Lost in Translation

I have a love/ hate thing when it comes to sushi.
I love it when it's fresh, the restaurant is clean, the tea is good quality and the tea cups don't smell like a mix of bleach and raw tuna, the service is good, it's not outrageously priced and is beautifully prepared.
I hate it when I get violently ill with food poisoning from it.
I'll spare you the gory details.
But I will say that is is no fun puking up large balls of seaweed.

I find it increasingly hard to find a place in the city where you can really get really great sushi.
For years we used to go to Sushi on Bloor, it was a good, fast & cheap-fast foodish sushi fix.
Then if we wanted a more upscale sushi dining experience we would go to Nami Sushi, which is consistently good.
I am sad to say I still haven't tried Sushi Kaji.
The one time we were in the area (Etobicoke) it was a Monday- and just our luck that's the day they are closed.
I've heard it's excellent though.
Hiro Sushi is on the list as well- have also heard it's really great.
Edo is also pretty decent.
When we are in the Yonge & Eglinton area we will nip into Sushi Rock for some quick and cheap sushi.
They do brown rice there which I love- I know not very authentic, but much better the next day.
If ya know what I mean.
Anyhow long story short- while in Yorkville last week we wanted a quick, light & healthy dinner (wanted to still be able squeeze into those new Habitual jeans I picked up at Aritzia on Bloor) so sushi seemed like a good choice.
Bonus that it was a gorgeous day and that lulu was sleeping in her stroller.
We found ourselves standing in front of Yamato sushi.
They had a patio, and the place looked quite nice. I did a quick bathroom check to make sure.
clean. good sign.
I have walked by there a million times and for some reason it never called out to me.
But today I was feeling my restaurant mojo so we got a table.
I had my usual (pictured above) Sashimi dinner.
and as always, we shared some nice warm Saki.
Big daddy isn't a great lover of raw fish so he had the Kaiso salad (seaweed salad), the Nabeyaki bowl- Assorted vegetables, seafood and egg, served in a clay pot and the Beef sashimi appetizer.
He thought it was excellent.
Mine was very good, the only set back was that someone I knew spotted us on the patio and instead of just saying hi, chatting for a bit, then when our food arrived said good-bye...decided to stay.
So our spontaneous moment of it just being the two of us being able to slowly savor our meals and have a uninterrupted conversation while lulu slept in her stroller, didn't quite happen.
damn, shoulda eaten inside.
It was nice to see this person, but they didn't quite figure out that we just wanted to have a quiet meal, while the kid-o was snoozing.
but despite that it was very good.
They apparently do really great Teppanaki dinners prepared at special tables inside in front of you.
I noticed a bunch of kids around 7-10 years-ish there for a birthday party.
My kind of birthday party, and what a great place to bring the kids.
even better that they offer special teppanyaki dinners for children 12 years and under. All entrees are accompanied with Japanese clear onion soup, steamed rice, one scoop of vanilla ice cream, plus a surprise!
wonder what the surprise is?
guess I'll have to go there for lulu's third birthday and find out.
Anyhow I would recommend Yamato if you are looking for a nice Japanese dinner out.
But you might want to think twice about sitting on the patio if you don't feel like bumping into anyone you know.
then again, sometimes it's fun to run into people you know.
I guess it all depends on who it is.

2.5 g's for Yamato.
good atmosphere
good food
good service
but they lose a half a G for not having any green tea ice cream.
what kind of Japanese restaurant doesn't have green tea ice cream?

Yamato

meaning "land of great harmony"
24 Bellair St.
toronto

416.922.0077

 

Comments

[Don Mills Diva]

I really like Oysi Oyster for sushi. It's at Mount Pleasant and Eglinton. Not fancy but nice, reasonable and good food and service.

[lisa b]

I've never been to Sushi Rock. We really like Sushi Supreme which is closer to Davisville.

[kittenpie]

NO green tea ice cream? That's just wrong.
We like one right near us - Sushi Delight on the Danforth.