Ordering, Service, and Our Platinum Package Experience

How the Touchscreen Ordering System Works

After we were seated, our server asked whether it was our first time visiting. When we said yes, he showed us how to use the touchscreen tablet and explained how to place our orders.

Your digital menu is automatically loaded according to the dining package you select. This makes ordering easier because you do not have to sort through meats and dishes from the other package levels.

Certain premium meats and specialty dishes had ordering limits. During our visit, we could select two items per person from each restricted section. Since there were three of us, we could order six items from each of those sections.

Drinks and the Self-Serve Area

Nonalcoholic drinks were included and could be ordered through the tablet. The choices included sodas, water, and milk tea. Alcoholic beverages were available separately, and I thought the prices were reasonable. There was also a good selection to choose from.

Our server asked whether we would be comfortable allowing him to recommend some items for us. My husband agreed, so while the server placed those orders, we walked to the self-serve area near the back of the restaurant and kitchen.

The self-serve area offered a surprisingly good variety of extras, including:

• Soft-serve ice cream
• Cheese tarts
• Mini Wagyu sliders
• A large selection of vegetables
• Different sauces and condiments

Why I Regretted Accepting the Recommendations

When we returned to our table with our drinks, we found a huge pile of meat dishes waiting for us. There appeared to be at least 10 plates, possibly more. This was the moment I regretted my husband agreeing to the server’s recommendations.

I understand that the server was trying to help first-time guests experience a variety of meats. However, I did not expect a recommendation to involve so many dishes being ordered at once.

Because the restaurant may charge guests for excessive food left behind, I immediately became concerned about whether we would be able to finish everything.

More importantly, I wanted to choose my own items. I had specifically come to try the premium dishes featured in the Instagram posts that originally convinced me to visit. Having so much food selected for us left me with less control over the experience and less room to order what I actually wanted.

Tableside Grilling Service

I started grilling the meat, and shortly afterward, our server returned and offered to help us cook it. I agreed.

I am not sure whether this tableside assistance is included with a particular package, offered to first-time guests, or simply provided when the restaurant is not busy, but it is worth noting.

Our server was friendly and asked how we preferred the meat to be cooked. We requested medium rare, and he cooked several plates for us.

How the Recommended Meats Tasted

After eating several plates, many of the thinly sliced meats began tasting very similar to one another. Some pieces were tender, while others were noticeably chewy.

That inconsistency made me question why so many meats had been ordered for us instead of allowing us to focus on a smaller number of premium cuts.

Because we did not personally select the recommended dishes, I also did not know exactly which cuts were being served or how they compared with the higher-tier meats included in the Platinum package.

To be clear, I cannot independently verify the grade or sourcing of the meat we received. Diners must rely on the restaurant to accurately identify and serve the cuts listed on the menu.

However, because some of the recommended meats did not taste especially distinctive or premium to me, the experience left me questioning whether we were receiving the full value of the most expensive package.

I also wondered whether bringing first-time guests a large number of standard selections early in the meal could make them too full to order as many of the expensive premium cuts they specifically paid to access. That is only my personal impression based on our experience, not something I can confirm.

The Premium Meats We Chose Ourselves

By the time we finished the items the server had selected, we were already very full. Still, I made sure we ordered the premium dishes I had actually come to try.

From the special-meat section, we ordered:

• Stone Axe Fullblood Wagyu Tongue: Very tender
• A5 Wagyu Short Rib: Tender
• A4 Wagyu Striploin, Thin Cut: Very tender

From the specialty-dish section, we ordered:

• A5 Wagyu Tartare: Tender and enjoyable
• Otoro Nigiri: The fish was overpowered by the ponzu or soy-based sauce
• Wagyu Toro, Uni, and Caviar Hand Roll: Very salty, with a slightly bitter taste from the uni

How It Compared With Wagyu in Japan

My husband and I have traveled to Japan at least five times, and we have eaten A5 Wagyu there.

While several of the premium cuts at Chubby Cattle were tender, the depth of flavor was not there for me. I expected a richer and more distinct beef flavor, especially from the premium selections.

This was not limited to the A5 Wagyu. Across many of the meats we tried, I found the flavor milder and less memorable than expected. Tenderness was also inconsistent because some pieces were tender while others were chewy.

Is the Seafood Worth Ordering?

The specialty-dish section included several seafood-focused items. In my opinion, these dishes were just okay and did not live up to the social-media hype.

Since the dining period is limited and it is easy to become full quickly, I would save more room for the meats rather than ordering too many of the seafood dishes.

How Quickly the Food Arrived

Our dishes generally arrived quickly after we placed an order. However, the restaurant was nearly empty during our visit. I could imagine service taking longer during a busy evening or weekend.

Checkout and an Uncomfortable Tipping Experience

When you are ready to leave, the tablet includes an option to request the check. Unfortunately, this part of the experience took longer than expected.

We waited more than 10 minutes while several servers were standing and talking within view of our table. I began wondering whether the checkout request had actually reached the staff.

On a busy day, the process may move faster because the restaurant needs to prepare the table for the next party, but that was not our experience.

We eventually flagged down our server and told him we were ready to pay. He returned with a payment tablet hanging around his neck.

I handed him my card, and after he processed it, he kept the tablet positioned against his chest instead of removing it and handing it to me.

The screen displayed tipping options of 15%, 20%, and 25%. Before I made a selection, the 20% option had already been selected.

The server acknowledged the awkwardness of the situation, but I still felt uncomfortable because I was not freely presented with the screen and allowed to make my own choice from the beginning.

I left the 20% tip selected and signed. However, I believe every guest should be able to privately choose whether to tip and what percentage to leave based on their own experience.

This was another point during the meal when I felt that some of my decision-making autonomy had been taken away.

Was the Platinum Package Worth It?

Overall, the restaurant had an impressive ambiance, the service was acceptable, and the food was good.

However, our total came to approximately $400 for three people, including the tip, and I did not feel the overall value matched what we paid.

The premium meats were generally good, but tenderness was inconsistent, and the flavor did not meet my expectations for the price.

The specialty seafood dishes were visually appealing but, for me, they were not worth the hype or the additional cost of choosing the highest dining tier.