While I agree with my fellow yelpers that Take Sushi provides some great Sushi, I certainly don't think it's Toronto's best or 5 star worthy based on my experiences (no disrespect to my fellow Yelp reviewers).
Service was excellent both visits but the restaurant was nearly empty both times. In fairness, this could be due to the construction mess in front of the restaurant on Front street. The decor is somewhat dated and crowded - a little disappointing at this price level and location.
I tried two different appetizers: 1) Atlantic shrimp tempura, a daily special - this was really disappointing - nothing special about the shrimp, average Tempura and a fairly small portion. 2) My friend ordered the Dynamite roll - one of the worst I tried.
I'm willing to forget the appetizers, I was really here for the Sushi! I ordered the Sushi deluxe set for $35. You get 11 pieces of sushi and 6 rolls. A number of my favourite sushi restaurants are in the area and at the exact same price point - so my expectations are high.
- Although less important in the combo, the 6 rolls were nothing special - 3 basic California rolls and 3 tuna maki. They were fine but at this price point, I would expect something a little more unique (i.e. the spicy rolls in the deluxe set at Yuzu).
- The 11 pieces (or 10 of them anyway) were easily the standout of the evening. The fish was incredibly fresh with a nice variety of fish / textures (although the Ebi is a disappointment in a "deluxe" set). One of my selections was some kind of a raw crab roll that I really disliked. My first thought was that it wasn't fresh but given the high quality of the other pieces, maybe it's just not my thing.
I struggled with this rating - 3 or 4 star rating? If I step back and fairly compare vs. similarly priced deluxe sushi / sashimi sets at Yuzu or Jabistro (both in the area), I'm forced to go with 3 stars. Factoring in decor only makes the decision easier. Certainly not a contender to take the *best Toronto sushi* title from "Sushi Kaji".
BK