I debated a sufficient amount between Guu and JaBistro before finally appointing the "hidden gem of Toronto sushi restaurants" as our dinner location of choice.
With its incredibly minimalist exterior, I almost walked completely past the restaurant, had I not been closely following the route indicated by Google Maps.
The road was quite quiet though, so I highly suggest finding someone to accompany you in the case where you deem a visit to JaBistro necessary following the interpretation of this post. In a few mere seconds of capturing a shot of the the Modern Japanese diner's renown footballfish logo (familiarly referred to as "An-chan"), we caught sight of and were approached by a much destitute being clothed in gravely stained rags. We dove into the restaurant at once, without casting another glance behind us.
Inside, we were welcomed by a neutral-faced, ponytail-sporting hostess and a narrow dining area with soft, yellow-toned lighting. The wooden interior definitely gave off the "cozy hideaway" feeling expressed on their website, while the level of detailed attention given to customers was indicative of the "sophisticated" manner of the restaurant.
The road was quite quiet though, so I highly suggest finding someone to accompany you in the case where you deem a visit to JaBistro necessary following the interpretation of this post. In a few mere seconds of capturing a shot of the the Modern Japanese diner's renown footballfish logo (familiarly referred to as "An-chan"), we caught sight of and were approached by a much destitute being clothed in gravely stained rags. We dove into the restaurant at once, without casting another glance behind us.
Inside, we were welcomed by a neutral-faced, ponytail-sporting hostess and a narrow dining area with soft, yellow-toned lighting. The wooden interior definitely gave off the "cozy hideaway" feeling expressed on their website, while the level of detailed attention given to customers was indicative of the "sophisticated" manner of the restaurant.
As one that feels the need to conduct thorough research on each destination I develop the desire to visit, I learned that JaBistro received a higher amount of positive reviews than Guu. Both restaurants are, apparently, run by the same group of people, though Guu tends to be described as being "loud and chaotic", much to the contrast of JaBistro.
Only one blogger, though, had stated their disapproval - he/she had voiced out that JaBistro seemingly appeared to be the result when a heavily tattooed youngster specializing in street-style eats attempts to become classy. I did not agree with this one bit, and, evidently, neither did the rest of the yelp reviewers.
Only one blogger, though, had stated their disapproval - he/she had voiced out that JaBistro seemingly appeared to be the result when a heavily tattooed youngster specializing in street-style eats attempts to become classy. I did not agree with this one bit, and, evidently, neither did the rest of the yelp reviewers.
A (non-alcoholic) Green Tea Mojito and Lemon Lime & Bitters were ordered to start. While the Lemon Lime was tangy as expected, the Green Tea Mojito possessed a strong mint flavour accompanied by an extremely subtle hint of matcha. Though I would've preferred a less subdued green tea flavour, both drinks were refreshing nonetheless.
We then proceeded to order two identical meals, each consisting of a Miso Soup and a Chef's Choice Nigiri Platter. I also ordered a Salmon Oshizushi, as per Yelper recommendations.
Unlike the standard miso soups that commonly come with combos and set dinners at economical Japanese restaurants, this one had been carefully concocted by utilizing fresh miso and lobster broth. The difference in taste was astounding, to say in the least.
We then proceeded to order two identical meals, each consisting of a Miso Soup and a Chef's Choice Nigiri Platter. I also ordered a Salmon Oshizushi, as per Yelper recommendations.
Unlike the standard miso soups that commonly come with combos and set dinners at economical Japanese restaurants, this one had been carefully concocted by utilizing fresh miso and lobster broth. The difference in taste was astounding, to say in the least.
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One of the few restaurants that specialize in Aburi sushi, JaBistro ensured that their Oshizushi was done right!
I had had a major letdown during after tasting Kamei Royale's overly greasy and rice-heavy oshizushi, but was fortunately able to experience this wonderfully flavour-packed, melt-in-your-mouth nigiri.
The Chef's Choice Nigiri Platter consisted of nine pieces of nigiri, including fresh lobster, wagyu beef, and three different types of tuna varying by fat content.
As many may know, I'm someone with a rather modest appetite, and I was actually already 50% full by the time had this beautifully-presented platter had been placed before my eyes. But I wolfed it down in under twenty minutes. Besides Tsukiji, I had never tasted such fresh sashimi anywhere else.
I had had a major letdown during after tasting Kamei Royale's overly greasy and rice-heavy oshizushi, but was fortunately able to experience this wonderfully flavour-packed, melt-in-your-mouth nigiri.
The Chef's Choice Nigiri Platter consisted of nine pieces of nigiri, including fresh lobster, wagyu beef, and three different types of tuna varying by fat content.
As many may know, I'm someone with a rather modest appetite, and I was actually already 50% full by the time had this beautifully-presented platter had been placed before my eyes. But I wolfed it down in under twenty minutes. Besides Tsukiji, I had never tasted such fresh sashimi anywhere else.
Despite over-exerting the limits of my stomach, I still insisted on ordering dessert. Everything else had been fabulous, so I intrigued to see what types of sweet finishes the elegant diner had to offer. We picked a Genmai Pudding and a Hoji Brulee.
The Genmai Pudding was creamy, but not overly rich, The bottom had been lined with a grainy, textured material, which took us by surprise. Perhaps we were a tad too full at this point, as these bits were a bit too filling in our eyes.
The Hoji Brulee, made by infusing hoji tea into a custard mixture, was light and contained just the right amount of sweetness. In addition to this, the caramelized sugar layer on top was made to the ideal thickness - just firm enough to add crunch when broken into, yet not too much that that the sugar overpowered the remainder of the dessert.
The Genmai Pudding was creamy, but not overly rich, The bottom had been lined with a grainy, textured material, which took us by surprise. Perhaps we were a tad too full at this point, as these bits were a bit too filling in our eyes.
The Hoji Brulee, made by infusing hoji tea into a custard mixture, was light and contained just the right amount of sweetness. In addition to this, the caramelized sugar layer on top was made to the ideal thickness - just firm enough to add crunch when broken into, yet not too much that that the sugar overpowered the remainder of the dessert.
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We had only been given an hour to complete the meal, as multiple reservations had already been made for that night. Quite frankly, we were lucky we had even received a table, as I later read that the classy sushi joint was quite popular at night (for drinks and such).
Regardless, we received impeccable service from every single member of the staff, be it the servers or the chefs themselves. While this is not the most budget-friendly way to enjoy dinner, the entire experience was unmistakably worth every single cent!
Please view the full album HERE.
Regardless, we received impeccable service from every single member of the staff, be it the servers or the chefs themselves. While this is not the most budget-friendly way to enjoy dinner, the entire experience was unmistakably worth every single cent!
Please view the full album HERE.
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