Hard Rock Cafe For Narita

[Mulboyne]

[floatr][/floatr]Hard Rock Cafe Japan will open in Narita from the middle of next month. With all the airline-themed goods the company is rolling out, you might be wondering which terminal it will be in. Well, when they say Narita, they mean Narita. "We will open it where 'Aeon Narita shopping center' the first floor. This is located in a place of about 10 minutes by car and bus from Narita Airport". Presumably part of their target market will be airline crew who mostly seem to get put up at Narita rather than Tokyo these days (one exception is Air France). Richard Branson opened the Narita Barge Inn which, along with the Flyers Bar and Jet Lag Club are their major hangouts. If you find yourself stranded there, you might want to see if they still lay on a minibus from the Barge Inn to The Truck. It used to actually be a truck but now is more of a portakabin. Very raucous and almost worth a special visit.

[AssKissinger]

The worst service I ever had in a big chain place was Hard Rock Nagoya.

[Samurai_Jerk]

The worst service I ever had in a big chain place was Hard Rock Nagoya.

Worse than big chain izakaya like Watami or Shirokiya? 'Cause they're pretty shit.

[Behan]

The worst experience I have ever had in a restaurant with restaurant staff was at an izakaya chain called Kita no Kazoku. Maybe the waitress was just really tired but she was mean, cranky young woman.
When I asked if we could move over to a bigger table to accomodate our growing group of drinkers she glared at me and told me that we had to carry over the food by ourselves. Of course I would have done that anyway without being ordered to.
When I was going home, I forgot my coat and went back to get it. I asked her nicely if she had seen it and she just gave me a nasty look and walked away.
None of the food we ordered at our end of the table made it down to us. They just dropped everything off at the other end of the table.
Waiters can be pretty rude back home but she was the worst.
Sorry for this unsolicited story. I just had to tell it to someone.

[Mulboyne]

Worse than big chain izakaya like Watami or Shirokiya? 'Cause they're pretty shit.

Perhaps my expectations aren't high when I go into them but Watami and that ilk have always been serviceable. Low quality food but reasonably prompt, courtesy of the microwave out back. I can't remember when I last went into the Hard Rock but there was a time when Western dining options and English menus were thin on the ground even in a district like Roppongi and it served a useful function then.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Perhaps my expectations aren't high when I go into them but Watami and that ilk have always been serviceable. Low quality food but reasonably prompt, courtesy of the microwave out back. I can't remember when I last went into the Hard Rock but there was a time when Western dining options and English menus were thin on the ground even in a district like Roppongi and it served a useful function then.

Interesting that you say that. My biggest beef is they're so damn slow. Fucking 15 minutes to get my beer sometimes. And it's not just me. Pretty much everyone I hang out with at those kinds of places have the same complaint. Personally, except for the little mom and pop places, I think restaurants in Japan give pretty shit service overall. It's very polite but slow, inattentive, and inflexible.

[Mulboyne]

Kita no Kazoku

I take it back. Now that you mention it, I remember a very average experience in one of their Shinjuku outlets. They seem to have an odd reputation in the industry. They are quite willing to close down underperforming outlets very quickly which may mean that staff don't build up any particular attachment to a place. They don't have as large a stable of brands as the other Tokyo chains run either. If you work for Watami, you could just as easily end up in one of their TGI Fridays. Oddly enough, the Guam TGIF is run by the Watami joint venture rather than the American company.

[kamome]

I went to the Kita no Kazoku in Kyobashi (near Ginza) several times and never had a problem. I always thought their food was a cut above Watami and the other larger chain izakaya, basically because of the Hokkaido theme employed in their offerings. I guess everyone has a different experience.

Behan, did something happen at your table that could have upset the waitress?

[Greji]

I went to the Kita no Kazoku in Kyobashi (near Ginza) several times and never had a problem. I always thought their food was a cut above Watami and the other larger chain izakaya, basically because of the Hokkaido theme employed in their offerings. I guess everyone has a different experience.

Behan, did something happen at your table that could have upset the waitress?

Shuten Doji used to be my favorite in Tokyo for the sake/shochu on the cheap. Unfortunately all of the chain outlets in Tokyo were owned by the same guy and he went belly up when the bubble burst.

It wasn't from the Shuten Doji outlets. They were doing quite well, but this clown had various real estate and other business investments that went bad all at once. Like just overnight, there wasn't an open Shuten Doji in Tokyo. The people were called in on a Friday night at my Toranomon favorite spot and told their shop and all of the Tokyo branches were all closed, thank you and saraba!

I still do go to one in Kansai, when I go to Osaka.

[Behan]

She seemed to be in a bad moment from the moment we got there. Maybe something happened earlier that we didn't see. I guess whatever it was, it wasn't caused by us. Unless some of our group had been their before.
I didn't take it too badly because I knew that I had done nothing wrong.

[Tommybar]

I stopped at a Denny's style restaunt in Sasebo last year with some friends. Friends asked for some 'koshyo' (胡椒 black pepper） but the waitress said they had none...But I ordered a small salad and it came with crushed black pepper on it! So I asked the waitress for some more of the black speckled stuff that was on my salad and she was very kind and brought some fresh crushed pepper...

[AssKissinger]

Shirokiya?

I always got decent service there and the prices are fair and it stays open late.

Fucking 15 minutes to get my beer sometimes.

Hard Rock was like two hours or more to get our entres, one beer and then never came back so I never got anymore, even standing up and demanding service didn't help, then the cunt was rude when we finally got our food, just absolute shit. Fuck their guitar decorations and shit.

[ichigo partygirl]

Hard Rock is overpriced and just doesnt have the same atmosphere In Japan as in other countries ive been to.
My fall-back place was always T.G.I Fridays in Minato mirai. The service was always excellent, never had to wait for a table, not comepletly over-run with drunk gaijins and the food was always spot on.
The one at Yokohama eki was always packed and extremly loud, and the one in Shibuya had the air-con up so high i had to wear a light jacket

[Greji]

Hard Rock is overpriced and just doesnt have the same atmosphere In Japan as in other countries ive been to.
My fall-back place was always T.G.I Fridays in Minato mirai. The service was always excellent, never had to wait for a table, not comepletly over-run with drunk gaijins and the food was always spot on.
The one at Yokohama eki was always packed and extremly loud, and the one in Shibuya had the air-con up so high i had to wear a light jacket

I didn't find the one sharing with Tony Roma's in Roppongi all that bad. It's not far from my office so several friends who use to play some ball would always like to go there after games and we wouldn't pick which place until we got up to the entrance. Never had a problem at either. Good and timely service. Maybe it's just local management!

Of course it should be mentioned that if AK has to wait longer than 11 seconds for a shot, it is excessive. So we have to factor that into the evaluations!

[GomiGirl]

God, I haven't been to a TGIF's in ages - the one in Shibuya was always dog slow with the food and the portion size was way more than this little girl could handle.. Was in Saipan recently and went to a Tony Romas and the plate of ribs was bigger than I am!! Yummy though. Fortunately, I was dining with my sweety who can eat a cow easily. Nothing went to waste.. (or waist)

But my preference is always the Mum and Dad Izakayas. Went to our local one again last night and it is always such a joy. They bring out whatever he bought at Tsukiji that day or whatever new dish they are experimenting with. We are really lucky that around our new place there are so many wonderful little places that are cheap and friendly with amazing food. Hang the big chains.. give me the out of the way small joints anytime.

[ichigo partygirl]

yeah i agree the locals are awesome - but for different reasons than the chain places. Our local was awesome cause it always gave us cheap drinks and didnt mind like 20 gaijin taking over the place without notice. they made us drinks off the menu etc.. I like the locals and the chains both equally- depends on the mood and the occasion

[akatsuka]

But my preference is always the Mum and Dad Izakayas. Went to our local one again last night and it is always such a joy. They bring out whatever he bought at Tsukiji that day or whatever new dish they are experimenting with. We are really lucky that around our new place there are so many wonderful little places that are cheap and friendly with amazing food. Hang the big chains.. give me the out of the way small joints anytime.

Gomi Girl - where are you based?

[GomiGirl]

Gomi Girl - where are you based?

Tokyo - nishi-shinjuku. Why???

[maninjapan]

The one at Yokohama eki was always full of dumbass american jocks and GI's

Corrected for you

[Greji]

Corrected for you

Are you trying to set up a straight line for Charles?

[IkemenTommy]

Just like everyone else, I must add that Hard Rock is overrated, expensive crap food. I was never thrilled over their mixed drinks and again they are very expensive. I personally love the Hooters atmosphere and their WINGS. Weren't they planning to have one in Roppongi by the end of the year?

[Blah Pete]

Only decent Hard Rock I went to regularly was in Singapore. They had good food discounts on Sunday because there was so much competition for tourist and ex-pat $$ in the area.
The place in Roppongi sucks. I've had lots of friends come to Tokyo and insist they have to go to Hard Rock. Before that I would take them to a local bar for a while before the Hard Rock. Usually within 15 minutes they want to go back to the local bar (or something sleezier).

TGIF is good in Korea and China if you are tired of the local food plus it is one of the few places in Asia that can make a half decent Margarita.

[maninjapan]

Are you trying to set up a straight line for Charles?

who?

[GomiGirl]

I personally love the Hooters atmosphere and their WINGS. Weren't they planning to have one in Roppongi by the end of the year?

Yes but finding J-staff that meet the "Hooters" physical requirements is a tad difficult.

[cstaylor]

Yes but finding J-staff that meet the "Hooters" physical requirements is a tad difficult.

The startup costs for a Hooters franchise are prohibitively expensive. The reason Hooters exists at all is America's attitude towards sex, an attitude that Japan doesn't share IMHO.

Plus what GG said.

[AssKissinger]

The reason Hooters exists at all is America's attitude towards sex, an attitude that Japan doesn't share IMHO

What's the difference?

[Mulboyne]

The startup costs for a Hooters franchise are prohibitively expensive.

They aren't too bad if you get it right. I know a bunch of FGs who applied for the Hooters Japan franchise but I don't know if they were the successful bidder. It was clear that Hooters thought Japan would be a valuable territory and wanted someone capable of building a stable business rather than having a flash-in-the-pan hit.

[Taro Toporific]

They aren't too bad if you get it right. I know a bunch of FGs who applied for the Hooters Japan franchise...

Ouch! Those foreign franchise requirements are tough.

<Insert Japanese Hooters girl photo> I was going to post a photo of a Japanese Hooters girl here. However, the official Hooters website has ONLY whitebread hooters.


Update:
http://www.goosehooterstour.com/nn_mariko/nn_marikohomepage.html
http://www.shanghaidiaries.com/mainart/archives/hootersshanghai.jpg

[cstaylor]

They aren't too bad if you get it right. I know a bunch of FGs who applied for the Hooters Japan franchise but I don't know if they were the successful bidder. It was clear that Hooters thought Japan would be a valuable territory and wanted someone capable of building a stable business rather than having a flash-in-the-pan hit.

Well, the quote I saw was closer to $15,000,000 for the complete package (Hooter's would assist with everything from training to business analysis).

[cstaylor]

What's the difference?

Simple: think you can walk off a train in New York City and smack into a zillion hostess bars (non-existant in white America), soaplands and other pink places? You can do that in every major city in Japan, so why would you go to ogle ladies in tight shirts at Hooters Japan when you could probably find some pink shop that has a weekly special on Hooters cosplay?

Plus, Japan already has a Hooters-like franchise: Anna Miller's.