Exclusive Sydney restaurant lashes out at “inconsiderate” customers.
July 5, 2012
A Japanese restaurant called “Wafu” is the latest eatery to hit the wall in a string of restaurant businesses that have gone under during, and following, the GFC.
Wafu has been hailed as Sydney’s “most exclusive restaurant.”
However in order to eat there you must first apply to become a “member” and then attend an “orientation” seminar.
In announcing the closure of the business, chef Yukako lashed out at what she considered Sydney’s most “wasteful” and “inconsiderate” diners.
Despite the hefty price tag, Ichikawa’s restaurant has an extraordinary set of rules, including the expectation that customers should eat everything on their plate and bring their own containers for leftovers and takeaway orders.In an announcement posted online, Ichikawa said Wafu would close in the coming months partly because diners were not willing to abide by her policies.
“First, many potential customers, and even some members, have entered Wafu without doggie containers,” she wrote on the Wafu website.
“I could not accept such inconsiderate people. The refusal of this most simple, basic request shows that Wafu’s ways are not respected. Intolerable.
“Further, I found it distressing when, after eating, with obvious self-satisfaction, people said, ‘SO FULL!’.
“Perhaps this was meant as a compliment, but to me it meant that the utterer had deliberately damaged their body by wasting food through over-eating.”
“It meant also that the utterer did not understand Wafu’s ways, and had not bothered to make the effort or take time to find out what these are.”
“Wafu is viable, as a business, if I continue to accept inconsiderate, greedy people.”
“But I couldn’t do it.”
“Wafu has always been, and will remain, more to me than simply just another business.”
Ichikawa also wrote that the “ongoing global economic crises” played a part in her decision, as well as “the disheartening effect of seeing people walking whilst cramming fast-food in jaws that cannot even chew.”
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theguttertrash.com 
Good stuff. Personally I think there should be more of this style of “customer service.”
Perhaps the experience could be further enhanced if she employed Qantas crew as waiting staff.
I was just reading this in the SMH myself.
I’ve never heard of this joint.
Then again if I’m in Surry Hills I prefer a good Lebanese meal or perhaps drop into Luke Ngyuen’s Red Lantern
YUM !
You’re not a fan of teh Balkan Grill… JAWS..?
Not been there for many years (20?). That’s more Darlo/Paddington and too bloody hard to find a park.
Members and orientation, that’s a great idea. Keep out the bogans.
I’m quite tired of restaurants that accept the patronage of people without qualification – other than they’re willing to pay for a meal. Money and a willingness to spend it is no guarantee that the eater is anything like “us”.
Making your customers conform to your personal whims and requirements is a business innovation whose time may have arrived.
I dont know what its like in Melbourne but there are stacks of high end high/over priced restaurants shutting up shop in Sydney at the moment.
I must say as a frequenter of Dan Murphys it does annoy one when you see a bottle of NZ Sav Blanc in an eatery priced at $55 when you saw it at DMs for $14 a few days earlier
following on from you’re saying JAWS…
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/gulp–diners-discover-twice-the-price-isnt-twice-as-good-20120704-21hiy.html
I think it is a marvellous idea to reset some standards, and beyond the hospitality industry. Other possible innovations-
• “I’m sorry Sir, you cannot use this taxi until you have had a shave.”
• “I realise you and your family are desperately seeking asylum here, but we simply have sufficient people with brown skin at present… although…can you sing?”
• “This is a government funded school, which means that religion is compulsory. If you wish to attend a secular school, you’ll have to pay fees at one of the private schools.”
• “We only sell good quality red wine to people who appreciate it, which obviously excludes females.”
Yes reb
People are really minding their pennies at the moment. Even the corporates
It has hit everyone in my town…accommodation, restaurants and pubs are in recession.
It must be the fkn tax?
“I’m quite tired of restaurants that accept the patronage of people without qualification – other than they’re willing to pay for a meal. Money and a willingness to spend it is no guarantee that the eater is anything like “us”.”
This is very true.
I like the idea of “the compulsary orientation course” that the Japanese place had.
I imagine it would be along the lines of:
“Allow me to introduce you to a pair of chopsticks. If you don’t know how to use them, you don’t belong here. Get out.”
“pubs are in recession.”
I’m sorry, but that’s just unheard of.
The punters are hard up, or imagine they soon will be.
This is the recession we had to have.
“pubs are in recession.”
Since Woolworths seem to fuckin’ well own most of them plus bottleshops these days I’ll steer clear of their shares.
I still cannot believe the ACCC and their decision the other day
Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaark
I thought the legal fraternity owned all the pubs in NSW?
We should have rules here too … this laissez faire approach allows anyone to say anything … velly inconsidelate … shaky, shaky head …
‘this laissez faire approach allows anyone to say anything … ‘
🙂
All I can say is ‘Ah so desu ka’!
The punters are hard up, or imagine they soon will be.
This is the recession we had to have.
Nah, the ‘working families’ are too busy watching masterchef and the block, they all think they are gourmet chefs these days, so are happy to stay home and ‘create’ their masterpieces as they plan their next reno.
Wafu is not a “pricey” ryoten. It is very inexpensive, and so exclusive that only common, not vulgar, people are welcomed. Wafu makes a universal appeal to share our commonwealth equally and give thanks.