Renga-Tei
| Address: | 3956 Touhy Ave, Lincolnwood, IL 60712, USA |
| Phone: | +1 847-675-5177 |
| Rating: | 4.5 |
| Working: | 11:30AM–2PM Closed 11:30AM–2PM 11:30AM–2PM 11:30AM–2PM 5–10PM 5–10PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 11
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A Private User
Kamikaze service! Stay away! I searched online for a nice sushi place in the Lincolnwood area, so that I could celebrate my birthday with a close friend that works in that area. After reading a few reviews on Yelp I picked up this place. The food was 5 stars; the sushi was truly among the best Ive ever had and so were our main course selections. I ordered a small Chirachi, one of my favorite Japanese meals, and it was not only delicious but also extravagantly presented. At this point you may wonder..."what went wrong with this guys dining experience??". Well, it was the service. All the tables were full, so I have to be fair with the waitresses, but the 2 that handled our service were not only nervous and impatient; they were also rude. I had not seen my friend for months, and she was excited to talk about her new job and her life in general, but as soon as we finished eating we were handed our check, and then we asked for some tea and it took about 45 minutes for them to serve it, and a few complaints from our end of course. The receptionist came with a samurai attitude (or should I say kamikaze?) explaining in a very broken English that there was a waiting line so we should leave. Politely, we ignored her comment and continued to enjoy our conversation with my guest friend. We had fun, but at that point we did not get any further service, not even a "thank you for coming" as we finally left the place. If you are looking for a place to sit down and talk without a deadline, this is not the right place for you, specially not on a Friday evening. The food is amazing, arguably the best Japanese food Ive ever had, but in my experience it was a fast food, not very different from having gone to the Long John Silvers just across the street.
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A Private User
A friend of mine recommended the place saying it was good food. So I went with a few friends today and she was right. The food is delicious, but the service killed it for me. It was horrible. The old lady kept walking away while I was trying make the orders for the table. I asked if the drinks were free refill as well and she just kept saying yes. When I was trying to complete my orders, she kept interrupting me. When we were done eating, I asked for a refill, she gave an attitude saying the dessert was on its way and kept mumbling while walking away. I was getting dissatisfied with the service. She was taking our plates which we didnt even finish yet. As we got the receipt, she charged us for the drinks that were suppose to be refillable. I asked why and she got mad and assumed that I wouldnt pay for the food. She even had the nerve to ask for the tip when we were still finishing our desserts. If it wasnt for this rude waitress, I would give this restaurant 5 stars. I would not want to go back here if this is how my friends and me would get treated. I gotten better service at restaurants that are not that expensive like this place.
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blueskies4tina
I got the something-chirashi-special. The description made it sound like it had 5 pcs of fish and came with miso soup, salad, and jello. ($24.95) It came with all that and more. (See the pic.) It also came in this funny tiered box Id never seen before. Fresh sashimi and fun pickled veggies. The jello came in a tiny square bowl with a tiny spoon. Ive never seen anything like it. They have gluten free tamari, which made me very happy. My husband had sukiyaki and my daughter had the California roll and tamago. Both very good. A small note: the server was limited-English so you may be a bit surprised at what youve ordered. Haha. We ordered mango ice cream and ended up with mango mochi. No issues. We all left completely satisfied. Recommended!
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Betsy Van Die
This is my parents favorite restaurant and I have to say, it never disappoints. We have eaten here probably no less than half a dozen times with them. If you are looking for delectable Japanese fare, you will love this place. If you are looking for friendly service or a warm, feel-good ambiance, look elsewhere. The place is always packed, the tables are close together, there are sometimes families with crying babies, but the food is wonderful. The service is competent, but abrupt - I dont think the waitstaff can linger and chat since people are always waiting for tables. I usually have the Chicken or Salmon Teriyaka, but this time I ordered a Bento Box. Now I know why this is my sisters go-to-dish - fantastic variety and everything was great!
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A Private User
As you can see from the postings here the food at Renga tei is great. I agree. I just wanted to post in case anyone close to the owners is reading -- the older Japanese lady who acts as hostess and seats people is abominable. We thought that she might be having a bad day the first two visits, but when we got that exasperated sigh when calling for reservations this time ("Yes, I suppose you could come in and wait for a table if you like.") we opted to go elsewhere (Chicago Kalbi -- excellent, BTW). It is a real shame that Renga tei -- otherwise a great restaurant -- has this woman ruining the experience for diners.
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A Private User
The service is fine. The service is great. Service at real, independent, family-owned Japanese restaurants is a little different than the Cracker Barrel. Enjoy the difference, if youre friendly and not snappish or prone to uttering racial stereotypes (such as "kamikaze"), you will be treated well. The FOOD IS EXCELLENT, and has earned Renga-Teis top rating in the Michelin guide. The deluxe spicy tuna roll is great (as is all the sushi), and the rotating kitchen selections are creative and delicious.
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David Shih
The best, most authentic Japanese restaurant Ive found in ages. Its hard to see from the road because its non-descript but its worth the visit. Inside its warm and the staff is friendly. The food is amazing and I loved the katsudon. I great native Japanese choose this as their go to place and I believe it. Portions are generous and prices are in line with what youd expect. The sushi was good but Id try the cooked entrees as thats what theyre known for. Go. Dine. Enjoy. You wont be disappointed!
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Sean Flores
Heard the food was great but I didnt get to enjoy it. Waited for 15 minutes to be seated, only to have a party behind me served first. They didnt have a reservation, as they asked among themselves"did we have a reservation?" When I tried to protest I was waved off, "too busy," the waitress said over me, despite open tables and seats at the sushi bar. I havent ever been so disrespected at restaurant before.
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A Private User
Had the shrimp & vegetable tempura box lunch. Great service (The elder lady was not cranky as Adam states). The food was quick. Great presentation and great value. Come early for lunch - it is crowded. plan time to find a parking spot. Parking is limited. Will try dinner sometime.
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Michael Dono
Amazing food quality and very authentic. Best sushi in the area by far, and as good as many in Chicago without the extra cost. Ive been serval times and never disappointed. I recommend a reservation on the weekend, its typically full.
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Dori Ganan
Renga Tei is my favorite Japanese Restaurant. They always have specials on the menu. Stop in for a fantastic bento box for lunch. Everything on the menu is top notch. Very authentic Japanese food. My favorite maki roll is ume shiso !
