What a disaster this place is. Cramped and noisy to ruin any attempt at ambiance. Slow and inattentive service. Mediocre sushi (actually the best part of the experience) and probably good by Toronto standards, but there is better sushi in terms of cut and freshness nearby. To charge $4.50 for two pieces of that low grade fish is pretty outrageous. Being worse than other places nearby but more expensive would still get it two stars, here's where they lost the last one...
My friend ordered the beef teriyaki bento and the beef was charred so much it tasted and smelled only of charcoal and couldn't be chewed. She sent it back for a replacement and they came back with the same inedible thing. She had been there the week prior and ordered the same dish and she liked it then (that's why she dragged me here), but I guess the chef working today didn't know how to cook teriyaki. And after she complained the second time a waitress said they'd take $3.00 off for the beef part. Now her meal was $12, so that's 25% for wasting her time and letting her go hungry because half her meal was inedible. Now MY meal (softshell crab appetizer (bad) + 8 pc sushi + bottle of cold sake) came to $40, so you'd think they'd be a little kinder and gentler for the hope of repeat business even if they don't know what being sorry for bad food and service is about. Not here.
So here is the breakdown: inedible to mediocre food, cramped seating, bad ambiance, inattentive service, and highish prices. AVOID this place. If you want GOOD sushi or other Japanese foods then take the short walk up Beverly to Baldwin and eat at Etsu.