Sakura Japanese Restaurant

I used to be a regular here, however, unfortunately the pandemic has changed this. I went for a solo dinner tonight. I was seated with a wonderful family of 6. I ordered a shrimp tempura appetizer that I did not receive. I had to inform the waiter that I never received the appetizer and the response I received was rather nonchalant. Another negative- I received room temperature soup (which I complained about) and the replacement was not better. I was traded a room temperature soup for a room temperature soup.🤦🏾‍♀️This was not the experience that I have enjoyed here in the past. Given the distance that I traveled, I will not dine here again anytime soon. The remainder of my meal was decent but overall I was disappointed. I know this place can do better. A daily diner

I have been going to Sakura since 2004. I now live out of state but visit Sakura every single time I come back to Connecticut. This place is a staple! The owner (or whomever the guy with the glasses is) is always friendly and remembers my sister and I every single time we come back. We sit on the bar side and love the hibachi. The food is consistently good and the noodles and the mustard looking sauce are their staple. I also love the salad and soup that comes with the hibachi. The ginger salad dressing is so delicious. The restaurant itself is always clean and is spacious. Weekends are really packed and during the times of 4-6 could be pretty packed on the bar side as they have a consistent clientele. The hibachi experience is just as great to experience and usually pretty full. The drinks are always very good. Bartenders are very attentive and friendly. I will always come back to Sakura no matter how far I move.

Sakura was just okay for a late lunch. The food was uninspired looking and tasting. For a late lunch you have to eat in the bar. The dining area doesn't open till 4:00. Maybe all those people who voted them readers choice awards have dinner there and maybe the dinner chef produces something more interesting than what we got. We had a bento box and a hibachi. My wife pronounced the tempura "Just okay"... I had the tuna hibachi with vegetables and asked them to hold all the starches which they did. It was a decent plate of vegetables and not a lot of tuna but you wouldn't expect much for lunch. Somehow I wondered if the tuna they use on the hibachi is as fresh as what they use in the sushi bar. No real problems...just a feeling that we probably won't be back.

Have frequented Sakura for going on close to 20 years now, and their food does not ever disappoint. Prior to COVID we dined-in more often, mostly take-out now, but there's totally no change in quality or portion sizes. The wait staff and the chefs are always friendly and have a good sense of humor. It gets quite busy on weekends with only being open for dinner, so weekday lunch is usually better not only price-wise but also from size of table settings. In addition to the hibachi, there is also a traditional dining arrangement, but we have never eaten on that side, so I'm not really sure what that is like. Their noodles they cook on the grill - there's something about the way they prepare them; I have yet to have them as good anywhere else.

this place is literally MAGICAL. if you like food and love your friends, you need to go here. had me mesmerized - everything seasoned to heaven. so elite. the soup and salad and vegetables were DELICIOUS! the noodles and fried rice transcended me from my body... (and i got the salmon) and the skin was SO CRISPY! delicious. incredible. show-stopping.