Japanese steakhouse closes after ‘seven patrons poisoned by drugs’

Nikko Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar announced its closure after several patrons were hospitalized (Pictures: Google/Facebook)

A Japanese steakhouse has closed it doors after seven customers were reportedly poisoned with drugs while dining there.

Nikko Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar shuttered earlier this month after several customers said they felt sick after eating there, leading to an investigation.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office started a probe into the restaurant in Pace, Florida, after the patrons were treated at hospitals.

Jordan Gray and her husband Brandon said they sat at a hibachi table with their friend Matthew Gilley and that they started having symptoms later that evening.

A Japanese hibachi and steakhouse was the center of an investigation surrounding seven people who were allegedly poisoned with methamphetamine after eating together at one of the restaurant’s hibachi tables (Picture: Nikko Japanese Steakhouse)

‘None of us slept. All of us had racing hearts. It was very scary,’ Jordan told the Pensacola News Journal.

County officials confirmed that the food tested positive for a narcotic, but did not specify which one. Patrons claimed it was meth, WALA reported.

Authorities said there was not enough evidence or information on the witnesses to determine if there were any intentional or unintentional actions taken. There were no criminal charges filed against the Japanese steakhouse.

The establishment reopened following the investigation, but soon announced on Facebook it’s decision to close permanently.

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The Japanese steakhouse announced its decision to close on Facebook (Picture: Google)

‘After more than ten years of serving the Pace community, we have decided to close Nikko Japanese Steakhouse,’ stated the restaurant.

‘On June 10th, we heard, just like many of you did, of people being injured after eating at our restaurant. From the moment the story broke, we cooperated with authorities and all licensing agencies.’

The restaurant wrote that the sheriff’s office found ‘nothing linking the restaurant to the accusations’ and that they re-opened ‘after a clear survey by the health department’.

‘We are so thankful to our regulars who came back to support us, unfortunately it just wasn’t enough to keep the doors open,’ stated the restaurant.

Husband and wife Brandon (left) and Jordan Gray (right) said they felt their hearts racing after eating at the hibachi table (Picture: Facebook)

‘Since then, we have been brutally harassed, daily, by various media outlets, who have slandered and defamed every aspect of our business. We have been investigated, searched, and questioned while fully cooperating at all times. That’s all we could do.’

The restaurant claimed that members of the media were calling and harassing employees at home.

‘Today, a family owned and operated business is closed, 20 employees are out of work, all because of the power of social media,’ wrote the restaurant.

‘We are heartbroken, but were unable to sustain the cost to stay open, when it seemed that every day, a local news outlet wanted to find something else to report on.’

The restaurant thanked patrons for their support including through the coronavirus pandemic.

‘Please, respect our privacy as we try to recover and figure out what our future holds,’ the restaurant concluded. ‘We will fondly remember our times together.’

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