New Zealand Herald

Reviews for Katsura Japanese Restaurant

by bonsai
3rd May 2013

This business is a MenuMania SponsorOne of the Business' Favourite Reviews

I love Japanese food, and this is the best I’ve had in Auckland. I ordered the “Healthy Bento” (i.e. vegetarian), and it was simply delicious. The price was quite high, but I got a LOT of food and it was very flavoursome. I have a small appetite, but as per the meal’s name felt great after eating – not at all overstuffed.

If you need protein in your meal, you’ll need to grab something else as this was a very low-protein meal – almost 100% vegetables. Personally, my protein needs were fulfilled by an interesting take on creme brulee – sake brulee with miso-flavoured shavings on top. I am more than happy to forgo protein in a main if it means I can justify dessert! As with most Asian desserts, this was not super-sweet, and the umami flavour of the miso cut through the sugar coating of the genuinely sake-flavoured custard in a very nice way.

One final thing to mention is how beautiful the restaurant is – a very soothing environment, and it does not feel like a hotel restaurant at all.

Highly recommended.

Comment from Richard d. of Katsura Japanese Restaurant 10/05/2013    Hide »

Dear bonsai Thank you for your review of Katsura Japanese…    More »

Dear bonsai

Thank you for your review of Katsura Japanese Restaurant located at Rendezvous Grand Hotel Auckland.
On behalf of the Team at Katsura, we are delighted that you enjoyed your experience with us. Chef Suzuki San and his team hand select the very best produce from the fish market daily and prepare each dish to order with great care and precision.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Katsura in the very near future.

Kind Regards
Lauren

by Jess G.
3rd May 2013

My partner and I came here for dinner (and lunch) on our holiday. The food was absolutely amazing! We originally had a Tepinyaki(?) table chosen but later on asked if we could change to a regular as my partner had looked at the menu online and chosen what he wanted. The staff were just the best. We were served by a lovely lady named Grace. Anyone who says there was a “western feel” is crazy and silly. The pricing was pretty good. The wait between getting food was a bit long but it was quite busy with a few large families that night. The ladies that worked that night with Grace are the most amazing ladies ever. I had unfortunately lost a bear pendant and rushed back in shaken and in the middle of an anxiety attack and they all happily and calmly helped me look around where I was sitting. Eventually he was found outside (-.-) but I am so grateful for the ladies taking a few minutes to help me look. Great service, amazing food, the authenticity was spot on and I am definitely going back there soon!!!!!

Comment from Richard d. of Katsura Japanese Restaurant 10/05/2013    Hide »

Dear Jess G Thank you very much for your review of Katsura…    More »

Dear Jess G

Thank you very much for your review of Katsura Japanese Restaurant, we were delighted to read your comments about the fantastic service you received, I will be sure to pass this on to the team!

On behalf of the team thank you and we do look forward to having you dine with us again.

Kind Regards
Lauren

by Lucy G.
20th March 2013

I enjoyed some incredibly good sashimi here at Katsura this week. The quality and freshness of the kingfish, salmon and other sashimi fish was magnificent, and the wasabi was of such flavoursome sharpness, I just really loved it.

I came for the 2 course lunch offer for $38, and my only complaint would be that it was too filling, as it was a huge amount of food for lunch for me! I think next time, I’ll just get a sashimi dish, as that would be plenty for me. Also, from reading the ad I saw on here, it seemed that they gave me more food than what was listed in the offer?! As it came with a main of beef (which I normally prefer not to eat red meat, but I made a pretty good dent in it), and salmon and beautifully tasty veges.

The entrée also came with a yummy ‘jumbo’ prawn, tempura style, and two succulent fat pieces of chicken teriyaki.

Plus a beer.
And a miso soup.
Did I mention I was very full after my meal?!

The surroundings were very peaceful, and being in a fancy hotel, everything was spick & span as you’d expect.

Kimono-clad waitresses were warm and helpful.

It’s a top-notch Japanese restaurant, and I think the stand out aspect for me, was the very high quality sashimi.

Comment from Richard d. of Katsura Japanese Restaurant 10/05/2013    Hide »

Dear Lucy G, Thank you for your review of Katsura Japanese…    More »

Dear Lucy G,

Thank you for your review of Katsura Japanese Restaurant, located on level 1 at Rendezvous Grand Hotel Auckland.
Katsura provides an utterly authentic Japanese experience, and our traditionally trained Chefs’ take pride in sourcing the freshest, highest quality sashimi grade fish daily.
Sushi Master Chef Suzuki San has just introduced his new menu into the restaurant, and we hope to have you back soon to try some of the new dishes!

Best regards
Lauren

by Tony M.
12th March 2013

Quite average, not 100% authentic, has a western feel to the food. Price is a bit excessive for the quality of food provided unless you can eat more than santa clause.

Other than that, not bad if you are staying at the Rendezvous hotel, and or get a discount voucher for the restaurant

by Lydia
1st February 2013

Very terrible, we went for dinner buffet on a Thursday, got charged $75 per person. With only very few choices of bad quality food. The worse buffet I have ever had in New Zealand. It’s so ridiculous for $75 buffet. Honest suggestion: Stay away from this robber, don’t waste your money.

Comment from Richard d. of Katsura Japanese Restaurant 1/02/2013    Hide »

I am truly sorry you feel that way if only you mentioned some…    More »

I am truly sorry you feel that way if only you mentioned some thing while you were here I’m sure we could have sorted out the charges

We always strive to make the best of our buffet and try to replenish as much as we can as fast as we can but sometimes things is a bit harder to keep up with as you can imagine people have a lot of like our oysters and skampi

Please contact me directly so we can sort some thing out regarding these charges.

Regards
Richard De Beer
r.debeer@rendezvoushotels .com

by KSW
4th December 2012

Simply the best Japanese restaurant in Auckland.

Great quality of the food and friendly service from the staffs.

Price is a bit high but this would be perfect occasion, if you want try real Japanese dishes as well as Japanese styled service.

by Michelle
22nd December 2011

OMG!! This is the best Japanese restaurant you could ever get to in Auckland. The quality of foods that served in here is really seriously different to any other Japanese places in Auckland. Even if you go to Japan, you’d have to pay good $$ to taste stuffs like this. Buffets on Tuesday and Thursday dinner are both excellent. Despite the high price, it’s totally worth going. Friendly Japanese staff serving with kimono on. Great place for the special day!

Comment from Richard d. of Katsura Japanese Restaurant 28/09/2012    Hide »

Indulge in an all you can eat experience as you enjoy our…    More »

Indulge in an all you can eat experience as you enjoy our extensive seafood selection, served along with other Japanese delicacies.

$75.00 per adult.
$53.00 per child (5-12 years).
Available on Thursday between 6:00pm 8:00pm.
Bookings are essential, please call: +64 9 3663000

by Karen R.
1st September 2010

Very very disappointing. Hard to comment on service as we feel there was none! We were a group of 7 that ate there on a Sunday evening so they were not busy. From the start we felt that we weren’t welcome. The chef tried to be funny but came across as having a bad attitude and made us feel uneasy.
The food was ridiculously overpriced and the helpings were very meagre. We each had the miso and salad , both in very small bowls,and an assortment of meat and seafood.One of us ordered the beef and only found out later that this wasn’t even available, after the waiter had taken the order for it !? We also had the dessert which was fruit salad from a can ….I am serious! For $50 this was not acceptable. We all felt like we had been robbed.
We should have complained at the time but had the impression all would have fallen on deaf ears.

Comment from Richard d. of Katsura Japanese Restaurant 28/09/2012    Hide »

Dear valued guest, Since the date of your comment we have…    More »

Dear valued guest,
Since the date of your comment we have reviewed the Restaurant and concept so we decided to completely refurbish the restaurant and menus. We also recruited Top Japanese executive Chef Suzuki to handle our food preparations menus and operation please visit us again for an experience that will surely change your review rating you can contact me directly at r.debeer@rendezvoushotels.com

by sarah X.
18th June 2010

everything is lovely, food was good, but pricing!!! too expensive for 1 ppl $80

by a221
10th November 2009

The buffet is excellent and is very well-priced for the variety of shushi and sashimi available.

by Tino
8th April 2009

The decoration was not very attractive but the food and attention worth a visit.
So far the best Japanese food in Auckland.

Try special lunch menu now for $19.95

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