Made reservations and arrived a few minutes early. We had to go to the bar to check in and the bartender was quite rude, saying she'd get to us when she could and refused to take our name. It was a disorganized mess. Others ahead of us had been waiting for even longer. What's the point of making a reservation if it won't be honored? We left and went elsewhere.
Dustin Widner
Such a great experience. Good conversation as you sit with other people. The food is outstanding. I took a date and we ordered from the hibachi grill menu. I had the steak and scallops and my date had the steak and shrimp around 30$ a piece. Sound steep? Not at all considering you get soup, salad shrimp appetizer, vegetable stir fry, your meal and fried rice. The best part it's made right in front of you. Get the Mai-Tai if you go I highly recommend it. Definitely will recommend.Parking: Parking is available just tight.
Mia Lamela
Friendly staff , Large Portions matches with the prices. One note is that they have more options on the online menu compared to the one in person. Good experience over all
Amc0716
Atmosphere was so so. A friend and myself have been trying to find a hibachi restaurant. I found this one online and it looked pretty good. I’m used to a chef coming to the table and having a personality! They usually put on a little show, talk to you, something! The chef came over and said hello and that was it. Proceeded to cooking the food piled everything on top of one another on our plates and left. The food was very bland and only ate maybe a third and left the rest. Scallops not good at all. Very disappointed
steven mariolan
This place if very good. The staff is so nice and the try their best to entertain even for the small children. The food is really good but a bit pricey. I honestly have nothing bad to say about this place, but it does get really busy so if you plan on eating here make a reservation.
Michael C. Delapena
A friend visiting from out of town knows the Sarasota area and suggested dinner at this Japanese restaurant. The place is super authentic with Japanese decor, staff and cooks. We ordered Shrimp Tempura and Gyoza dumplings, the former tasting much better than the latter. We ordered spicy salmon and salmon Tempura sushi rolls and they were very good. Service was on the money. Definitely recommend if you love sushi!
Craig Embry
This place is not bad. The staff is quite friendly. The building is definitely showing age. For 3 kids and 3 adults with 5 drinks and one water our bill came to $166.67. Gratuity was already on the bill. The food was pretty good. The quantity however was amazing. Will actually end up being two meals.
Ed Clements
Good place to eat. Near the Sarasota airport. I would definitely eat there again. Very good Japanese Steakhouse.
Teamdawson1
The food today was okay…just. Bland. But the worst part is the portions were so small. I ordered steak and shrimp. My daughter ordered filet only. She received THREE TIMES MORE food than I did. I wondered what I would have received if I ordered the three item meal for $13 more. Would I get 1/3 portions of three items? Also I don’t eat eggs so I told them this and just ordered white rice. Bland. Why don’t they offer fried rice WITHOUT THE EGGS? I didn’t even think about asking because the fried rice comes to the table smothered with eggs. Portions small. Food bland. And I left hungry.
TJ S.
First time here. With my dad and one more body. Apparently, dad comes here a lot. This place is what I call "old school " or "classic" Japanese joint. Jo-to (上等) means upper class or typically means "well done" as in execution or quality. What I mean by "old school" is that the decor and the menu has not changed in a while. Perhaps, from the 90s? This could be good or bad. It is good if they kept the classics and stayed true to the simple, yet elegant Japanese cuisine. It could be timeless. I sort of felt like this place was not Jo-to but average? The menu and the decor felt a bit tired. They can remain classic or could be left behind from the latest fusion trends. I don't see any young pretty people with fancy dresses here. Personally, I could careless about the fusion trends where a weirdest sushi like, mango jalapeño spicy tuna rolls with lots of sweet sauces. Nope, not for me. The sushi from the bar is classic and pretty good - one thing definitely to note is that the sushi rice that we had was properly seasoned with mirin and vinegar. So important. The cuts of blue fish and yellow fin tuna were a bit dry, but still well balanced. But this guy can do "modern" faves like California rolls, and that despicable mango jalapeño tuna, if you like. A mark of good versatile sushi chef is to be able to execute the classics flawlessly, yet adventurous and flexible enough to do the trendy stuff to please a wide audience. The sushi bar special- hamachi kama was perfectly grilled. The tangy, ginger, soy sauce and vinegar dipping sauce was perfect. I am curious and want to come back to this joint in the fall. Don't be fooled by drab exterior and the location- next to the SRQ run way, discourage you from checking this place out.
Wow!! I LOVED this place!! Not only was the food excellent, but the ambiance of the restaurant is incredible!
U1148CEchrist
Overall, very happy with service, food, price. Small cons: loud restaurant, waitres got order wrong, but was corrected..Some understaffing.
Suzanne D.
Very good food and service. Limited days and hours so make a reservation. Place packs up since the food is so good.
Ryan Parker
This is a great classic restaurant. I’ve been coming here for 30 yrs and have never had a bad meal. The chefs at the tables are great, and they really care about there customers. I will continue going here for ever.
Michael Y.
If you're a Hibachi junkie, Jo-To's is for you! Brief Summary: Jo-To's Japanese Steak House has been around for what seems like forever, and for good reason. This Tepenyaki style restaurant is sure to satisfy both the sushi and hibachi lover in you. The taste of the food is truly exceptional, and you'll almost always have leftovers to enjoy the next day. If you enjoy Japanese food, you will enjoy Jo-To's! Would I Recommend This Restaurant? Yes The Food: This is the star of the show for sure. Everything from the mushroom soup, to the ginger salad, to the mouth watering hibachi food being prepared right before your eyes is exquisite! Pro tip, I always get a double on the soup because I enjoy it a bit more than the salad. It doesn't cost anything extra, but it sure does make my taste buds happy! I've tried just about every meat you can get with the hibachi dinner, and none of them have ever disappointed me. The shrimp, chicken, fillet mingon, scallops, etc. are all cooked wonderfully. I always opt for the fillet over the NY strip, because the quality of the beef is worth every penny. The scallops were also cooked exceptionally well. I'm very picky when it comes to scallops, and the scallops I had here were cooked quite nicely. Don't forget that delicious yum yum sauce that you get with your meal. That stuff is like liquid crack! Pro tip, you can have them give you yum yum sauce in all 3 sauce trays if you don't like the other sauces. The portions are quite large as well. Some places assume you eat like a mouse and really skimp on portions, but I always have leftovers to bring home with me after eating here. I haven't ventured into the sushi too much, but the eel avocado roll I got was made quite nicely. The ONLY thing that wasn't quite right was my Coke. I can't put my foot in what wasn't right about it, but it just didn't taste like a Coke. All in all though, the quality of the food here is top notch! Service and Staff: Can we all take just a moment to appreciate how the hibachi chefs always manage to remember how we want our steak cooked after they ask the whole table the first time? I can't remember what I did 5 minutes ago, let alone a table full of different meat temperatures! Okay, all jokes aside, the wait staff here is good. Very attentive and accommodating. The chefs are hit or miss. Sometimes you get really fun ones that pull out all the tricks and jokes, and other times you get chefs that are obviously very tired of making the same jokes over and over. It's understandable, but the show is a huge part of why we dine at tepenyaki restaurants. We want to see the volcano, we want to see the train move along, we want to have shrimp tails tossed into our drinks. Yes, I'm literally asking to have shrimp tails tossed into my drink. Never thought I'd write that in a review before. Anyways, It's honestly like rolling the dice sometimes on what kind of show you'll get. Despite the game of chance, even the chef's who put on a lesser show still do a good job, and I'm always a happy camper when I leave. Final Thoughts: While not perfect, Jo-To's is by far the best Japanese Steakhouse I've found in the Sarasota area. The food quality and portions are truly unrivaled in the area. While the show can be a bit lacking from time to time, you will always leave with a smile on your face, a full feeling in your stomach, and a desire to come back! Final Scores: Food - 4.5/5 Service - 4/5 Total - 4.25/5 Stay fresh Mother Fooders! :p
Made reservations and arrived a few minutes early. We had to go to the bar to check in and the bartender was quite rude, saying she'd get to us when she could and refused to take our name. It was a disorganized mess. Others ahead of us had been waiting for even longer. What's the point of making a reservation if it won't be honored? We left and went elsewhere.
Such a great experience. Good conversation as you sit with other people. The food is outstanding. I took a date and we ordered from the hibachi grill menu. I had the steak and scallops and my date had the steak and shrimp around 30$ a piece. Sound steep? Not at all considering you get soup, salad shrimp appetizer, vegetable stir fry, your meal and fried rice. The best part it's made right in front of you. Get the Mai-Tai if you go I highly recommend it. Definitely will recommend.Parking: Parking is available just tight.
Friendly staff , Large Portions matches with the prices. One note is that they have more options on the online menu compared to the one in person. Good experience over all
Atmosphere was so so. A friend and myself have been trying to find a hibachi restaurant. I found this one online and it looked pretty good. I’m used to a chef coming to the table and having a personality! They usually put on a little show, talk to you, something! The chef came over and said hello and that was it. Proceeded to cooking the food piled everything on top of one another on our plates and left. The food was very bland and only ate maybe a third and left the rest. Scallops not good at all. Very disappointed
This place if very good. The staff is so nice and the try their best to entertain even for the small children. The food is really good but a bit pricey. I honestly have nothing bad to say about this place, but it does get really busy so if you plan on eating here make a reservation.
A friend visiting from out of town knows the Sarasota area and suggested dinner at this Japanese restaurant. The place is super authentic with Japanese decor, staff and cooks. We ordered Shrimp Tempura and Gyoza dumplings, the former tasting much better than the latter. We ordered spicy salmon and salmon Tempura sushi rolls and they were very good. Service was on the money. Definitely recommend if you love sushi!
This place is not bad. The staff is quite friendly. The building is definitely showing age. For 3 kids and 3 adults with 5 drinks and one water our bill came to $166.67. Gratuity was already on the bill. The food was pretty good. The quantity however was amazing. Will actually end up being two meals.
Good place to eat. Near the Sarasota airport. I would definitely eat there again. Very good Japanese Steakhouse.
The food today was okay…just. Bland. But the worst part is the portions were so small. I ordered steak and shrimp. My daughter ordered filet only. She received THREE TIMES MORE food than I did. I wondered what I would have received if I ordered the three item meal for $13 more. Would I get 1/3 portions of three items? Also I don’t eat eggs so I told them this and just ordered white rice. Bland. Why don’t they offer fried rice WITHOUT THE EGGS? I didn’t even think about asking because the fried rice comes to the table smothered with eggs. Portions small. Food bland. And I left hungry.
First time here. With my dad and one more body. Apparently, dad comes here a lot. This place is what I call "old school " or "classic" Japanese joint. Jo-to (上等) means upper class or typically means "well done" as in execution or quality. What I mean by "old school" is that the decor and the menu has not changed in a while. Perhaps, from the 90s? This could be good or bad. It is good if they kept the classics and stayed true to the simple, yet elegant Japanese cuisine. It could be timeless. I sort of felt like this place was not Jo-to but average? The menu and the decor felt a bit tired. They can remain classic or could be left behind from the latest fusion trends. I don't see any young pretty people with fancy dresses here. Personally, I could careless about the fusion trends where a weirdest sushi like, mango jalapeño spicy tuna rolls with lots of sweet sauces. Nope, not for me. The sushi from the bar is classic and pretty good - one thing definitely to note is that the sushi rice that we had was properly seasoned with mirin and vinegar. So important. The cuts of blue fish and yellow fin tuna were a bit dry, but still well balanced. But this guy can do "modern" faves like California rolls, and that despicable mango jalapeño tuna, if you like. A mark of good versatile sushi chef is to be able to execute the classics flawlessly, yet adventurous and flexible enough to do the trendy stuff to please a wide audience. The sushi bar special- hamachi kama was perfectly grilled. The tangy, ginger, soy sauce and vinegar dipping sauce was perfect. I am curious and want to come back to this joint in the fall. Don't be fooled by drab exterior and the location- next to the SRQ run way, discourage you from checking this place out.
Restaurantji Recommends
Wow!! I LOVED this place!! Not only was the food excellent, but the ambiance of the restaurant is incredible!
Overall, very happy with service, food, price. Small cons: loud restaurant, waitres got order wrong, but was corrected..Some understaffing.
Very good food and service. Limited days and hours so make a reservation. Place packs up since the food is so good.
This is a great classic restaurant. I’ve been coming here for 30 yrs and have never had a bad meal. The chefs at the tables are great, and they really care about there customers. I will continue going here for ever.
If you're a Hibachi junkie, Jo-To's is for you! Brief Summary: Jo-To's Japanese Steak House has been around for what seems like forever, and for good reason. This Tepenyaki style restaurant is sure to satisfy both the sushi and hibachi lover in you. The taste of the food is truly exceptional, and you'll almost always have leftovers to enjoy the next day. If you enjoy Japanese food, you will enjoy Jo-To's! Would I Recommend This Restaurant? Yes The Food: This is the star of the show for sure. Everything from the mushroom soup, to the ginger salad, to the mouth watering hibachi food being prepared right before your eyes is exquisite! Pro tip, I always get a double on the soup because I enjoy it a bit more than the salad. It doesn't cost anything extra, but it sure does make my taste buds happy! I've tried just about every meat you can get with the hibachi dinner, and none of them have ever disappointed me. The shrimp, chicken, fillet mingon, scallops, etc. are all cooked wonderfully. I always opt for the fillet over the NY strip, because the quality of the beef is worth every penny. The scallops were also cooked exceptionally well. I'm very picky when it comes to scallops, and the scallops I had here were cooked quite nicely. Don't forget that delicious yum yum sauce that you get with your meal. That stuff is like liquid crack! Pro tip, you can have them give you yum yum sauce in all 3 sauce trays if you don't like the other sauces. The portions are quite large as well. Some places assume you eat like a mouse and really skimp on portions, but I always have leftovers to bring home with me after eating here. I haven't ventured into the sushi too much, but the eel avocado roll I got was made quite nicely. The ONLY thing that wasn't quite right was my Coke. I can't put my foot in what wasn't right about it, but it just didn't taste like a Coke. All in all though, the quality of the food here is top notch! Service and Staff: Can we all take just a moment to appreciate how the hibachi chefs always manage to remember how we want our steak cooked after they ask the whole table the first time? I can't remember what I did 5 minutes ago, let alone a table full of different meat temperatures! Okay, all jokes aside, the wait staff here is good. Very attentive and accommodating. The chefs are hit or miss. Sometimes you get really fun ones that pull out all the tricks and jokes, and other times you get chefs that are obviously very tired of making the same jokes over and over. It's understandable, but the show is a huge part of why we dine at tepenyaki restaurants. We want to see the volcano, we want to see the train move along, we want to have shrimp tails tossed into our drinks. Yes, I'm literally asking to have shrimp tails tossed into my drink. Never thought I'd write that in a review before. Anyways, It's honestly like rolling the dice sometimes on what kind of show you'll get. Despite the game of chance, even the chef's who put on a lesser show still do a good job, and I'm always a happy camper when I leave. Final Thoughts: While not perfect, Jo-To's is by far the best Japanese Steakhouse I've found in the Sarasota area. The food quality and portions are truly unrivaled in the area. While the show can be a bit lacking from time to time, you will always leave with a smile on your face, a full feeling in your stomach, and a desire to come back! Final Scores: Food - 4.5/5 Service - 4/5 Total - 4.25/5 Stay fresh Mother Fooders! :p