rev:text
| - I've never been to Guu so I can't compare. I really liked this place for a few reasons.
I went here with some friends at around 10:30pm on a friday. It wasn't empty but there were no lines and we got a table very quickly.
I loved the decor. The samurai sword handles on their draught beers, the rice paddy bins lining their walls, the long communal tables, the bamboo and the big drum coupled with the gear worn by the sushi chef all added to a unique charm about the place.
We were here for the saki, and it didn't disappoint. Granted, at the LCBO the prices are half that at Don Don, the atmosphere was great for just having some appetizers and drinks with friends.
The food was good though we had mostly appetizers. The skewers were very good and the black croquettes had looked like carpet (to me) but tasted like clouds with a hint of crunchiness!
The menu was pretty good. I usually can't visualize food when reading the menu, so the pictures really helped out.
I have to comment on the staff and clientele. The staff were great to us. From seating to taking our orders, I thought they handled things well. And boy did they get in on the fun. They had a couple of times where they all cheered and took a shot or swig of beer with everyone. It felt like the oriental version of Cheers...where everyone knows your name....
The clientele can be interesting too. Having that drum there brings out all sorts of characters. While it was entertaining seeing people bang on the drum, if it had continued it would have been annoying. However, there were some good drummers so in this instance it was more entertaining.
My only complaint and one I do see in the reviews is that the food took time to come out. For appetizers it seemed unusually long, though I'd like to think they were plucking the asparagus from their rooftop garden and slaughtered a pig on the spot to make that bacon, before putting on the salt they mined from an underground salt cave....all resulting in the bacon wrapped salted asparagus we got. But maybe they are just slow.
I erred on the side of the popular consensus and took a star away for the slow service.
|