Daruma South Sarasota - Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Lounge - Japanese restaurant in Sarasota - 4910 S Tamiami Trail, USA

Darumas in Sarasota is an absolute gem that exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with warm hospitality and a cozy ambiance that immediately made me feel at home. The traditional Japanese decor and elegant setting set the perfect tone for an authentic dining experience. The restaurant’s attention to detail and cleanliness were remarkable, creating a pleasant and inviting atmosphere. Now, let’s talk about the food. Wow! The menu at Darumas offers a delightful array of Japanese dishes, each crafted with precision and bursting with flavor. Their sushi selection was a standout, featuring fresh and beautifully presented rolls that were a joy to savor. The melt-in-your-mouth sashimi was equally impressive, showcasing the restaurant’s commitment to using high-quality ingredients. I was also delighted by their teppanyaki experience. The skilled chefs put on an entertaining show while preparing the dishes right in front of us. The flavors of the teppanyaki dishes were divine, and the generous portions left us more than satisfied. The service was top-notch throughout the evening. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and happy to provide recommendations based on our preferences. The attention to customer satisfaction was evident in every aspect of our dining experience. The manager came by to check on us, ensuring that everything met our expectations. Darumas is an excellent choice for a special occasion or a memorable night out. The combination of delicious food, exceptional service, and a charming ambiance make it a must-visit destination for anyone looking to indulge in the finest Japanese cuisine in Sarasota. Overall, my visit to Darumas was an absolute delight, and I can’t wait to return for another exceptional dining experience.

Probably some of the best food I’ve ever had. Our teppanyaki chef was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and we had tons of fun. All the food was delicious. I ordered steak, which was melt-in-your mouth to die for. We waited about 20 minutes for a group of 5, which wasn’t bad at all. Clean, with a good atmosphere. One of our party members was gluten-free, and while she couldn’t eat the food made in front of us, she was still brought delicious alternatives.

I 100% loved their hibachi when I went there 2 years ago, but besides that have had many issues with ordering pick up from the DaRuMa Landings location, I’ve ordered twice and have always received the wrong meal. The first time it happened they replaced our food, but we had to wait over 45 minutes to have it fixed and the second time they wouldn’t give us a refund when brought back. Despite this we decided to go for an anniversary dinner and assumed it would be better in person. We made a reservation for 6:30 and called back multiple times to check if we would still be able to receive hibachi when not attending the hibachi tables. They confirmed that we could twice. When we arrived they said our table wouldn’t be ready for 25 minutes and that we could wait. After sometime someone came and got us. After sitting down we were informed that in no way we would be able to get hibachi. We got up and left. Will never visit the DaRuMa’s landing location or most likely any location again. They’re management has no clue what they are talking about.

We were looking forward to a Mother’s Day dinner here. The place was hopping. Seated immediately. I ordered a Gibson and my wife a Grey Goose martini. The bartender came and asked me what kind of drink I wanted since the server could not pronounce Tanqueray gin. The Gibson had a partial pickled onion and was not that great. My sushi was good. My wife's shrimp udon not so good and it took far to long to arrive. I was almost finished with my dinner by the time it came. Miso soup was bitter and very salty. The highlight of the evening was Regis, the piano player who we chatted with was great and took requests for show tunes. Not a great experience overall but has potential.

I’ve been going to this place since it was only on fruitville, and long before that. At least 12 years, not a single complaint. Last night however was an experience to say the least. An old short troll looking woman with black wavy hair(and a disgusting inflection) hobbled over to my table. I don’t even care to describe in extreme detail(because I made what she did very clear to the manager) but all I can say is anyone who has been in the presence of a disgusting troll waiter knows what I’m taking about with respect to attitude. The manager was extremely helpful, telling me “he didn’t want her making me uncomfortable”. I assured him I had no problem with her coming back over(because I was curious how her attitude would change). Surprise surprise she came back like a skipping fairy. Even took my families picture after the meal concluded. So to sum it up, you’re dharma’s. Your staff is amazing the atmosphere is tops, food is incredible. No complaints. Just fire this troll moron. Please

We were very disappointed. Our chef seemed very inexperienced - she tossed a shrimp tail and hit my hubby 2x and when she served my vegetables she was goofing around and dropped onions on my lap. The food was kind of bland and some of my Filet was undercooked (I like medium rare, but this was raw). The shrimp appetizer was definitely over cooked. The clear soup was meh. The salad had too much dressing. We won’t return.

We have been to the DaRuMa’s many times but this was our first time at The Landings. We went for a very special birthday. I had spoken to 3 different people to explain this was a milestone birthday celebration and we would like them to make it special. I paid for the birthday package which I was told included a chocolate lava cake, a special gift and they would come out and sing. Only 1 person came out with the cake and half heartedly sang happy birthday and the “special” gift was a paper chefs hat. My husband requested a chef that would put on a nice show. We got the absolute worst chef that we have ever had!! No personality at all! In fact, the only time he spoke was to ask how we wanted the meat and tuna cooked. It was like they purposely did the opposite of what we asked for. The food was good. For the 4 of us our bill was well over $200 before tip. This was very disappointing and we will not go back.

Went here for dinner. Great reception by the host and hostess. The restaurant is pretty clean. All the staff were friendly and helpful. Great ambience. We ordered four shushing rolls. They were prepared very well and they were delicious. Very reasonable priced too. Highly recommend this place for good sushi. We’ll try out the Teppan next time.