rev:text
| - KONBAN WA?!!!
OGENKI DESU KA??!?!!
Raucous Japanese greetings will welcome (sometimes startle) newcomers to this new izakya restaurant from the Vancouver based chain so popular out West. Think tapas Japanese style.
Beautiful open space, brightly lit, lively large bar with several heavy wooden stools. Long wooden communal tables makes this a very open and modern feeling space. Love the stone facade wall. Hard to find tucked in the corner strip mall of McGill and Church but parking down along McGill is easy given the construction.
The menu isn't nearly as extensive as their franchises in Vancouver so you have to choose wisely. My notes on a few dishes...
Kabocha - Fried pumpkin croquette with a hard broiled egg center - interesting combination, not sure the pumpkin really works **
Agedashi tofu - Served in bite-sized cubes in a bowl - unexpected presentation, but worked well ***
Kakuni - Miso braised pork belly with a miso broth and hard boiled egg - Pork belly deliciously fat but similar to most Asian preparations **
Gindara - Grilled miso black cod - my favorite, awesome texture, cooked just to velvety ****
Gyu tongue - Grilled beef tongue served with a light wasabi - slightly cold and dry, not too exciting **
Karubi - Grilled short ribs - tender and flavourful, not the lean cut and tasty ***
They offer larger dishes of bibimbap or udon but I'm not sure this is the place I'd come for that.
Overall, an exciting addition to Japanese cuisine in Toronto. The service was a bit spotty (i.e. missed a dish) and authentically Japanese (i.e. speak slowly). Packed after 6:30PM so go early to avoid the wait. Don't expect a full meal, snack on a few plates, enjoy the sake and company.
ARIGATOO GOZAIMASU !?!!? .
---Japanese greetings translation not guaranteed
|