go back to Makoto's.
(1)
Caitlin W.
Typical teppan layout, the restaurant is beautiful inside, calm, and the staff are very attentive and friendly. The food on the other hand needs a touch of flare when on a big grill. I expect my food to be well cooked, fresh, and unfortunately I don't consider a frozen piece of chicken, warmed up and drizzled with teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds to be a 2 star meal. I was looking forward to the food and felt a bit disappointed because of how greasy and hard my chicken was. The highlights were the salad, attentive service, and their white sauce (yum yum sauce). If I had a choice of going here again, I would not because of how greasy and lack of fresh meat.
(2)
Alex H.
I love this place the food is always excellent and the service is usually superb but the last two times I've been here for lunch have been awful. First off if you're a young couple looking for a nice place to have lunch DONT COME HERE, when my boyfriend and I specifically asked to not be seated in a group with children we were TWICE and this second time we came with our roommate we have been seated in a group of thirteen people at one table six of whom are children below the age of 8 even when we asked to move so we could have more space they instead brought out an " extension" table got to say being an adult at the kiddy table has really made me not want to come back. So if your young people and your party is small expect to be treated poorly and your concerns ignored but if you have two plus children or plan on inviting people after you've been seated you should be fine.
(1)
Amy M.
The atmosphere was wonderful and note on Sunday kids eat free! We had a cute balloon made for my 2 year old son while we were waited to be seated, and we thoroughly enjoyed our experience there. We were seated quickly, and as soon as we sat down the courses immediately began. The food was very flavorful and as picky of an eater as what I am, I did not find one thing that I just could not eat. A ton of food is served to the point we all had leftovers to go. I cannot wait to go back, one of my favorite restaurants!
(5)
Veronica B.
The food was salty and very oily, but the service it's the worst part! I was the last customer that night and left my wallet on the table, when I called the restaurant their manager was "too busy" to take my call and didn't even bother to call me back so I decided to go to the restaurant and asked them to check their cameras (they didn't have any, of course!) I had $400 in cash on my wallet and all of my documents, I would have like to at least get my documents back. I'm never going back to this place! Everyone be aware of your personal items if you are brave enough to eat there.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Trevor C.
Why bother even taking reservations Makoto? We called at 4:30pm today (Sunday) to make a 7pm reservation for our family of 5. Our full party arrived 10 minutes early for the reservation. We were told there were several parties ahead of us that had been waiting for a table and the hostesses indicated that they would seat us "when they could" and that it wouldn't be at 7pm, but within 10-15 minutes of that, which would have been 20-25 minutes after our arrival. At 7:30pm (40 minutes after our arrival) I asked to speak to a manager. The hostess that went to retrieve the manager took several minutes before she came back alone and told me that there would be an additional wait of several more minutes for me to speak with the manager. The manager did finally appear and I informed her of our situation and the response I received is that we were "next" to be seated. When I replied that this is the exact same promise made by the hostess to the other family of 5 waiting across from us (50+ minutes for them), 15 minutes prior, the manager just shrugged. I told her that we were just going to leave and walk across the parking lot to Hooters before she finally said she could offer us a free appetizer to try to make things right but still couldn't figure out when we would be seated. No thanks. Numerous empty tables throughout the restaurant. Seems like more of a staffing issue than a number of seats at a table. If you want to eat at Makoto make sure to dedicate the rest of your evening to the experience and not have any additional time sensitive plans for after dinner. Hostess and servers very friendly at Hooters and we were seated immediately. Get your crap together Makoto.
(1)Jose R.
Totally disappointed. My wife, son and I got there to celebrate my wife's birthday. Kept us waiting for 20 minutes for a table-skillet where the chef cooks the food... Bad. They sit is in a square shaped table sitting on the floor (no chairs); and put us together with 9 more people that we didn't even knew! We were in the middle without clearance to go out to the bathroom! No air conditioning I the room, and no chef!!! After waiting another 15 minutes without a chef to cook the meals in the skillet, we left!!! Nobody even asked why we were leaving!! Not going back!!!!
(1)Michael K.
UPDATE May 2, 2014: I received a management response to my original review, which was very complimentary. The reason I am mentioning this in my review is that it is very rare for management to respond to reviews, but when they do, I see it as a sign that management takes what we write here very seriously. That alone speaks volumes, so I am very happy to to take my review to 5 stars!!!!
(5)José A.
To be frank, I have eaten here more times than I should freely admit. In fact, there was a time years ago when my wife and I ate here four-days a week. So if ever I have given a place a review that I truly know and have frequented very, very often - this *is* the place. I have never been disappointed by the service or the food. Whether it be their usual lunch or dinner offerings or the more recent sushi they have on menu - it is all prepared fresh, right in front of you, and both served and cooked with s smile. Simply put, for all the times I have gone and eaten here it has never disappointed me, straight up and hands down. If you're in Melbourne and want to try something special, this is the must-go place.
(5)Sarah B.
Like anyplace, it can have good nights or bad nights. Tonight was definitely a good night. The staff was very friendly and attentive, and the good was delicious. Tons of rice and veggies, with a decent amount of protein. Are they a bit pricey? Sure. But you're paying for the experience and it's well worth it. Had a wonderful time there tonight and I hope you do to.
(4)Gary F.
Way too expensive. 80 percent rice, not enough meat with meal. If I wanted 5 lbs of rice I would buy a bag. Wait time for chef is ridiculously too long. Service is just too slow. Employees would probably die if you asked them to smile. Being seated with just anybody is not my way to dine. Kid friendly itnis NOT! Big build up for big let down.
(1)Dante L.
Ok, so Melbourne is not known for its great Hibachi Japanese; and for good reason. This place is a let down. The portions are huge and its cheap food (I don't mean the cost, its comparable to all other Hibachi, I mean the quality is LOW). I wont be back, the only saving grace was there was good service, but not by the chef. So first Ill say the chef was lame, didn't talk didn't entertain-if you are going to do Hibachi have a personality. Environment was ok, but the carpet was dirty and so was the seating area. I know these places do some traffic but they could pay to clean up some. Food was so so, I used more sauce than I normally do to add flavor, but the fish and shrimp were terrible. I expect this if I was in Iowa or some other landlocked state but this is the coast for heavens sake. Walk to the pier get some fresh fish and bring it back, how can I see the Ocean while I eat and be chewing three year old frozen fish. They need to step it up, the food was not worth the price, Ive had so so so much better in worse towns than this. Melbourne deserves better. Food: Ive had way better. Service: just ok, but you go to these places for the experience, this place falls short, way short! Environment: Ok, kinda cool but more dirty than I like to eat in. Price: on par, but the food was not worth it. I wont be back, DO NOT GET THE SUSHI!
(1)Priscilla R.
We used to eat here al the time but always thought another place called Yamato's was better so we stopped. Yamato's went out of business for some reason years ago. Our kids treated us again tonight for the first time in years. Again, I wasn't real impressed with the food. The service was good and the wait time was short for a Friday night. The salad was just ok, the fried liver pate was cooked only on one side, the chicken was better than the filet mignon and the cook seemed to be either new or just not that great. Nothing seemed to be actually cooked all the way including the fried rice. Everything just seemed mediocre. We were going to go to Carrabbas and we should have.
(3)BeachBummerNan E.
Love this place. I'm not a sushi eater so can't comment on their sushi. We have been there for dinner a few times and my husband surprised me for my birthday with 20 guests by reserving the back room. The food is always fresh and they give you way more than you can eat. We always have to have take out containers. Love the show they put on while cooking your food. I have been there for lunch and sat in the regular table section, the food is just as good. Great for carnivores, sea food eaters and vegetarians, something for everyone Would recommend.
(5)Ottovio M.
Always great food and there lunch special pricing you can't beat. Always have food to take home for left overs. Awesome place less then a mile from my home and work.
(5)Ashley M.
Very delicious, especially the ginger dressing!! One of the best and largest Japanese hibachi grills I've been too. We had a large group and didn't have to wait long at all. Staff was very attentive and made to-go tinfoil animals for the kids in our group. My only complaints: 1. The "wall booths" in the back need to be cleaned a little better. (Or remove them and put in chairs) 2. The chiefs need to put on a little more show. We had a bigger group and the "show" didn't steal anyone's attention like I feel they should.
(4)Anthony S.
Being new to the area and an avid sushi eater I took the advise of some locals and came here. All I have to say is either they are accustomed to a different level of sushi as I am being from the NY / NJ area or they are confused. The seaweed salad was one of the best I have had...it was quickly downhill from there. The sushi rice was very under cooked still solid and hard inside and cold. My sashimi portions were huge which is something you would think was great...it wasn't. The fish was "sliced" more like a hack saw was taken to it as you could see the flesh torn by a knife. It also lack uniformity being very thick to very thin. It was not prepped properly at all seeing the way it was being broken down behind the counter left me astounded. The fish wasn't of terrible quality but the manner it was cut left it terrible to chew even gaging twice...all in all I will need to find a place that knows the importance of the prep to the sushi. It's an art. Not understood by the chef here.
(1)Kyle H.
Fuckin sucked. I'm home drunk and high eating the leftovers and the rice is still halfassed cooked. Our chef couldn't be more lifeless if he was dead. My rice is aldente at best. I have been there many times before but today it just sucked ass. My rice is still crunchy after I nuked it for two minutes. I don't know what happened but I feel ass-raped for my meal. I won't ever go here again, and I used to think it was awesome! F.U. Makotos
(1)Steve C.
The Sushi Chief is absolutely one of the best you will ever see. I spend a lot of time in Hawaii, and I can tell you the sushi here is just as good as Da Kine Sushi on Da Rock! Sit at the Sushi bar and ask Chief Bo whats good, and let him take care of you!!
(5)Kevin M.
owner replied to my review and told me to email him. Emailed him and got nothing back. It is what it is.
(2)Shane Z.
Great hibachi! TONS OF FOOD! I took half of mine back with me! We didn't have to wait long to be seated, but like most, we had to wait forever for the Entertainment/Chef. I had some sushi, and whatever they put on top was still moving...it grossed me out! I pulled off the moving parts, and finished it off. Food was great, the sauce to dip the meat in is excellent! They have remodeled since I first came here, it looks better! Found out my sushi wasn't ALIVE! :) It was Bonito Flakes, which moves due to the steam and the moisture.
(4)Essence G.
Chef made my sister cry, They painted the floors and put corn starch. All of our shoes are ruined. They didn't even tell us about it, the foods great though.
(1)Mary L.
It's your basic, run-of-the-mill, hibachi place. They do the minimal shrimp in the hat and the fire onion volcano trick. The food is decent but nothing to write home about. It's clean and the staff is very nice. This is the first time I have been to Makoto's in 15 years and it will probably be another 15 years when I go again. I think Fujiyama is better but again Makotos isn't bad. It's just whatever.....
(3)Thomas C.
It's a staple for the people in Brevard. You can even buy sauce their from publix. But after eating here I realized people haven't eaten at a lot of other hibachi resturants that have the same kind of recognition. It's not horrible but it's not better than that place in food court.
(1)Mike D.
Good place, Sushi is pretty good. I just have trouble know what to order sometimes. The Hibachi is ok, some people really like it but its not much different than any other Hibachi. Salad dressing is THE BEST! Just wish I could get it on the side beause they tend to over do it with the dressing. The Cheif is always nice giving you extra veggies and rice. Its well woth the trip, its kind of a "Date Night" type of place. They will wrap your food up in foil made into the shape of an animal. I always like to ask for crazy things because they only have like 5 things to make. Try expanding and offering a Flower, Monkey, ect.
(4)Deborah C.
Ate here with a friend yesterday (2/3/15) the food was awesome! I will go back again. Very very good!
(5)Buca D.
Menus, plates and hibachi were very dirty - ironically food was outstanding
(3)Leontine M.
The food, ambiance, and hibachi were fantastic. It reminded me of Benihana. I adore Japanese food. However, the flatware to my left along with my butter knife were dirty (specs of food). I did not let it destroy my evening, but they should run the dishwasher twice. Will not revisit.
(2)M. O.
Up until recently when I decided to start new traditions, I had celebrated my birthday here every year for years. I have never had a bad experience. Never. I ate here often, with friends, on first dates, with my ex husband, my birthday dinner every year... very often. I love the dim lights and the ambiance. I love that one drunk chef that needs a stint in AA, he's entertaining. I love the service I get from that one oriental server they have. She always goes out of her way for me. I love the food, especially the rice. All around love for Makotos. One thing about Makotos that sets them apart is the birthday song and pineapple. I don't know if they still do that but they took your picture and sang you a traditional song and gave you half of a fresh pineapple. It was cool. I read a lot of negative reviews about the place and I'm sorry that everyone that wrote negative reviews had that experience. Makotos is a very fond memory for me and I wish others could have experienced the same. Funny how time changes things.
(4)Michael M.
It has been years since I saw my cousin. What was shocking was the last time I saw him his daughter was just a baby. She is now 19 and I was the same age the last time my cousin and I were together. His wife is just about the kindest person you could ever meet. The two of them helped me through some really rough times when I was young. I was wondering the world looking for my place. Before they opened up their hearts and their home to me I really felt like I had nothing and no one. It took me some time even after I left them to get on my own two feet and truly understand who I was and what I was to do with my life. I will be forever grateful to them both for the caring and kindness they showed me, a troubled young man with very little hope in his heart. My aunt had made arrangements for our family ( a group of 10) to go to lunch at Makoto's one Saturday afternoon. I really enjoy hibachi and I have yet to visit this restaurant so I was excited. When we arrived I noticed that they had recently renovated. From what was described to me it used to be more traditional Japanese but recently had undergone a very extensive and costly renovation. As far as the sushi lounge goes that may be true since it's design is fantastic but the rest of the place looks cheap and uninspired. We were promptly seated which was nice but the bench they sit you on is very uncomfortable and the pillows they give you are absolutely no help at all. I was surprised that the table and the grill had not been updated at all which only fueled my concern of just how good this experience was about to be. After taking our drink order it took so long to get them that a family member actually got up and went into the bar to get a glass of water, unacceptable. We got our drinks and our orders were taken. Shortly after the cook appeared with our orders. I was expecting the usual show with flying shrimp and flaming volcanos but nope, not here folks. The entire cooking experience was boring and the food was not impressive at all. The liver patties were the worst, absolutely no one took more than one bite. The fried rice which is usually my favorite part was bland, a total let down. The shrimp was small, overcooked, and lacked much taste on their own. The vegetables, zzz zzz zzz. The best thing about this meal was the salad, such a let down when the highlight came before the actual cooking. I will never again visit Makoto's especially when a great hibachi restaurant called Fujiyama is near by. I did enjoy spending time with my family, so I guess that makes up for something right?
(2)Kim N.
Makoto's is a long established Japanese, modern steakhouse, full lounge, sit down sushi bar with 18 grills. It is a Teppan style restaurant where the chefs actually come and cook for you right in front of the table. They cook in front of the audience thus getting dinner and show, sushi, and full liquor bar. Amenities include soji screens, back rooms that accommodate large parties of up to 23 people, and they are decorated in Japanese style--Mt. Fuji, ocean, and an older Japanese village one. Their sushi bars are more of a modern style. At the bar, one can see the sushi chef and all of the fish as the the sushi is prepared. There are two projectors in the room which project scenes from Japan and a few other places around the world. There is also a large porthole that overlooks the restaurant in the sushi bar. This enables the restaurateurs to look at the chefs preparing the food at the table. Several in-house chefs and the owner collaboratively concocted the recipes. Signature items are a sesame chicken/lobster roll, emperor dish is fillet, jumbo shrimp, and chicken), steak and shrimp, fillet, steak and chicken combination. Lunch items are $9 - $15. Dinner entrees range from $16 - $32. The main dining room seats 230, sushi bar seats 40, and the lounge seats 30. There is a small pond with little waterfall in the lobby. They take larger parties of up to fifty to sixty people. On Sundays from 12 PM - 8 PM, children 12 & under eat free with every paid adult dine-in only. The choices are chicken and beef. In regards to lunch service, one can generally expect to be in and out in one hour. I like the teriyaka steak & sesame chicken lunch entree which is $11.55. I've decreased the rating one notch because of the General Manager's lack of follow up.
(3)Tila D.
I have been going here for years and allways have a very enjoyable time. Food is always wonderful but sometimes the chefs are not always entertaining as the next tables. Have used the catering many times and it is always perfect.
(4)Wesley S.
I really enjoy this place. They have a fantastic and reasonably priced lunch menu, a new Sushi bar which I have not yet tried but which looks very fancy, talented hibachi and attentive service. If you like a Japanese Steak and Seafood house, this place comes recommended. Might I make a quick recommendation: try the Steak and Scallops (if you are getting lunch ask for the scallops in the mustard sauce instead of the teriyaki if you want a treat). You can also substitute zucchini for carrots during lunch if you would like something different. All in all this venue has a great menu and some amazing sauces. This place is usually pretty crowded so allow a little extra time. Thanks for reading and enjoy.
(4)Stephen M.
I have been to Makotos over 100 times, I love going there when I am in town. Makotos use to be the place I would go on my day off for lunch. They use to have one in Palm Bay with the same atmosphere, an awsome place to go for lunch or dinner. All the times I have been there, I have never had a bad experience. Whether it was in the bar area for a quick in and out for lunch, or sit at the cooking table for the meal. the chefs always had a smile and talked with the customers... LOVE LOVE LOVE this place...
(4)Brooke K.
Sushi bar review only: We came in Christmas Eve at 6pm and were able to sit right down at the bar. The raw fish on display was perfect, everything was spotless. We ordered sashimi and the King and I roll. The sashimi pieces were a very generous size and fresh. The roll was beautifully presented and delicious. The highlight of the meal, though, was our sushi chef, Bo. He was fast with preparation and knowledgeable about his product. He even gave us a fried cheesecake for a Christmas treat! This will be a frequent stop when we are in Melbourne, Fl.
(5)Rob M.
I have been going to Makoto's for 27 years and never had a bad experience. We love the chef's who are always great, the food is great (and there's a ton of it) and I love the added sushi options. My family usually goes for lunch, so my opinion is primarily based on that although I have been for dinner and found those experiences equally top notch.
(5)Eric S.
Food was average. The cook didn't put on a show like most places like this. The cook also gave the wrong foof to everyone. I won't go back here and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
(1)John K.
The lunches were very good food at reasonable prices with generous portions. No complaints at all.
(4)Joseph M.
Place is chronic.... they give you so much food and its so good... there should be a secondary market for Makatos leftovers
(5)Dave S.
I've been going to Makoto since the early 90s when I went to college at BCC. It never fails to win us over. The prices are a bit much at times (70.00 for both of us) but you most definitely get what you pay for. The only criticism I would have is that this time they were cooking our meal by the time we received our sushi appetizers. Which honestly by the very definition of appetizer is poor timing at most. Great place to have dinner or lunch, but don't expect room for dessert, this place isn't for the "appetite faint of heart."
(4)Audra P.
So today the lunch time craving came and since I was so close to Makato's I figured...... why not. Normally no matter where you sit during lunch the service and food is wonderful. BUT NOT TODAY!!! I was flying solo today so I sat in the bar area. It was around 1pm so the lunch rush was over. The waitress was fairly quick to the table to get my drink and dinner order. She was back in a flash with my water and soda and premade garden salad. (Ordering a water with any beverage at a restaurant is always a good idea - just in case your dying of thirst and have a slow waiter/waitress.) So far so good. The food took a bit coming out and when it got here it was swimming in a pool of what I assume was a pool of sauce and water from the presteamed then cooked veggies. (I guess the chef forgot to drain them). I drained the brown soup into my half-eaten salad since the waitress didn't bother to take the uneaten salad when she dropped off my food. There was definitely something lacking in the food quality today. It tasted like even the yakiniku I ordered had been given a boiling, then covered with sauce. So as I finished half of my meal I decided that was enough for the sitting and it was time for the check so I pushed my plate off to the side to wait for my waitress to return. ..... and I waited....... ...and waited... and waited. The other girl in the bar area was apparently far too busy with her one table of two customers to be bothered to ask me if I needed anything. So I sat there.... with no soda and waited...... Time seemed to go by sooooo slow. When finally after about 15 minutes of staring of the muted tv the waitress rushed in like she was being inconvenienced and asked if I needed anything. I'm thinking "better service". Instead I say a coke and box to go. So as I'm waiting for these items a customer comes up to the bar to pickup her takeout order. The other girl waitress apparently got a 37 cent tip and was announcing the patrons name and the fact that she was a generous 37 cent tip giver to the patrons who had just come up to the bar. Poor form!!! Regardless of what the cheap person just left you that talk should be kept in the kitchen and not in front of paying guests. So I finally get my receipt back and the waitress is all full of sugar and "hun's" - did I mention that I don't like being called hun? Although she definitely didn't deserve it I gave over 20% (because I've been in the serving shoes before) gathered my food and left. Next time I won't take a chance of getting boiled food and below par service. I'll go cram myself into a table with a bunch of strangers in the main dining area where the chef is in front of you and the waitress is attentive.
(2)Yethiraj C.
Great Sushi and yummy food :) visited multiple times and never have I been disappointed. Overall great service and food. Lunch is good value and dinners are quite expensive.
(5)MOna J.
THe food was good the Bloody Mary was missing anything it needed to taste good. I'm sure I'll be back but honestly I mean at least care about your path a little and make me want another drink. I drank 2 sips I tried to drink more, disgusting
(2)Alan T.
food mediocre. hibachi chef, sleepy. it took over an hour to pay our bill. they never did get the checks matched to the actual food purchased right for some of us. never again.
(1)Nick M.
My experience here prompted me to make a yelp account. We waited 2 hours for hot sushi and cold rice and vegetables. The waitress assigned to or area had too many tables and couldn't keep up. I will absolutely never recommend this place to anyone nor darken their door myself. Maybe they were having an off day but its still no excuse for the lack of care they put into their product.
(1)Jennifer F.
We love hibachi grills and were looking so forward to trying this one. We arranged for our toddlers to be at a babysitting service so that we could enjoy the evening out. My hisband made reservations for 7:30 knowing that we didn't have time to risk an hour wait. We arrived at 7:30 and were greeted by three most crabby looking hostesses ever. We waited for FORTY minutes past our reservation time and during that time I never saw any of the three smile other than when they were making fun of what customers were wearing. Really - if you hate your job so much try to find a new one. I was panicked the entire evening that we would have to leave in the middle of dinner since we had to wait FORTY minutes past our reservation time. So much for a relaxing evening out. The food was good. The chef didnt' do any show except for making the onion volcano and flipping shrimp tails into his hat. He didn't put an egg in the fried rice which I've always seen before. The shrimp for the appetizer was great. My husband ordered his meal and added a side of shrimp. His side of shrimp were made at the same time as the appetizer and were the nice large shrimp. The shrimp that were part of the entree were entirely different. They were much smaller and didn't taste as good at all. Overall the food was good, the show was non-existant really, and the hostesses/reservations were HORRIBLE. I told my husband that I didn't want to return because of the flub up with the reservation. I could see a fifteen minute window but FORTY minutes I don't get it. Why take reservations?
(2)Amanda S.
This place use to be a decent meal, and entertainment, but over the years it has deteriorated. My most recent visit gave me pretty much tasteless food, poor entertainment, sticky tables, and dirty settings. I'd skip it.
(1)Mark B.
Cavernous restaurant, shades of Benihana. On a Thursday night, this place was crowded and at 6:30PM a 20 minute wait. We sat down at a different area, opting not to have the food cooked in front of you. I can now understand why its crowded, the food is okay nothing to email or write about but there is a great deal. The mainstay of the meals is a small nondescript appetizer, a small questionable salad (ginger dressing atrocious), an entree of your choice (meat, chicken, shrimp) a lot of bean sprouts, and a lot of fried rice. Take my advice if you are hungry and don't want to spend a great deal of $$ try the ubiquitous pig and trough, in other words all you can eat Chinese restaurants at $5 less and tip 10% instead of 18%. I am now starting to look at restaurants based on average meal 4.2 gallons of gas.
(2)Amanda D.
I don't get what the big deal is about this place. Many of my friends recommended it so I tried it once, and that was enough for me. The food was mediocre at best...and that liver patty thing is nasty, stop serving it!
(2)Eileen B.
Everything is relative. I have to say I am not a fan of hibachi bar.... mainly an american invention (benihana started this conveyor belt style dining). Makotos is okay. I do like the salad and the famed Ginger dressing. The food is over spiced. The liver patties are NOT appetizers even if u love liver patties... they are often over cooked dryed out. Now on to the show that everyone is talking about... Hispanic "Japanese" chefs just doesn't quite feel the same. I want my real japanese hibachi chef... but then again, I don't want to pay $40 for lunch! Makoto is pretty reasonable for lunch at $10-15. I have never made it there for dinner because I usually go with colleagues.
(3)Leigh P.
The food is amazing! They give you such large portions that you can have lunch the next day. The salad is delicious and the liver patties are my favorite! Everytime I come back into Melbourne I have to eat here! I love Makotos.
(5)Roberto C.
Great place for dinner and a show and the food is really good!
(5)Susan M.
My husband and my favorite restaurant - the Sesame Chicken is always a winner. Their rice is delicious! Entrees are served with a ginger dressing salad, soup, a piece of liver and shrimp, sautéed zucchini and onions, and "Japanese spaghetti." Prices start at $13.00 and up. The chefs are always friendly and seem to enjoy putting on a show for any children at the table. Expect to be there about 2 hours (not including the wait time for seating). They recently remodeled and it is very nice but I would prefer it if they used something other than carpeting in the dining area. They tend to really cram too many people at a table so I usually tell the hostess and I have an extra person in my party and we end with extra space. At the end of your meal, have your credit card ready because the wait staff is very slow and you could wait a VERY long time if you don't give it the 1st time she comes by....
(4)Amanda M.
This place is awesome! I am from the bay area, and I'm used to going to Kyoto Palace or House of Gingi, and this place is so much better. The prices are decent, and you get a good amount of food. My girlfriend and I split the NY steak, and it was more than enough for both of us. They don't put egg in there fried rice either, and that's how I like it. They also have imported beer on tap, which made my night even better. The people at our table however, were a little weird. This lady kept talking to us about her dogs, like we cared or something. When we finished our meal, the staff came over with a pineapple desert (which was great by the way) and they sang us this anniversary song in Japanese. It was embarrassing, but what the hell. Overall, this is a great place and I highly recommend it to anyone in the Melbourne area.
(5)LB E.
Its the only hibachi grill in town so this is it for that styly of dining. Food is quite salty and somewhat pricey but you do get a lot of food. Go during lunch and it's half the price.
(3)Gabby D.
I LOVE Makoto's. It's so good! It was my first exposure to a Japanese Steakhouse place where they cook the food in front of you. I biasly think that the chef entertainment here is the absolute best. The food is always top quality! The salad dressing they serve on their salads has also become so popular that I recently found a bottled version (usually only sold behind the bar at Makotos or Florida Publix restaurants) in yes, Key Foods located in East Village, New York. It's the best thing! I no longer have to stash bottles away in my suitcase on my way home! It's always a fun time, and the perfect spot for two, four or a family night out of 15!
(5)Road Warrior D.
Not bad for a teppan style place. The choices are pretty typical. Most of the chefs do a respectable job of cooking and entertaining. Be sure to stop at Groucho's comedy club after dinner. It's inside the restaurant.
(2)Jason J.
Hibachi or Sushi... This place is consistently great. Even on their worst night, they are better than any competitors in Brevard County. Try the Alaskan King roll. Amazing.
(5)Rose A.
I disagree with the negative reviews. This place has been a Melbourne icon for years and has always been consistently good!!! It is our go to place for birthdays in Melb. and that will never change!!! We all ordered the Makoto's dinner (chicken, shrimp, and steak) and the Emperor (lobster, shrimp, chicken). Both meals come with a free sake or plum wine as well as a cup of broth, salad, appetizer, and zucchini or carrots and fried rice. We all agreed the stars were the lobster and steak during our last visit.
(5)Joyce X.
Two words. The value. Makoto's is a pretty standard hibachi grill establishment. Their menu consist of familiar meats such as sesame chicken, NY strip steak, shrimp, etc. All the hibachi entrees come with oolong tea, miso soup, salad with ginger dressing, a fried chicken liver patty, and a shrimp appetizer (literally one piece) to start. Then, with your entree, you get friend rice, mixed veggies, your choice of meat, and bean sprouts. I seriously felt like I was eating an endless plate of food. I would take one bite of what was just served to me, look up, and my plate would be full again with the next serving of cooked food. Definitely no complaints about the amount of food; I was able to feed myself for two more meals with the leftovers. That being said, the hibachi entrees aren't something I'd order every time because they are definitely greasy and salty. However, I would definitely like to come back to try their other options on the menu.
(3)Amanda I.
What a fun place! I love hibachi and love that this place does hibachi and sushi really well! I got the chicken entrée which was delicious. I must say for the amount of food given the price is amazing, my meal was about $17 and then I got the vegetable sushi for an extra $5. And believe me I tried hard to finish but still had a full portion for a meal the next day. The meal starts with a soup and salad, the soup is chicken broth based and has some mushrooms swimming around in it, I took a few sips but went in for the salad. The salad was delicious with the ginger dressing! Next the hibachi cook made a liver patty and a shrimp for each person, the shrimp was good, I was not a fan of the patty though. We were provided with multiple sauces, soy sauce, yum yum sauce and one I am not sure what it was but I loved it! Our sushi came out and was well made, full of vegetables (I shared with a vegetarian). Next the cook made a huge batch of fried rice for the table with vegetables mixed in. And yes he did the famous onion volcano! I began eating the rice and vegetables as I watched him prepare our main meals. When my chicken was finished I was almost full, but I kept eating. The chicken was delicious, moist and flavorful. The cook finished off with cooked sprouts, which added a nice crunch and more vegetables. The experience as a whole was really nice and pleasant I would definitely go back here!
(5)Brian H.
this has been my favorite restaurant in the world for awhile now. Cant say enough good things about the food and experience. price wise for a hibachi experience you cant beat it. There is a reason why their sauces are sold all over the southeast US. The liver patties are my favorite. Its like crack to me so is the seafood sauce. The Hinodi shrimp were flavored perfectly with it being crispy on the outside. The soft sweet carrots are unrivaled by most others. Hell even the bean sprouts are awesome, simply done but great. The bad reviews here are laughable. Sorry but if you lose your wallet its not the restaurants fault, its yours. If you didn't like the chicken liver patties then you clearly dont like chicken liver or pate in general, so don't try it. Just like any restaurant you can have some bad service. Every time i have gone it was good so i cannot complain there.
(5)Virginia C.
Price and quality of the food is Excellent. The best grill veggies I ever tried. Their fried rice is muce nicer than other rest of same style. Tasty is the best word for this restaurant. Staff and chefs are always nice and take care of your needs. Five stars
(5)Aaron B.
Well this time all I did is stop by for a snack as I cannot pass up the liver patties, "chicken liver a lo Japanese" I believe they call it, small salad with ginger dressing and mushroom broth soup. Just as expected as I have been here since before my daughter was born (12+ years). Always consistent and very good. Seeing negative reviews of this place over stupidity is kind of sad, one star for a dumb ass losing her wallet and another one star for someone that does not know how places like this work makes me wonder why they even review. Yes all hibachi / tempanyaki places sit in a rectangle around the grill and unless you have a large party, yes with people you don't know. I you do not want to sit with others go to the bar and order, they will cook it and bring it to you, even a separate sushi bar area so you not forced to wait to you do not want to, geez. Cheers! Aaron B.
(5)Jen B.
On our last trip to Melbourne my brother-in-law suggested we go to his favorite Japanese restaurant, Makoto's. The restaurant had more hibachi grills that I have ever seen in one place, had to be close to 20! They also had a small room of regular tables and a bar area. If you like the hibachi style of Japanese cooking than this is your place! I, however am not a fan of the hibachi foods, too much oil for my taste and everything ends up tasting the same. I love all foods Asian, but especially sushi. I didn't realize until we arrived that it was mainly a hibachi grill facility (which is not my favorite), so while everyone else ordered the usual fried rice with meats and a side show, I enjoyed some sashimi and salad. My sunomono salad was perfectly light and delicious, and the sashimi I was served was lovely and fresh. If you like lighter fare, stick to the sushi menu.
(3)Rachael T.
I don't think I have very high standards for this kind of cuisine and I hated this place when we went. We had a reservation and still waited 20 minutes to be seated. The dining area was hot and poorly ventilated. It seemed like they were trying to seat more people at the tables than they were designed to accommodate. The food was very oily and those liver patties are vile. The shrimp and chicken were both so overcooked it was pretty much inedible. We ordered a sushi roll to share and it was quite possibly the worst sushi I have ever had. Like on sale at the grocery store bad. Our glasses sat empty for the last 15 minutes we were there. The best thing I can say about this place is that I didn't get food poisoning. I've been to Makoto's and Fujiyama and, while neither was the best hibachi ever, I would go back to Fujiyama. You couldn't pay me to go back to Makoto's.
(1)Caitlin W.
Typical teppan layout, the restaurant is beautiful inside, calm, and the staff are very attentive and friendly. The food on the other hand needs a touch of flare when on a big grill. I expect my food to be well cooked, fresh, and unfortunately I don't consider a frozen piece of chicken, warmed up and drizzled with teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds to be a 2 star meal. I was looking forward to the food and felt a bit disappointed because of how greasy and hard my chicken was. The highlights were the salad, attentive service, and their white sauce (yum yum sauce). If I had a choice of going here again, I would not because of how greasy and lack of fresh meat.
(2)Alex H.
I love this place the food is always excellent and the service is usually superb but the last two times I've been here for lunch have been awful. First off if you're a young couple looking for a nice place to have lunch DONT COME HERE, when my boyfriend and I specifically asked to not be seated in a group with children we were TWICE and this second time we came with our roommate we have been seated in a group of thirteen people at one table six of whom are children below the age of 8 even when we asked to move so we could have more space they instead brought out an " extension" table got to say being an adult at the kiddy table has really made me not want to come back. So if your young people and your party is small expect to be treated poorly and your concerns ignored but if you have two plus children or plan on inviting people after you've been seated you should be fine.
(1)Amy M.
The atmosphere was wonderful and note on Sunday kids eat free! We had a cute balloon made for my 2 year old son while we were waited to be seated, and we thoroughly enjoyed our experience there. We were seated quickly, and as soon as we sat down the courses immediately began. The food was very flavorful and as picky of an eater as what I am, I did not find one thing that I just could not eat. A ton of food is served to the point we all had leftovers to go. I cannot wait to go back, one of my favorite restaurants!
(5)Veronica B.
The food was salty and very oily, but the service it's the worst part! I was the last customer that night and left my wallet on the table, when I called the restaurant their manager was "too busy" to take my call and didn't even bother to call me back so I decided to go to the restaurant and asked them to check their cameras (they didn't have any, of course!) I had $400 in cash on my wallet and all of my documents, I would have like to at least get my documents back. I'm never going back to this place! Everyone be aware of your personal items if you are brave enough to eat there.
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