This is one of my favorite restaurants in Toronto. We were not very impressed by the noodle bar downstairs but my wife still wanted to try shoto out. I am so glad we did. For me, the food has to be good before I start worrying about stuff like service or ambiance. This place has all 3. The flavors are amazing. Food is satisfying. Service is spot on. But what I really love about this place is that it isn't pretentious (maybe partly because this is Toronto, not Manhattan). It is upscale dining with a comfortable atmosphere. Not stuffy at all. Plus you get to watch each course assembled in front of your eyes.