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| - I used to love Kinka/Guu for their food, their service and the atmosphere. But I have to admit that they no longer give me that WOW factor I used to have when I step into their restaurants. They are definitely slipping from where they were once at. And one of the 3 stars is given purely based on nostalgia.
The food is really just mediocre. The menu is very much the same from a few years back, with a few specials here and there. And do expect that at least two or three of those items will be sold out by the time you place your order any time after 8PM on a weekend. We ordered the beef salad, grilled cod fish, karaage, makarel pressed sushi, tuna tartar and the pork shoulder. Unfortunately, there really isn't a single outstanding dish that I could rave about, which is frustrating for a place I used to really enjoy eating at.
The service was fine, the staff was attentive for the most part. But I really didn't love the crazy screaming inside the restaurant. I understand it is a part of their culture, and it is a welcoming gesture for their guests. However, I don't think it is necessary to scream at their top of your lungs. Our ears were ringing by the time we ordered our food. It was so bad that we had to move outside to their patio for some peace and quiet. I get it that this is an izakaya and it is meant to be loud, but all I am trying to say is that it could be toned down just a tad bit. I do think some customers would appreciate not having to yell at the top of their lungs to converse with their party. But again, that's just my opinion.
The food scene in Toronto/GTA has flourished immensely in the past few years. There are so many great options and selections out there. And I don't think Guu/Kinka will be one of the restaurants I will be revisiting any time soon
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