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| - Updating my Yutaka review so that I can share a story...
Two girlfriends from Japan, who live in Kochi, were visiting Toronto, and after 2 weeks of the many different foods that Toronto had to offer, they were craving sushi.
Both were very skeptical that Toronto would have authentic sushi, but I told them to join me at Yutaka and let me know their thoughts after the meal.
The moment we got in the door and we're seated at the sushi bar, one of the girls said "it smells like Japan, like the ocean!" She said it made her feel homesick for the first time on this vacation. A good sign indeed. You see her father works at the fish market in Kochi, so the smell of fresh fish was like home for her.
After chatting with Sushi Chef Fukushige, they accepted his recommendations and while they enjoyed everything, and were very impressed by the vast selection, they were most intrigued and pleasantly surprised by the salmon sushi, which is not as common there as it is here.
After we left, I asked if they considered the meal at Yutaka authentic Japanese, and received two very appreciative and enthusiastic nods saying yes in Japanese.
Yutaka for yet another win.
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When I asked my mom where she wanted to go for dinner on Mother's Day, she chose Yutaka, so I knew right away the place had to be Japanese owned and operated = authentic.
It turns out that the owner and head sushi chef is someone she knew when he worked as a sushi chef at Cafe Michi.
The space is very open, stylish and dramatic with beautiful stone tiles on the wall behind the sushi and Robata bar that runs almost the entire back wall of the restaurant.
I have seen reviews complaining about the prices here, but if you know - and can taste - the difference between authentically prepared sushi and other Japanese cuisine vs the places that cut corners to save money, then you will appreciate the quality and attention to detail at Yutaka.
My mom let the chef create a custom Omakase dinner for her, which included a Yutaka Salad (an interesting blend of lettuces with raw broccoli, avocado, grape tomatoes, peppers, wakame, toasted pine nuts in a tasty soy, sesame, balsamic vinaigrette with shaved and fried leeks on top for an artistic presentation) as well as Tiger Shrimp from the Robata bar, and an exquisitely prepared and beautifully presented plate of sashimi.
Celebrating Mother's Day, I was in the mood for 2 of my childhood favourites Chawan mushi and Tempura, and Yutaka did not disappoint.
Chawan mushi is a steamed egg custard and Yutaka puts bite size pieces of chicken, shrimp, enoki and shiitake mushrooms and mitsuba (Japanese parsley) which gave it a slightly herbal taste.
The tempura was perfectly fried, not at all greasy with generous servings of shrimp, sweet potato, eggplant, red pepper, and squash.
Mom said it was her favourite Mother's Day meal ever,!
So if you are tired of standing in line for hours at Uncle Tetsu, waiting for Japanese Cheesecake,, just walk around the corner to Yutaka and have some delicious authentic Japanese food served by an all Japanese staff, a rarity in Toronto!
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