$$$$ • Kyoto-style • Distillery District
Went on a Friday night and sat solo at the counter, which turned out to be a great spot to experience the restaurant. The atmosphere is intimate but vibrant, with a really fun soundtrack of current pop hits playing in the background.
I went with the Chef’s Tasting Menu, which at $90 is exceptional value for the quality and amount of food. Every course was beautifully balanced, with so many different layers of flavour without anything feeling overly complicated. The tomato dish was a great start, the yellowfin tuna tartare was fresh and bright, and the ricotta lemon agnolotti with pine nuts, caramelized onions and summer truffle was outstanding. I chose the BBQ pork coppa for my main — rich, tender and packed with flavour — and finished with the banana tart with salted caramel and vanilla Chantilly, which was a perfect ending.
Just as impressive was the service. Everyone I interacted with was delightful, knowledgeable and genuinely helpful throughout the evening. Sitting at the counter also gives you that extra bit of interaction and makes it especially good for a solo dinner.
Excellent food, great energy, terrific service and one of the better-value tasting menus I’ve had in Toronto. I’ll definitely be back.
