Japanese Food Lovers

[chrispalen]

Any Japanese food lovers here? I was taken to KI in BCE Place, 181 Bay Street recently and I went back there twice this week. Love the atmosphere, the food and the service.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051222.rmfood1223/BNStory/specialROBmagazine

http://www.torontolife.com/guide/restaurants/japanese/ki/review/

http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/ki

http://www.dine.to/kirestaurant


CP

 

[Kyra.Graves]

Last 3 times I went there they messed up my reservation or order - and it was straight off the menu, not a special order. Twice this resulted in what should of been a 1hr business lunch taking over 1.75 hrs.

It is a great spot for after work drinks but I really think they need better servers to handle the volume they are pushing through.
Normally I agree with your taste CP but for food Ki is on my black list, for cocktails... well you still have to wait forever to get your order but I have two hands and have learned to plan ahead when it comes to buying rounds. ;-)

 

[MuffinMuncher]

Ki is over-rated, in my opinion. The food is good, but not at those prices, and the service is average at best. I've been to a couple other significantly better and less pretentious Japanese restaurants in the city (one on King, although the name escapes me).

Would love to find a low-key sushi place that has a nice bar atmosphere for after work or early evening.

 

[Howdat]

Got to love their menu - designed to be complicated so the server "designs" something for you.

Over priced given the quality. Drinks after work - great place to unwind.

 

[lamwi]

It is way over priced and the food is only average.
The is a small Japanese Restaurant but I think operate by Korean on McNicoll and Victoria Park is much better.

Got to love their menu - designed to be complicated so the server "designs" something for you.

Over priced given the quality. Drinks after work - great place to unwind.

 

[goodtime]

The is a small Japanese Restaurant but I think operate by Korean on McNicoll and Victoria Park is much better.

They've been there for ages. On McNicoll, E of Vic Park.

Heard good things about try Aoyama @ Vic Park, S of Van Horne, anyone tried?

 

[goodtime]

I've been to a couple other significantly better and less pretentious Japanese restaurants in the city (one on King, although the name escapes me).

Would love to find a low-key sushi place that has a nice bar atmosphere for after work or early evening.

Hiro on King?

For Japanese style Sake bar, Ema Tei frequent by J Salarymen.

 

[flyonthewall]

Ive never had the food but they have really nice bathrooms

 

[Gyaos]

Japan Airlines in First Class has the nicest bathroom so far.

 

[chrispalen]

Last 3 times I went there they messed up my reservation or order - and it was straight off the menu, not a special order. Twice this resulted in what should of been a 1hr business lunch taking over 1.75 hrs.

It is a great spot for after work drinks but I really think they need better servers to handle the volume they are pushing through.
Normally I agree with your taste CP but for food Ki is on my black list, for cocktails... well you still have to wait forever to get your order but I have two hands and have learned to plan ahead when it comes to buying rounds. ;-)

I have been there 3 times, the most recent 2 were last week. I was provided with crisp, polite and good service, seated quickly, shown the menu and asked for my drink and food orders promptly, hot towel handed to me right away, food and drinks were served without delays.
I like the freshness of their food.

Price is not outrageous for that prime business location, especially for people who wine and dine their business contacts on expense accounts.
Price usually doesn't matter, convenience and decor is.

Repeat: Yes
Service: Can be YMMV, just like any service provider and if not happy with the service, ask for the manager.

CP

 

[Kyra.Graves]

Would love to find a low-key sushi place that has a nice bar atmosphere for after work or early evening.

For atmosphere I prefer Blowfish to Ki but it's menu is far from low key, it's comparable to Ki in price so perhaps not what you're looking for.
http://www.blowfishrestaurant.com/

Food wise I've been a fan of Toshi sushi for quite some time, it's just down the street from Blowfish on King east of Bathurst.

For overall Japanese food experience I like [url="http://www.sushikaji.com/]Sushi Kaji [/url]but it's a bit further west than I like to go.

Neither Toshi or Kaji are someplace I'd go for afterwork cocktails but with an abundance of bars downtown I often go to one place for food and another for cocktails.

I haven't been to Maro for food but have heard it's exceptional, and on a Friday or Saturday night it's a worthwhile stop.
http://www.martiniboys.com/Toronto/Maro-review.html

 

[Herodotus]

One word describes Ki's food: Overrated. As for the place itself and in particular, the staffs' attitude: Pretentious.

 

[james t kirk]

Ki is owned by the guy(s) who own the Keg and Hy's

I love Blowfish, though it can be a little pretentious as well. And never go to Blowfish late as they fire up the music to deafening levels and it becomes impossible to have a conversation.

Sushi Kaji is hands down the best Sushi in Toronto, however, it will set you back 250 to 300 for 2 people.

 

[A.J. Raven]

Not terriblly "comfortable" for lounging, but pleasant atmosphere, yummy food @ good prices is Sigi's on the south west corner of Dundas & Elizabeth. Great service! Very friendly.

 

[Herodotus]

Sushi Kaji is hands down the best Sushi in Toronto, however, it will set you back 250 to 300 for 2 people.

I love Sushi Kaji, but it isn't the best sushi, per se. Their menus are varied but set (tasting-type) with various cooked items, sushi and sashimi, and you can't order sushi a la carte unless you REALLY know the staff, or in particular, the owner.

Hiro Sushi on King has, in my opinion, the best sushi (a la carte) in Toronto. The service has become progressively worse and a lot of the non-sushi items are average at best. But for sushi and sashimi alone, I highly recommend Hiro. (Interesting note: I've seen Ichiro there a couple of times - he thinks it's one of the better North American sushi places outside of New York and the West Coast.)

I love Blowfish, though it can be a little pretentious as well.

I agree, but I like Blowfish's pretentious crowd more than Ki's pretentious crowd, if that makes sense...

 

[chrispalen]

Blowfish and Sushi Kanji sound delicious. I will go try Blowfish next week.
Any restaurant that can put out a website like that with cool music, I have to go try them out. LOL. Besides, After sushi dinner at Blowfish, one can leisurely go over to a certain convenient financial district location for some Select dessert. Can't beat that for convenience. What more can a man ask for after a good day at work. Hmmmm, will it be Ella or Veronica this time??

CP

 

[chrispalen]

Nobu in NYC

Has anyone tried Nobu in NYC. I find it overrated. Nothing spectacular.

http://www.noburestaurants.com/newyork/index.html#112

CP

 

[james t kirk]

If you're going to Blowfish, be sure to start with the Ebi Shooter.

Makes going there totally worth while.

 

[james t kirk]

I love Sushi Kaji, but it isn't the best sushi, per se. Their menus are varied but set (tasting-type) with various cooked items, sushi and sashimi, and you can't order sushi a la carte unless you REALLY know the staff, or in particular, the owner.

Hiro Sushi on King has, in my opinion, the best sushi (a la carte) in Toronto. The service has become progressively worse and a lot of the non-sushi items are average at best. But for sushi and sashimi alone, I highly recommend Hiro. (Interesting note: I've seen Ichiro there a couple of times - he thinks it's one of the better North American sushi places outside of New York and the West Coast.)


I agree, but I like Blowfish's pretentious crowd more than Ki's pretentious crowd, if that makes sense...

Yes, I know what you mean about Blowfish's crowd differing from the Ki crowd and I would agree with you that Blowfish's crowd is easier to take. I think that the people who work at Blowfish are the pretentious ones actually. I swear they seat you by how good looking you are as opposed to when you made your reservation.

I agree, if you're not into the tasting menu, then don't go to Kaji. With the demise of Susur, I wonder if Kaji will stick to its tasting menu. Still, for me, Kaji's dinner experience is second to none.

I've been to Hiro, and I agree, it is excellent Sushi and you can order ala cart.

 

[Esco!]

I been to Kobe restaurant in Vancouver, their food is absolutely stupendous:

http://www.koberestaurant.com/