Yakiniku Daidomon @Beach Rd - not the place to go for buffet
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Originally posted by kachin_snowy:I just wanted to share our experience with all food lovers (especially to all Japanese BBQ buffet lovers) about this Japanese BBQ restaurant at Beach Road.
Tonight was the 2nd time we went to this restaurant because we find the quality of food to be reasonably good in our first visit.
This time round, we've decided to go for the BBQ buffet, at $58 per pax. Before we placed our order for the buffet, we saw rules written on the menu stating the buffet has a 2 hours time limit and any leftover will be charged. I felt the 2 hours time limit practice a little unusual but otherwise did not really take note of the leftover food rule, as I thought this is a standard practice with all buffets.
Shortly after we ordered our buffet, the waitress came and pasted a note next to our table. She has written clearly on the note the exact time we started the buffet. I reckon she wanted to remind us the 2 hours time limit.
We got started and signalled for the waitress to order Beef Loin, Pork Loin, Scallops, soups and a small serving of a bowl of garlic rice for our baby son.
It took us about 15 minutes to finish the meat and soup in our 1st order, and when the waitress came to refill our tea, she started to remind us not to waste food, and she mentioned any extra food left on the table will be charged accordingly. I was appalled as the only food left on our table was the bowl of garlic rice my wife was still feeding to our son.
When we placed our 2nd order for more meat and prawns, the waitress reiterated any extra food will be charged, and she suggested we should order smaller portions to avoid any waste of food. 20 minutes later, I asked the waitresses to clear our empty plates, and as my baby son could not finish the garlic rice, I asked them to clear his bowl as well. To my displeasure, they deliberately cleared everything on our table except for his half-empty bowl of garlic rice.
Moreover, I was very annoyed the waitresses took turns to "monitor" the food on our table when we were eating our meals, and I could sense their eyes were looking for any extra leftovers we might be trying to hide. 
With all these episodes, we could no longer eat our meals in peace and they have succeeded in making us think twice before ordering any food (without thinking if we can finish it). Both myself and my wife were clearly upset by their behavior. We finished whatever food was left on the table and decided to call for the bill. We finished our buffet under in 45 minutes.
When the waitress was waiting for me to sign the bill ($130 including service charge), she reitarted for the 4th time that we should not order too much food in the future to avoid any waste. For goodness sake, the only food we could not finish was the bowl of garlic rice for our son. That was the last straw for my wife and she gave the waitress a piece of her mind.
In my life, I never had such a bad experience with having a buffet. I felt the restaurant should treat its customers with more courtesy and respect. Tonight would be the last time we are going back to this restaurant.
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August 21, 2006
Greetings from Yakiniku Daidomon!
I would like to thank you for the visits you made to the restaurant and it was such a privilege for us to know your present standing on the service of Daidomon.
Firstly, I would like to apologize for the inconvenience and embarrassment our restaurant caused you. Any amount of excuse is not acceptable in terms of any discomfort a service sector could create to anyone irregardless of their status quo.
I have always believed that CUSTOMER IS KING. This has been practiced all over the world and will still be applied no matter what the circumstances are. Again, it is with the restaurantÂ’s deepest regret to give you the outmost ineptness experience we rendered. I would make sure that this will never transpire again in your next visit in the restaurant.
Daidomon has been the pioneer in the YAKINIKU Restaurants in Singapore. And with this reputation, we always make it a point to improve our service in terms of Dining Operations and Kitchen Operations. It is important that we give the best service in terms of Quality Of Food And Customer Service. This has been reiterated countless times and a regular training is always conducted for these goals. The menu is always monitored and customized to guestÂ’s needs and catered to their highest satisfaction. And these priorities will always be looked at.
Recently updated was our buffet menu which is not a typical laid out menu where customers can line up and take the food, ours is a different type and which I believe is the only self serving buffet to customers so the quality and control of the food is being screened and double checked before being served to the customers. And due to customers waiting in line we had come up with the standard of reminding the customers that buffet time is only up to 2 hours. This is mainly for the purpose of giving way to other customers, but of course this does not mean that the restaurant will send out the customers just so we can have another customer. This is a standard procedure that everyone follows. The buffet price is set at $58++ and this comes with a wide variety of selection, more than 50 choices and we would really want our customers to try everything in the menu and enjoy the food.
Service staff is always briefed about refilling the tea and changing the net and checking out the customerÂ’s needs and they have been informed of clearing the tables with empty plates so the customers can order more. If this was not the case, we are truly sorry for the uneasiness you felt when you had your buffet at the restaurant. I would exactly feel the same way of being pressured and watched over. This was uncalled for and deserves the sincerest apology our restaurant can offer.
This is indeed, a learning lesson for all of us. A good one and a reminder that the service sector (the food and beverage industry specifically) is here to satisfy the customerÂ’s needs and wants to the highest level. And with that, once again, in behalf of Daidomon, I am greatly sorry for the inconvenience we have caused you.
If I would be given a chance to meet you and recover the damage done, I would really appreciate it.
I am hoping for the best of results as I send out this letter of apology to you and to the others who felt inconvenienced by the restaurant. Rest assured that this matter is being looked out now and will not happen again.
Thank you very much and I would appreciate if a feedback will be given.
More power and Have a Good Day!
Sincerely yours,
The Management of Daidomon
YAKINIKU DAIDOMON
371 Beach Road, 01-07 Keypoint Building
Singapore 199597