Hiro's Tokyo Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar

The food was great. We enjoyed the cook at the table experience and the sushi as well. Sauces were suburb. The owners are on site which is nice as they really appreciate the customers and obviously work hard to give you the best!

I came with 6 people to the 4th Street, St. Petersburg location. The check included a long "Ticket," itemizing each of the 28 items ordered, and a separate credit card receipt for signature. The credit card receipt stated:



Purchase: $310

Tip: ______

Total: ______



The service was horrible, so I decided to "only" tip $40. I wrote $40 in the Tip blank and $350 in the Total blank. The waiter did NOT say: "Sir, are you aware that gratuity is already added?"

The next morning, I look at the Ticket and discover that the food and drink was only $265.36, and that they had added $44.64 as an "Automatic Gratuity." Thus, the total gratuity I ended up UNINTENTIONALLY paying was $84.64!!!



Again, they made no attempt to notify me. This probably happens quite often, as it appears they intentionally set people up not to notice. By intentional, what I mean is they could have set their POS system to print a credit card receipt WITHOUT an option for tip. It is astounding how much money they make over the course of a busy night from people unintentionally double tipping. I also wonder what they do with all this money-- whether it all really gets passed on to the wait staff.‎



Sure, some people will say that I should have looked at my ticket carefully. But who looks at a 28-line item ticket line by line in front of 6 friends? Who looks at a 28-line item ticket carefully after having several bottles of saki? I go out to relax and have a good time, assuming I can trust people not to stick it to me when I let my guard down. I was wrong

My girl and I were driving around tired of the same ol', same ol' when we passed by Hiro's and decided to give it a try....

We were looking for something different and thats what we got. The chef came out and cooked the food right in front of us with his own lil' show to spice it up. We wished we had know about the place so we couldve brought a few friends. I mean, really, what beats hot food straight to your plate? I don't know but not Mcdonalds or stale Macaroni Grill. We came in very inquisitive and left very impressed. We left big tips and told everybody we've crossed.



I definitely recommend the place.