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| - I've never used the phrase "hidden gem" before, but it describes Jardin Iwaki to a tee. Located in a somewhat farflung part of NDG along Sherbrooke, this could very well be the most authentic- and tasty- Japanese restaurant in Montreal. The chef hails from Japan, and has lived in Montreal (with sojourns back to Japan) for some three decades. He clearly not only has been honing his culinary skills for decades, but has a natural talent for making delicious and artistically inspired cuisine.
The food here at least rivals, and in many cases exceeds, that of the super popular Kazu on St Catherine. More attention is put in to artistic detail, and often the flavors are more nuanced. The chef prepares a 7 course tasting for each person. One chooses either the 'regular' or 'fish' tasting- both have fish dishes; the latter is comprised almost entirely of them.
The pace is leisurely and relaxed. Our group of three was there for about 2 hours and 20 minutes, and would have lingered longer if we didn't have to catch a film afterwards. The price is very reasonable- maybe half of what one would pay at Kazu.
We were there on a Sunday night, and the only customers. This was astounding, considering the quality of the food. If this place were in Manhattan or Brooklyn, people would have caught on quickly and there would be lines out the door day and night. On one hand, it's great that this place is still undiscovered, and one can get in quickly. On the other, come on people... this chef, and this food, deserves the patronage its quality commands.
Highly, highly recommended! I hope this restaurant flourishes.
PS - Almost forgot. The restaurant is gluten-free friendly. One of my friends has a (true) gluten allergy, I let the chef know when I made reservations, and he was very amenable about making her tasting menu without gluten. He did so very thoughtfully, such that there were few noticeable substitutions, and the dishes were equally delicious.
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