Sushi Okeya Kyujiro — Restaurant in Montreal

After more than three years of trying to find genuine sushi in Montreal, I must admit I was apprehensive that once again, a sushi restaurant that people seemed to rave about, would be a miserably disappointing let-down. I have tried at least 15 or 20 sushi restaurants, many that have lots of "best sushi in Montreal" reviews, and they have ranged from mediocre to horrible.

A promising sign at Okeya was that the master chef was marinating the rice for the nigiri as the curtains rose. The word sushi, after all, derives from "sour rice", so unless a superior quality rice is selected, cooked properly and seasoned, it's pretty much impossible to produce good nigiri. While most sushi restaurants use rice as a filler, Kyujiro understands it is the foundation.

But of course, Kyujiro doesn't stop there. The ingredients are as fresh as can be, every serving is seasoned appropriately and distinctively, and served attractively.

In the series of 30 or so courses, one is presented with a great variety of flavours, flavour intensities, different temperatures ranging from piping hot to cool, ingredients, appearances and presentations. It's a real sensory kaleidoscope.

By about the third or fourth course, I put aside my apprehension and understood I was in the presence of a master who knows and understands what sushi is and what it's potentials are.

It's expensive. Very expensive. If I could afford to I would probably dine here several times a month. I was fortunate that the meal was a gift from friends and relatives to celebrate a milestone birthday. It's now one of my many once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

But two courses of bluefin tuna, real wasabi, superior matcha, hummingbird squid, a dazzling variety of fresh fish, wagyu beef, and freshly shaved dried bonito among other ingredients, cannot be had for a pittance.

The service is discretely attentive. Because there are a maximum of only 16 places around the counter surrounding the preparation area, the atmosphere is intimate without being intrusive and one immediately feels as if one is at a gathering of best friends. All of the staff make a great effort to ensure that the guests understand the features of...

Please be warned that we went on a Saturday night and it was 300$ per person without tax and tips. If you can see past that price, then you can truly enjoy a magical culinary experience at Okeya Kyujiro. Almost everything we experienced this evening was phenomenal to me. We were greeted politely as soon as we entered the restaurant, the waitresses offered to take our jackets and showed us our seats. Once all the customers had been seated, the chefs introduced themselves and started cooking spectacularly in front of us at a incredibly fast speed. Throughout the night, we enjoyed 30 different dishes that were all presented wonderfully and they each had their charm. Most of them had remarkable flavours and amazing creativity. The variation of texture, flavours and temperature was truly an exceptional experience. Of course there were some of the dishes that were less enjoyable, but they were still beautiful to look at nonetheless. My favourite part is definitely the flawless balance between the rice, the fish with the sauce and the amount of wasabi. Each ingredient goes so well together and there's nothing overpowering the other. Everything is in harmony and elevates the sushi experience to another level. While you wait for the next course to be served, you get to enjoy the presentation of the ingredients and seeing them being cooked right in front of you. It's a wonderful spectacle and it felt like I was watching the chefs cooking in an artistic fashion. I also really enjoyed how the waitresses came beside us to personally describe each dish as we were about to eat them. They were always smiling and friendly while also staying polite. They were also attentive to details, wished the people who were celebrating their birthday a Happy Birthday and they even brought out a piano to play us a birthday song. Seriously, both the food and the service was first-class. Finally, I can confidently say that I was pretty full after tasting 30 different dishes and it was truly a...

From the moment I stepped into Sushi Okeya Kyujiro, I knew I was in for an unparalleled dining experience. This isn't just a restaurant; it's a symphony of Japanese culinary excellence, seamlessly interwoven with the enchantment of theater and the authenticity of traditional culture.

The culinary journey here goes beyond mere eating. Each dish is a testament to top-quality ingredients, masterfully prepared with a meticulous attention to detail. The Omakase Kaiseki, for instance, is not just food on a plate; it's a narrative of flavors, each telling a story of Japanese culinary heritage.

But what sets Sushi Okeya Kyujiro apart is its immersive theatrical choreography, which transforms dining into a profoundly emotional experience. The ambiance is thoughtfully curated - dim lighting, traditional attire, and a sense of ceremonious unveiling of dishes combine to create an atmosphere that is both mystical and intimate.

I have visited countless establishments, even in Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, but Sushi Okeya Kyujiro stands out as a beacon of culinary innovation and cultural fusion. It is more than sublime food; it's an emotional journey that disarms and delights in equal measure.

This place is a rare gem where food, theater, and culture meld in perfect harmony, offering a dining experience that is both epic and intimately personal. To reveal more would be to spoil the myriad of surprises that await within its doors. Suffice it to say, Sushi Okeya Kyujiro is not just the best restaurant I've ever visited; it's a journey through the heart of Japanese artistry that leaves you...