Restaurant: JaBistro
Location: 222 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1W4
Price Range: $$$
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Located in the Entertainment District of Toronto, JaBistro is known as a modern Japanese restaurant that serve beautifully presented sashimi platters and blowtorched sushi. I have been here once before during the winter time, so I was not aware that JaBistro had a rooftop patio. Actually, I don’t think anyone was even aware that the restaurant had a patio!
The patio was beautifully designed with its sleek use of wood and string lights. It provided a zen and relaxing ambiance that was perfect for a date night. The patio was also recently renovated with a retractable roof, however I’m not sure if they have an overhead heat system for when the temperature drops. There are no reservations for the patio, thus tables are first come first serve.
Dinner began with a sashimi sampler and everything was as fresh as could be. All three types of fish – chutoro; tai seabream; salmon were sweet and so buttery – especially the chutoro where it just melted in your mouth. The slight torch on the sea bream added a hint of smokiness and the ikura just popped as I chewed.
This platter was quite a shocker when it arrived at our table – I mean, look at how beautifully presented this was! The lobster miso soup was packed with lobster essence yet incredibly light. The ebi nanban (shrimp) and Ika Karamari (calamari) had a light breading with a tart sauce on the side. The tai kama – grilled sea bream was tender and mildly seasoned to showcase its natural flavor. I chickened out and didn’t eat the fish eye, but thinking back, I should have done it!
Up next was a platter containing chef’s choice of 3 nigiri, and 4 oshizushi (pressed sushi), including the famous JaBistro Roll. Each of the pressed sushi were lightly seared with a blowtorch and each piece were topped with different toppings for a distinctive taste. The JaBistro Roll is a signature roll filled with salmon, snow crab, uni, cucumber, tobiko, and mayo. The uni gave the roll a nice creaminess and the lightly torched mayo on top is simply an explosion of flavors.
The matcha mousse cake was delightful and well balanced with multiple layers of texture. The base was crunchy with bits of corn flakes on the side, whereas the mousse itself were incredible smooth. The ice cream had a hint of vanilla that was not too sweet either, this dessert was the perfect way to end the meal.
Just like my first meal at JaBistro, the restaurant still maintained its exceptional quality and impeccable service. Our server was friendly, professional and efficient. She ensured that our water was filled and checked in on us throughout the evening. She was one of the best servers I ever met!
Disclaimer: While the food was provided by JaBistro, I am not obliged to publish a review on the business. All opinions/thoughts are my own. For more information about my review policy, please click here.