We can all agree that aesthetic is an important part of meals. When a dish makes me drool just by looking at, that’s a plus. At least until the first bite. In today’s age of Instagram visual appeal has become an even more important part of marketing and how restaurants gain popularity. However, taste is still key and should be the primary focus. No matter how pretty a restaurant’s interior is, how many succulents they house or how many edible flowers they use to plate, if the food tastes only ok, I just don’t see longevity. Aburi Room had a lot of promise. High quality torched sushi at a mid-range price and their aesthetic was on point (especially the takeout option). After eating lunch there, I’m not super surprised they’re already re-branding.

Atmosphere: Located in the first floor of a condo in North York, I was excited to venture back to our old neighbourhood for lunch at Aburi Room. This was one of our first outings with Alivia and I scoured pictures online to make sure there was plenty of room to fit a stroller next to our table. We made a reservation for 11:30am, right when doors opened and were the first diners seated. Tables were nicely spaced out with a few for large groups and comfy armchairs. Decor was modern with lots of greenery, pendant lights with an exposed industrial ceiling. Lunch was relaxed and busy but not to capacity.

Service: Our server was friendly and patient. Being our first time out in awhile, we were busy catching up with friends and took some time to decide on our order. The pace of the meal was comfortable and when our Smoked Chirashi Tart arrived, she was happy to wait for Stephen to get his camera and pose for our shots. Our reservation was made with a baby and our table had been set up with a high chair, an added touch that I now truly appreciate.

Food: After my lengthy intro I have to start with, the meal was good. Not amazing, but pleasant. My biggest challenge with the Omakase at Aburi Room was that for the price, I’d much rather spend either a bit more for amazing quality and fewer pieces (lunch at JaBistro $28 for 7 pieces) or much less for quantity ($15 Chirashi from Ichiban on Spring Garden). The menu relied heavily on the trend of aburi style sushi and presentation to distinguish themselves, which almost worked. It’s a hard neighbourhood to compete in when there are multiple Japanese restaurants every block.

Stephen and I both ordered the Signature Omakase (10 pieces + 2 hand rolls) for ourselves and split a Smoked Chirashi Tart with our friends. First to arrive were three square bowls with edamame, a cabbage salad and two slices of sashimi on seaweed. The sashimi was a white fish, very fresh and sweet; a good start.

The 10 pieces of aburi sushi was served on a rectangular white plate. There were 6 pieces of torched nigiri and 4 pieces of pressed, then torched sushi. Each piece was paired with a unique garnish ranging from jalapeno to tobiko and a thin slice of okra. I really enjoyed the salmon and truffle shrimp sushi, which were sweet and flavourful. The yuzu peel garnish on the scallop was interesting, a tart and bitter contrast to the sweet seafood. I liked it but not everyone at the table agreed. With the pieces of pressed sushi the layer of mayonnaise was generous and caramelized to a delicious flavour after being torched. However, it did mask the flavour of the fish a bit and all the pieces aside from mackerel tasted the same.

I admit, I ordered the Smoked Salmon Chirashi for the visuals and it did not disappoint in that department. Served on a round plate under a glass dome filled with smoke, presentation was on point. As for actual flavour, there was a lot of sauce. The layered tart of rice, chopped salmon sashimi and avocado was smothered with spicy mayo and nikiri sauce. This was not a subtle dish and I couldn’t really taste much smokey flavour.

We had almost forgotten about the two hand rolls when they arrived, which were filling and completed the meal. A piece of tamago would have been a nice touch. Overall, lunch at Aburi Room was good and I am happy to have tried the omakase. I’m interested in seeing how the restaurant evolves as there is a lot of potential.

One of the major food cravings I’m having during pregnancy has been Korean BBQ. Maybe it’s because of the salt, the scent of bbqing meat or just the indulgent flavour of fatty pork belly. Whatever the reason, I find myself daydreaming about grilled meat at least once a week. We’ve indulged a few times at our usual favourite spots and over the holidays I finally convinced Stephen to brave visiting the no reservation, no parking, known to have a line up hotspot, Daldongnae with friends visiting from out of town. We arrived around 6pm on a Wednesday and was lucky enough to grab a booth without a wait.

Service: All of the staff we interacted with were quite friendly and helpful. After placing our order, the grill was set-up right away was followed quickly by the raw ingredients. The server gave a description of how each meat was prepared and It was easy to refill side dishes and water. The steamed egg portion of the grill was also refilled for us without any prompting. The only hiccup was that it took a bit of time for us to flag someone down for the bill. If you do end up having to wait for a table, Daldongnae will take a number to call you at when one becomes available.

Atmosphere: The decor of Daldongnae was similar to that of Kookminhakgyo, both were decorated to feel like we were eating outside on the street with a very night market, street food feel. Lights were dim and soju poured at every boisterous table. I was happy we were seated at a comfortable booth instead of the round grill tables with backless stools. The stools were very useful to double as storage for jackets and bags as the restaurant was very cozy with tables packed tight and full of diners. By the time we left, there was a lengthy waitlist.

Food: Similar to most non AYCE Korean BBQ restaurants, there is a minimum of two orders for each type of meat. For the four of us, we ordered two each of Beef Rib Finger Meat and Pork Belly. There was also a good selection of other Korean dishes on the menu (seafood pancake, stews) but we were sticking to meat. As is, our order came with rice, a hot bowl of soybean soup, a typical selection of banchan and the grill heated up corn and cheese and steamed egg. This was plenty of food for us all.

The quality of both the pork belly and beef were excellent. The slices of pork belly were thick, fatty, and lightly seasoned. They rendered perfectly and made a delicious bite with lettuce, grilled garlic and either of the dipping sauces provided (a salty soy bean paste or salt and oil). I enjoyed the flavour of the beef and how it was marinated but the pieces came covered in sesame seeds, which burned and stuck to the grill. All of the side dishes were tasty and I liked how the grill was set up for the fat to drip into the kimchi and raw garlic.

Overall, dinner at Daldongnae was lively and tasty with great service. Our bill was pretty reasonable but I can easily see the price tag going up with a few bottles of Soju and side dishes. Parking was also painful.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting Konjiki Ramen’s opening day since signs of their arrival first appeared this summer. Konjiki has been Bib Gourmand recommended for the past 4 years and the newest North York location is their first outside of Japan. Chef Yamamoto opened his Shibuya ramen shop in 2006 and has gained worldwide popularity and acclaim with his signature clam, pork and chicken broth. As soon as I heard their doors were open, Stephen and I were in line ready to get our hands on a bowl.

Atmosphere: The retail space of Konjiki Ramen shop was actually split into two areas.Saryo Cafe, a dessert shop occupied the front while seating for Konjiki Ramen took up rest. Decor was modern and industrial in the ramen area and more traditional and natural in the cafe. A long communal table with bar stools ran down the centre of the seating area while table seating was set up along the walls. On top of the communal table and chef’s bar at the back were floating shelves decorated with stock pots and ramen bowls.

Service: Our group arrived at 11:30am on a Sunday, just before doors opened. There was a already a line outside with 30 people ahead of us, enough for one full seating. Luckily the restaurant was designed with room for diners to queue inside out of the cold. It took about 45 minutes for us to get a table. Service was friendly and eager. Since the restaurant was still in their soft opening stage, many of the servers were in training and learning the menu. Our bowls arrived piping hot from the kitchen but took a bit of time. In a few more months, the wrinkles will be ironed out and maybe there even won’t be a wait.

Food: Between the four of us, we each ordered a different bowl of ramen to try out. I had the Signature Clam broth with Shoyu and Stephen chose the Smoky Black Tonkotsu. Our friends tried the Signature Clam broth with Shio and Spicy Red Tonkotsu. I have to say, between their signature broth and tonkotsu, I much preferred the flavour of the clam. The broth was flavourful but light and had a great depth of flavour. You could taste each of the elements from the clam to the procini to the hint of truffle. The shio version had a much stronger clam flavour than the shoyu.

The tonkotsu broth was rich, but wasn’t especially stand out. Both tonkotsu’s were topped with ground meat, which was sparse. Stephen’s bowl had a more intense flavour with the roasted garlic sauce and two smoked cherry tomatoes for extra umami. He found them interesting. I thought the Spicy Red Tonkotsu tasted more sweet than spicy, and was interesting but not quite what I was expecting. Either way, I felt like the bowl was lacking toppings. It was almost a necessity to add the $3 Braised Pork Belly (for 3 pieces).

My noodles were excellent, firm and chewy. Overall, I loved my bowl and would highly recommend it, especially to those who have only ever had tonkotsu broth. I would skip the karaage, which was over done, although the garlic mayo was very good. With added toppings, the bill for a single bowl of ramen gets close to $20, which is on the pricier side. For the uniqueness and deliciousness of the signature broth through, I think the bowl was worth it.

I’m very happy to see more varieties of ramen coming to Toronto and hope it’s a continuing trend! Jiro style next please.

Driving north on the DVP my eyes are always drawn to the white Aga Khan Museum. Designed by award winning architect Fumihiko Maki and inspired by light, the museum was opened in 2014 and features historic and cultural artifacts from Muslim civilizations all over the world. In addition to the museum’s core collection, there are also several temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Stephen and I had the amazing opportunity to tour the museum after hours with a group of other bloggers after sampling some of the new menu items at Diwan, the restaurant at Aga Khan managed by The McEwan Group.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Our evening started with mocktails at Diwan, which was beautifully decorated with hand carved wall panels from Damascus. Tall wood pillars and a large square ceiling was incorporated into the structure of the restaurant itself. Weather permitting, there was also a huge outdoor patio with a view of the Aga Khan park. Diwan’s menu was inspired by Middle Eastern, North African and Indian cuisines. Some bites we tasted included Lamb Kofta meatballs with a corn, coconut curry and a Advieh Spiced Calamari. My favourite dish was the Masala Chicken Fries, which was strongly spiced and served with a delicious garlic aioli.

After the menu tasting, we were treated to a private tour of the current temporary exhibition “Syrian Symphony”, which featured work from a few of Syria’s leading artists and musicians examining the recent conflict in their home country. The exhibit flowed through the 4 movements of a symphony with visual, video and musical creations. I was blown away by how intimate each piece felt and how strong the message of hope shone through despite the turmoil and destruction. It was an incredibly moving and powerful exhibit. I felt that the “Syrian Symphony” was easily one of the best thought out and engrossing exhibitions I’ve ever visited at any museum in the world. Another part of the exhibit I loved was the interactive feature at the end where each visitor was encouraged to choose an placard with and icon that described how they felt and add their feeling to everyone else’s.

We also had the chance to walk through the core collection of the museum and spent a moment taking in the crisp evening air outside in the indoor courtyard. For me, another highlight of the evening was walking through the tranquil Aga Khan park and taking in the view of the fully lit Ismaili Centre Toronto. This summer, the Aga Khan Park will be hosting a variety of events from movie screenings to musical performances. Check out their website for a full list of family friendly activities.

Diwan will be participating in this year’s summerlicious with a $28 lunch menu. Reservations have been quickly filling up already and the restaurant is often booked full for the entire event.

Katsuya first opened in North York as Mr, Tonkatsu but recently re-branded in order to expand their menu. The new menu still centres around katsu, but offers a selection of appetizers and some twists on the traditional Japanese dish. I was invited by Darren, DKLo of DKLoEvents, to a media night at Katsuya to taste a selection of Katsuya’s menu items. Dishes were served family style and I nibbled on a few bites from each plate. The tasting really whet my appetite for a return visit to enjoy a sit down meal myself.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Katsuya was located on Yonge, just north of Finch with a few parking spots available out front. Inside, the decor was industrial with two large communal tables and a few smaller ones for groups of 2-4. On a weeknight the restaurant was quiet, besides our group taking up the bulk of seats, however I was surprised by the number of customers who stopped by to grab takeout. All of the dishes arrived piping hot from the kitchen, and for the most part stayed warm even after their photoshoots.

For dinner, 2 appetizers and over 10 katsu plates were served for us to try. Dishes arrived at a steady pace, much faster than we were photographing, and our table quickly filled to capacity. Our servers began to shuffle orders between the two tables to accommodate us. The 2 appetizers we tried were Cheese Crab Meat Croquette and Curry Karaage. I really liked the stack of croquettes, which was flavourful and meaty with a crispy exterior.

All of the katsu at Katsuya were thin, golden and perfectly fried. The pork was tender, juicy and the exterior crunchy. Even when the katsu was served with a sauce, the crispy exterior held up. Of all the dishes I tried, a few stood out for me. First was the Katsuya Original, Double Cheese Katsu. The cheese pull from picking up a piece was mouth watering and the cheese worked especially well with the spicy sauce. My next favourite dish was the Curry Katsuya, a thin piece of deep fried pork loin served with a thick Japanese curry sauce, a perfect comfort dish. An interesting dish that I also liked was the Terri Mayo Katsu, chicken katsu that was served with Japanese mayo, bonito flakes and shredded seaweed, aka takoyaki toppings. I thought this was a nice twist and added a bit more umami to the katsu. Lastly the Carbonara Fish Katsu was a surprising hit. The fillet of fish was breaded, deep fried and served with a creamy carbonara sauce. This was a lighter option made decadent with the sauce.

Each katsu was served with a puck of steamed rice and a shredded cabbage salad with a sesame dressing. After eating all the deep fried katsu, the salad was very refreshing and quite addictive. I found myself reaching for bowl after bowl of cabbage while others polished off the mains.

Overall, dinner at Katsuya was very satisfying with a wide selection of dishes to choose from. My biggest challenge would be narrowing down my order to just one entree.

Valentine’s day is one of the busiest nights for Toronto restaurants. Trying to make a dinner reservation around the 14th for any popular restaurant can be quite the challenge unless you’re planning weeks in advance. Many restaurants also only offer a set course menu that can be quite pricey. I much prefer restaurants that allow diners to order from both their regular menu and and any special menus for the event. MeNami, one of my go-to restaurants in North York, is offering a 3 course Valentine’s Day menu this year for only $48 per couple. With three appetizers to share, an entree each, and dessert, dinner at MeNami is a great way to celebrate the Hallmark holiday and a seriously good deal. Their cocktail menu is also on point.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

To start, our set dinner began with a house made Wakame salad that had various types of seaweed and a light vinaigrette. There was lots of different textures and flavours in the dish and I loved the crunchy tofu skin on top. Cherry tomatoes and radish slices added colour to the plate along with bites of sweetness and earthiness. The next two appetizers were two items from MeNami’s regular menu that I always order, Smoked Salmon with Parsnip Sauce and Corn Kakiage with Honey Butter Mayo. I love the deep fried corn fritter that’s sweet and crunchy. The lightly seasoned salmon had a strong smokey flavour and paired excellently with the tangy parsnip sauce. I could taste the freshness of the buttery salmon.

For entrees, two new items are available to choose from, the Potato Cream Curry Udon or Dondeki, a pork jowl steak meal. When the Potato Cream Curry udon first arrived, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The surface of the bowl was pipped with creamy mashed potato, that was slightly sweet and very rich. Digging in below the blanket of fluffy potato, uncovered a treasure of MeNami’s delicious fresh, housemade udon coated in a flavourful curry sauce. The combination of curry and potato created a thick, creamy sauce that was sweet, a touch spicy, and truly addictive. A full bowl might be a little heavy to finish alone, but it’s a perfect bowl for sharing. The second entree was a pork jowl steak served with a light teriyaki sauce, salad, rice and broth. I really liked how soft and tender the pork jowl was, a cut that I normally think of as quite fatty, and how meaty it was. The sauce was light and well balanced.

Dinner ended with dessert, a pair of Macaron Ice Cream sandwiches, one filled with black sesame ice cream and the other green tea. The menu was designed for sharing and perfect for two. I’d order one of each entree to split and eat both ice cream sandwiches myself.

MeNami is offering 3 special cocktails (just $9 each) for Valentine’s Day that include rose, raspberries, rosemary and chocolate. My favourite of the 3 was the rose and raspberry cocktail, which was topped with a real, velvety, rose petal. The sake flight (also only $9!) was delicious including a glass of yuzu flavoured sake and a plum flavoured one. Whatever you order from the bar, the drinks are carefully assembled by the bartender with plenty of care.

With all of that food if you’re still hungry, I’d highly recommend adding an order of Tsuke Udon, my favourite item on the menu. The cold noodle is super refreshing a perfect compliment to the creamy potato curry udon.

MeNami’s Valentine menu is available from Feb 12th -15th. I really hope that even after the event ends, the two new entrees find their way onto the restaurant’s regular menu.

Heading home after work I walk along Spring Garden Ave, a small street spanning one block in North York that’s lined with restaurants. Over the past few years, a couple of the spots have turned over with Mymy Chicken, a chain of KFC shops from Korea, being the newest resident. When I first saw the signage for Mymy going up I was super excited for another KFC spot close to home. Since Mymy opened their doors a few weeks ago, I’ve already been twice.

Atmosphere: Prior to Mymy, the restaurant on Spring Garden was a Korean spot specializing in Budae Jjigae and before that a Japanese restaurant. In it’s latest iteration, the large dining room was dark and cozy with dim lighting and dark food furniture. There were intimate leather booths and square tables that could be pieced together to accommodate big groups. Conversation was lively with beer and soju flowing at tables. On my second visit, the restaurant was packed and I can already foresee long lines in the future.

Service: During our first visit, the restaurant had just opened and we stopped by just as they opened for dinner. Servers were quite attentive and friendly and checked in us frequently. During our second visit, the restaurant was much busier and service was a bit more frantic. Our table was tucked away in the corner so it was harder to get someone’s attention, but when servers did come by, they were happy to help. Side dishes were refilled generously.

Food: After settling at our table and placing our order, we were served a bowl of radish, salad and cup of freshly popped popcorn. Both the radish and salad could refilled throughout dinner. I really liked the popcorn, which had a touch of butter and was lightly salted. It was a great snack to munch on while waiting for our KFC. The salad of shredded cabbage was generously dressed with a thousand island dressing and the radish was crunchy and an excellent compliment to the fried chicken.

Mymy Chicken has a variety of flavours with 6 dry seasoning variations to their basic KFC including cheese, onion, chilli pepper, curry and retro. There was also a selection of saucy flavours. On our first visit, The Hubby and I ordered the half-half of Original and Sauced Spicy. The chicken itself was juicy and the batter was crunchy and well seasoned. I did think the chicken was on the smaller side, but very flavourful. I really liked the spicy sauce, which was tasty without burning off all my tastebuds. Of all the flavours I’ve tried so far, the spicy sauce was my favourite, and one of the best ones I’ve tasted in Toronto.

During our second visit, we also tasted the Onion and Cheese flavour, which were both the Original KFC with an added seasoning powder. The cheese flavour reminded me of nacho cheese and was interesting, while the onion flavour used onion powder. Between the two, I liked the cheese flavour more but was expecting actual real cheese. It was an interesting twist, but I did like the regular and spicy sauce the most.

Overall, I am very happy to welcome Mymy Chicken to North York and am looking forward to many more visits. Next time, I am eager to try to the Green Onion Chicken.

When I hear about a restaurant that doesn’t take reservations and always has a lineup, my curiosity gets piqued. I will go pretty far for good food, but I don’t like waiting, especially not in the winter. Kookminhakgyo is a somewhat new Korean BBQ spot in North York that’s quickly gained popularity and with it, long wait times for a table. The restaurant is also small and only holds 15-20 people at a time. Friends have told me stories about waiting on Friday nights and giving up from hunger. To maximize our chance of being seated quickly, The Hubby and I stopped by with a friend on a Thursday at 6pm (90 minutes after their doors opened). We still ended up waiting about 30 minutes, but the pork belly was worth it.

Atmosphere: Dining at Kookminhakgyo was unique. Tables were round and steel with a grill built in the centre. Barrel like stools surrounded each table, which were hollow with a removable cushion top, providing guests with a place to store their belongings. The space was tight with guests close to each other and servers weaving in between tables. Guests ranged from middle-aged office workers to girlfriends Instagramming their meal. The air was filled with BBQ, smoke, music and chatter, making me feel like I was at a busy Asian night market

Service: Stopping by at 6pm, Kookminhakgyo was already full. Near the entrance, a piece of paper was hung on the wall. This was the waitlist where guests wrote down their name and number to queue for a table. We added our name to the list and went back to the warmth of the car to wait for our call back. Only a few parking spots were available in front of the restaurant and they filled quickly. With the limited number of tables, and each party being sat at a grill regardless of their party size (2 or 6 people), the list moved slowly. Once we were called back and seated, service was actually great. It was a bit hard to communicate with our server over the music (a great 90’s playlist). Service was efficient and thoughtful. Our server asked about refilling side-dishes and changing grills without us doing any prompting.

Food: While fun decor and great service were a plus, the most important part of dinner was still the BBQ and Kookminhakgyo delivered. For the three of us, we ordered Pork Belly, Pork Belly with Skin and Pork Jowl. The beautiful, fatty meat arrived on two metal platters along with a host of side dishes. The side dishes were strong and spicy. I loved the pickled jalapeno slices. In addition to various kimchis, we were also served a bowl of spicy soy bean soup and a bowl of fluffy, steamed egg. The egg was seasoned, airy and so good. Being served in a stone pot, the bottom of the egg fried up and was delicious.

The fatty pork jowl was cut in thin strips, but thick enough to maintain a great chewiness when cooked. Dipped in the salt and oil with a few sprigs of green onion made the perfect bite. Of course, my favourite meat was the pork belly. We tried both the cut with and without skin. With skin meant more layers of fatty goodness and some added texture, which I really enjoyed. Wrapping up each chunk of pork belly in lettuce with a bit of red sauce and grilled garlic was heaven. I liked how the pork belly was cross hatched meaning they cooked flat and even on the grill. The quality and thickness of the pork belly was excellent. For both cuts, the flavour was fresh, meaty, and the fat rendered wonderfully on the grill.

Overall dinner was really good. I may have found a new favourite Korean BBQ spot, along with plenty of others.

Walking into Via Cibo, I was greeted by a fully open kitchen where chefs prepared fresh pasta, pizza and other classic Italian dishes. Designed as a fast casual restaurant (I believe the first of it’s kind in Toronto) Via Cibo served up authentic, traditional Italian cuisine with a focus on fresh, simple ingredients. To be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect from Via Cibo, but after just a few bites, I knew I’d be recommending the spot to friends. The food was delicious, from buttery gnocchi to refreshing Italian soda.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Atmosphere: The Hubby and I stopped by for a late lunch on Saturday after grocery shopping at the Longo’s in the same plaza. With large front windows, the entire dining area was flooded with natural light. High ceilings, exposed pipes and lots of metal features with bright red walls created a modern space. I loved the high, communal marble table lit by large pendant lights. On that Saturday, many of the tables were occupied by families that ranged from toddlers to grandparents.

Service: Being a fast casual restaurant, service was minimal. Orders were placed at the counter and each kept track with a number. Diners picked their own table in the restaurant and their order was delivered to them when ready. The dining area was very clean and tables were cleared off quickly once vacated.

Food: The Hubs and I ordered two items from Via Cibo’s lunch menu and two items from their brunch menu to try. We started with the Italian Eggs Benedict, two poached eggs with pancetta, slow roasted tomatoes and spinach served on a herbed flatbread. The yolk of the eggs were perfect, golden and runny. The hollandaise sauce was also perfect, creamy and rich with a silky smooth consistency. For me, those are really the two key points that make an eggs benny and Via Cibo was on point. I really enjoyed the added savouriness from the pancetta and the touch of nuttiness from the spinach.

Next was the Tiramisu French Toast with mascarpone, cinnamon, vanilla, espresso and chocolate chips. On paper, it sounded amazing and there was a strong coffee flavour, but I found it wasn’t sweet enough for me. So much promise.

Our first lunch item was the Calabrese Sausage Piadina, an Italian street food staple made with fresh flatbread. There were big chunks of handmade Italian sausage tucked into the flatbread along with roasted peppers, onions, pomodoro sauce, provolone and aioli. The flatbread was crispy and had a great roasted flavour. This would make a great lunch and very filling.

The last item we tasted was also my favourite, Gnocchi with a gorgonzola cream sauce, slow-roasted tomatoes, pancetta and grana padano cheese. The sauce had a smokiness from the pancetta and each spoonful was a bite of cheesy heaven. I also really liked the texture of the pillowy gnocchi. With four dishes, there was no way The Hubs and I were going to finish everything, but this plate was licked clean.

After enjoying a delicious meal at Aoyama, I chatted with the server as we settled our bill. We talked about other Japanese restaurants I liked in the city and she recommended Shinobu, a North York restaurant that was already high on my list of places to try. Friends who lived in the neighbourhood often listed the restaurant as their favourite spot for Japanese. I finally had the chance to visit for our second birthday meetup.

Atmosphere: Located north of Lawrence on Yonge, Shinobu was a warm and cozy restaurant. Tables were packed tight but arranged perpendicular to each other, creating a sense of privacy. Many of the diners were regulars who ordered with only a cursory glance at the menu.

Service: Our server was friendly and efficient. We wanted to order the supreme assorted sashimi plate, which was for two people. We asked if there was an option to add pieces for an additional price to accomodate 3 people. The sushi chef offered to cut the fish into 3 thinner pieces for us at no extra charge, a great solution that allowed us to order more sashimi a la carte. Plates arrived quickly and any dishes that needed to be torched were finished at the table. I would recommend making reservations, that are only taken over the phone.

Food: From the cooked section of the menu, we ordered the torched mackerel and assorted tempura. The cured mackerel was flavourful, topped off with a light soy sauce and served with thinly sliced green onion. Included in the assorted tempura was shrimp, eggplant, snap pears, pumpkin, broccoli and yam. A standard selection that was very crispy fresh.

Next up was the raw items including the supreme assorted sashimi platter ($35). Both the quality and selection of fish were excellent from wonderfully sweet scallop to buttery fresh salmon. All of the pieces were fresh, sweet and had a great texture. The tuna was firm and the scallop silky. In addition to the platter, we ordered chutoro and sweet shrimp. At Shinobu fish from the a la carte menu could be ordered either as 2 pieces of nigiri or 3 pieces of sashimi, perfect for our party. The generous pieces of chutoro were beautifully marbled and buttery. Sweet shrimp is one of my favourite types of sashimi and I was very happy to see the fish available at Shinobu.

For rolls, we tried Volcano Rainbow roll, Pressed Salmon (daily special) and Hotate Dream Roll (spicy salmon and scallop). All three rolls were simple and tasty without the clutter of too many ingredients. Similar to the sashimi, all of the fish used were fresh and high quality, especially the scallop. The rolls were filling and each had 10-12 pieces. Prices ranged from $10.50 to $15.00 for the spider roll and $16.50 for the lobster roll.

Overall, dinner at Shinobu was excellent for the price and quality. The sushi menu items cater more to individuals and couples rather than large groups. I would love to be able to order a larger omakase style sushi or sashimi meal.