Kimono — Restaurant in Quebec

We came to this Japanese restaurant for lunch after walking 30 minutes under the blazing sun — we were just hoping for something decent and refreshing. There weren’t many options nearby, so we gave this place a try.

Heads-up if you’re a tourist: there’s no English lunch menu provided, so you’ll likely need to pull it up on your phone. Our server spoke English and was really kind, so that definitely helped, but not all staff may be fluent.

Now for the food: 💸 Prices are on the higher side — around $30 per lunch set. They do give you a complimentary starter (choice of miso soup, fried chicken, or salad), but honestly, I still didn’t feel it justified the price. The fried chicken was alright, nothing memorable. I heard the miso soup was better.

🍣 I ordered the “salmon lover” set (not the exact name, but close). It came with two types of salmon rolls and a salmon tartare. The rolls were generously portioned and well wrapped — like, big enough that you’ll probably look a bit unhinged trying to fit a whole piece in your mouth. You’ve been warned. 😂 The tartare, though, was a miss for me — the salmon had a bit of a smell, which made it unappetizing.

My coworker had sashimi and said it was fresh, so maybe I just ordered the wrong thing.

Overall, the vibe was okay and the staff were nice, but for the price, I don’t think I’d come back. A lot of rice, not a lot of flavor — and in a city full of good food, that’s...

Pretty mediocre imo. Sushi is good but uninspired and monotonous; the most exotic thing on their menu is eel. Pieces are cut largely (they are meant to be eaten whole) and so on my first bite I thought I was going to choke. Service was excellent and the ambience was chic.

Good selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There are some options on the menu for pregnant people and those with sensitive tummies - the server informed me the tobikko is pasteurized. Dessert seemed homemade and was good but pretty pricey.

The menu lacks details and, for example, if you order a poke bowl you'll get a wasabi dressing drizzled over that wasn't divulged. Menus were also pretty dirty.

Service came with a smile and the busser was attentive to our drinks as well as the cleanliness of the table.

The bathroom didn't have a functioning paper towel dispenser and there was no air drier. It was also poorly lit and only had space for 1 person in front of the sink/mirror.

They also use disposable chopsticks. It's 2024; maybe they ought to think about reusable, machine washable ones.

But I think the most insulting aspect is when you ask for green tea, they give you the Costco kind... A single bag in a giant pot, a tasteless...

Chic atmosphere Clean Limited variety during lunch hours A bit expensive. If you’re from Toronto expect to pay more for less. Good service. Waitress (Samira?) was kind and quick, and was patient with our Franglais (we are FLS) (We made an effort to speak French the whole time, but she seemed to be capable of speaking some English if necessary) They do NOT offer AYCE (all you can eat). It is à la carte service. After combing through countless reviews of sushi restaurants in Quebec City, this seemed like the most promising result. I read terrible reviews of other restaurants consistently being inauthentic, dirty, horrible service and making people sick. After reading that, I decided spending the extra money was worth it. It’s still not Toronto quality, but was a nice experience. the Maki rolls are HUGE. I was full after ~3 but we ordered a 10 Maki combo and a 6 Nigiri + 4 Maki combo 😵‍💫 I ended up taking most of them home. The miso soup (soup du jour) came free with our meal. Would eat here again Would be a nice date spot for 2 people it came to about $40 each...