Tamashii in Islington

Me and my best friend booked to go at 6.30pm last night (Saturday) - had our booking confirmed just days before on Wednesday. Turned up and waited till 6.45pm - the place was locked up and in darkness. The website said it was open all day on Saturday too. There were just a load of ring binder folders on the floor by the door - books weren't adding up maybe?

Upon looking at the website I understood that this was a busy, happening place, so not only did I book a table in advance, I also naively booked a spot in the bar! Upon arrival we asked where the bar was, only to be pointed to a bar in the restaurant, completely empty of other customers, no music, no atmosphere. We left and had a drink across the road and returned to eat. The service was not great, the food very average and the prices not bad. I probably wouldn't return

So from the Trip Advisor and Instagram images I thought this place was worth a visit so recommended it to a friend and we decided to meet there for our dinner. We booked in advance thinking it might be one of those places that books out fast.... which isn’t the case! I turned up first and was seated by the door... which was odd as the place was half empty. Upon me asking to move to a better seat I was told the restaurant was ‘fully booked’ which seemed odd but I was thinking it might get busier later so stayed in place. When my friend turned up she also suggested we moved and in fairness the waiter actually suggested we moved to a better seat too but the seat offered was still in a strange location but better than by the door at least. We had asked to move to the window seat(s) but apparently that wasn’t an option as they were booked. Which is fine. For drinks I asked for a ‘mocktail’ and was told that they didn’t do them... so I asked for 2 fruit juices mixed together (aka mocktail). Might not seem like a big deal but I’m pregnant and like the idea of thinking I’m drinking something more fancy when out so even spicing up some fruit juice works for me. Mocktails are so easy to put together so not sure why they ‘didn’t do them’. Normally a good restaurant would make something up.... Anyway... We wanted to order our food but had some questions due to my friend being vegan. The menu didn’t offer any vegan labels which is common but upon asking our ‘waiter’ for what might be vegan, he didn’t understand the concept and kept telling us about the veggie options. Now we tried to help, so references the things my friend couldn’t eat but he didn’t know any of the answers and was almost trying to tell us it would be fine.... which is not the answer you want when you’re vegan or have any form of allergies / intolerances. I also asked why the veggie gyoza wasn’t marked as ‘V’ for veggie and was told it had meat in it... I told the waiter that it was ‘veggie’ by name so perhaps it was the oil which had meat fat in it and maybe that was the reason for it not being fully veggie... the waiter had no idea so I suggested for him to ask the chef. He came back and said it would be ok. I’m still not sure it actually was! We ordered a selection of things anyway but it didn’t feel like a good start to our meal experience. After a while the waiter came over and said that he didn’t know about the food as he was the bar man.... which would make sense but I don’t know why you’d ever have the bar man take food orders in what would should be a nice authentic restaurant?? Blows my mind.... After the food order was taken, no one checked on our drinks, we had to keep calling waiter / bar man over to get things ordered. At one point we didn’t have any drinks for 10 mins before we decided to get the attention of the staff. When the food arrived it looked ok. I wasn’t blown away but it wasn’t terrible. I’ve had better. Pic included in review. No one checked if the food was ok or how we were getting on. No one asked if we wanted more drinks throughout our time there. One thing that really got to me.... no one sat at the seats close to the window either by the time we left (one couple got in there but they had just turned up without a booking), 2 hours after arriving so the whole ‘we’re booked out’ line was a joke.... To top it all off... around 9pm, the chef/kitchen staff pulled a massive bin through the restaurant to the outside main door. I mean WTF.... I’m glad we’d finished our food by this point as it felt really unhygienic. By this point, I knew I’d have to give the meal experience a 1/5. Train your staff or have actual waiters take orders. Listen to your customers and perhaps check on them more often.... We won’t be returning or recommending.

Worst shop i have ever witnessed because me and my family went an the owner was the most rude person i have ever met. The food was way too oily and it wasnt even that good. i dont reccomend this place

Ok. Not as good as the Asian round the corner on York way, but ACCEPTABLE. I wouldn't avoid but wouldn't go out my way either.