ukiya izakaya — Restaurant in Montreal

This was recommended by an IG follower so they could get more clientele yet I was very disappointed when I got there my husband and I . First , they done know who is who , therefore the must be cautious! We got there around 4 pm ish and for some reason the line up was soo long that we didn’t really know why . We finally stepped by the front door and the lady told us : sorry you can get in , we are full for the day , even though there are seats available, you won’t be able to sit . There is a 4-5 hours waiting list and if you wish to wait you can wait outside for a cheaper meal to be serviced or what ? I done rally know why . While waiting others in the line were asked to be seated with other ladies at a different table to eat altogether which I find very weird yet unprofessional because why would I want to eat with people i don’t know nor never met just because I am dying to sample a meal from a new restaurant ? We wanted to leave , yet I decided to order few things from their original menu since I ain’t in no mood to try out their cheap buffet everyone was waiting to have with the long line up . I ordered 3 things that came to 47 $ ish which I find too expensive yet I didn’t want to wait . The fried chicken was tasteless yet salty , try Dawa chicken in ndg instead . Their cheese stick we waited and got on the spot was cold , therefore the choose was hard inside and their friend dumplings were somehow oook . They hype was to keep people waiting for when others are passing by they would think something is going on yet nothing from the inside . The lady receiving people ans making them wait came back after 10 mins and picked the phone to start calling wooole she out on her waiting list hours ago to come back and eat and those people she refused us waiting there to seat then her down on the phone , then she started crossing out their names out which I find was very disappointing. She told us , next time to come around 2 pm to Make the reservations then come back after 3 hours to eat …? Then I wonder to eat whaaat? The unsavoury food or the salty cheese sticks I ate in my BMW to save myself the waiting and To still have the same tasting experience ! Very funny experience . Next time , serve the people you have in front of you cause they can also give you review and over 100 people waited there including myself , it’s business and that means 100 bad reviews which isn’t good...

I rarely write reviews, but I feel compelled to share my experience in this instance due to my extreme disappointment with the service.

I understand that some people have rated this establishment five stars; however, I find it perplexing how a place can simultaneously receive both such high and low ratings. This disparity leaves much to individual interpretation.

My wife arrived at the restaurant before me and waited for 30 minutes without being greeted or offered water. Upon my arrival, we were promptly handed menus and asked to place our orders almost immediately. I requested that the server give us a few minutes to decide, after which the server vanished for the rest of the evening.

I then asked to speak with the manager to explain the situation. Fifteen minutes later, we met the manager, who was apologetic. We proceeded to order cocktails and food, which included a sashimi plate, beef ribs, and an assortment of skewers and tapas.

The fish on the sashimi plate appeared to be from frozen stock, with the scallop muscle still attached. Additionally, we were not provided with soy sauce or bowls and had to get up to request them. The ribs were satisfactory in taste, but no utensils were provided, making it challenging to eat with chopsticks.

After 30 minutes of no further service, I had to flag down a random employee at the bar to ask for our server. When I inquired about the rest of our order, I was asked if I wanted to place more orders, which was frustrating as we had ordered an hour prior. At this point, I canceled everything and requested the bill. They kindly compensated us for the drinks.

Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this restaurant and will not...

Wow! What a revelation! First off, the place is way way too cheap for the quality and artistry you get. Too cheap. Also, without a doubt, this is THE BEST TAKOYAKI I've had in town and I've tried at least two dozen places. The ball are bigger than usual but it's the flavor and texture...so ooey gooey in your mouth with a very generous amount of bonito fakes on top. As a brilliant surprise, the takoyaki sits on a bed of very crispy potato sticks for an amazing texture contrast. An easy 10/10 for me.

The watermelon mocktail was made with fresh watermelon (so nice!) and so much basil I was going nuts. I love fresh basil in my drinks and often ask for more. No need here. Delicious and not so sweet.

Gyoza were also a hit with the crispy lattice as an appreciated thoughtful touch. Filling was flavorful and juicy.

The oyster mushrooms were divine. So succelent and the very tasty savory sauce they used to dress it was superb.

The chef gave me a squid salad as a freebie and although I'm not into squid, I ate it and ended up loving it. Could I be a squid convert? It's possible.

Finally, the ramen surprised and delighted me. I'm usually not a big fan of ramen because I often find the broth too salty and too heavy but not the case here! I...