Ukai Japanese Steak House

I used to live in the Lansing area.  This was one of my favorite restaurants in that area.
They cook the meal in front of you on a hibachi grill.  The sushi is fresh... what's not to love.  This place much better than Ichiban; which is a similar restaurant near where we live now.

My happy childhood memories of eating dinner at Ukai with friends, crowded around tables while indulging in classic hibachi entrees, have been CRUSHED!  

I made reservations a week in advance at the Okemos location, and when our party arrived, they said no reservations had been made (lie).  Way to drop the ball, person who answered the phone and said the reservation had been confirmed.  If Ukai can't get something so simple right, what else are they messing up on?  Makes my imagination wander - do they wash their hands after using the restroom?  Taking a reservation is so simple - as simple as washing your hands!!  ..ugh.

Second complaint is that the woman I spoke to after we arrived and were told no accommodations could be made for our party was not at all apologetic for the screw-up.  I'm pretty levelheaded, or so it may seem to an onlooker, but I lost my cool after realizing how hard I tried to give them business (support local!) and they really couldn't care less.  

After freaking my freak, we headed to Troppo and had an amazing dinner - and dropped some serious cash.  Everything worked out better than expected in the end (wine and steak/salmon?  Yes, please!), no thanks to Ukai.  

We'll head straight to Troppo during our next group outing!

This place has pretty good Hibachi. But their sushi is not as good.