Sakura Buffet - Salinas Ca

Haven't been here in a while. I've always loved this place, they always have really delicious food. I recommend their baked scallops and fresh tuna.

My family and I have been coming to this establishment for the last 5-10 years if not longer and today’s experience has all but tarnished an otherwise amazing relationship we’ve had with this establishment. I am the oldest of 5 children, and Sakura has been my family’s go to spot to celebrate birthdays, graduations, milestones, promotions and so much more (typically will have 1-5 parties here in a year). Today, the 18th of August in the year 2024, I called the establishment to inquire about a reservation for a party of 29 people for my step dad’s birthday at the end of the month; Since not only did the Google listing say a reservation is required (see screenshots), but since we are already a big family, that typically has big parties in attendance (much like the 29 I was inquiring about today); I was used to calling in for a reservation at this establishment (as I’ve done this multiple times in the past and we are always happy to even put deposits down because of how great Sakura was) to ensure my family, myself and our guests would be able to be seated together. It took me by great surprise when the person I was talking to on the phone (I did not get her/their name as the service provided was appalling, disappointing, disgusting and just blatantly rude), cut me off not 1, not 2 but 3 times. The words I got out were, “Hi I was wondering if I could make a reservation for-“, and was cut off with “It’s First Come First Serve.”, no matter my response, I was cut off another 3 times with this person saying the exact same thing. I had ended our conversation with a bit of feedback, (as I myself am in sales/retail as a manager, and my wife has been a server for years). My ending to this conversation was “Okay, I completely understand but next time please do not cut me or anyone else off, as that was extremely rude. My family and I have been going to this restaurant for the last 5-10 years and have never been treated this way.” Their response, lacked any empathy towards the situation, and they said, “oh okay sorry”. Never in all the years I’ve been coming here has this ever happened, but if this is the way this establishment is now treating their guests (even just inquiring) my family and I can take our business elsewhere. As much as I love eating at local businesses to help support, this was just entirely out of left field. I don’t know that my family and I will be dining here much longer if at all moving forward. As disheartening as this may be for us, this type of service is just unacceptable and we won’t stand for it.

Huge variety of food. Salad bar, sushi, and other variety of foods.

Found a hairs in my food ask the server to call manager/owner they come back saying she was busy at the moment then a different server comes back saying the manager was busy and she wasn’t going to come that she send me $5 for my trouble but that’s all she can do that it wasn’t from her staff that it was probably one of the other customers. I got up walk out and told them that I would contact the health department after that the manager came out and try telling me to wait that she was going to give me a gift certificate like no thanks I will not be coming back

Good food, but the floor lacks a little cleanliness, many children wasting food, lack of attention from parents, good restaurant