Kibo Sushi House - College — Restaurant in Toronto

I have been going to Kibo Sushi since they opened. I would not be surprised if I was one of their best customers as I've consistently purchased takeout orders 3-4 times per week. From the beginning I have always asked for a side of salad dressing as soy sauce is far too salty for me. They have always kindly obliged (which every sushi restaurant that I have ever frequented has) and gave me a side of it, which was very much appreciated.

Last week I went in and picked up my usual order and asked for the dressing. It was a new server who I hadn't met before and, on the advisement of the sushi chef, asked me to pay an additional fee. I explained to them that I have never been charged for this and didn't expect to pay now. She agreed and I did not have to pay for the dressing.

Today I went in and grabbed my sushi and asked for the salad dressing as I do, every time for the last 6 months. I witnessed another interaction between the server and sushi chef. She came back to me and told me that it would be an additional charge for the dressing. I told her that I wasn't okay with that. She looked to the sushi chef who was clearly the one making the calls so I decided to address him. I told him that I have never been charged for the dressing by the other server who is usually the one who prepares my to go order. He told me that isn't true, that the the other server did charge me for the salad dressing.

Translation: I'm being called a liar.

I asked him if he was the owner to make sure I was dealing with the right person. He said he was.

I asked him if he realizes that he is calling me a liar. He ignored the question.

I asked him if he realizes how much I come there and that him now asking me to pay for a tiny serving of salad dressing because I don't eat soy sauce was the right thing to do. He was unwavering in that belief.

He made the choice to both call me a liar, which is beyond insulting -- I'm really going to lie about some little salad dressing?? -- and be embarrassingly petty in charging me for a little container of dressing even though I spend easily a minimum of $30-40/week there.

It's beyond shortsighted as an owner to be this petty with such a simple request that would make a customer return time and time again, but to then call me a liar about being charged for it is just dumb.

It's a shame that such an easy moment was handled...

I've eaten a lot of sushi in my life. Too much really; risk of mercury poisoning amounts, if you catch my meaning. Despite this rich mosaic of experience, I sit here, struggling to find the words that would truly capture the essence of my experience(s) at Kibo - College.

Let me paint you a picture instead. You're walking along College Street. It's been a long day; you're chilly, tired, and ready to decompress after that way too long, end of fiscal meeting. Your hand goes to your stomach as it makes a sound reminiscent of a 16 year old making good use of that drum kit they got for Christmas. You look up for a brief second - Kibo Sushi House - the sign (literally, not divine, though you're questioning a bit at this point) beckons you in. You follow its cue.

You're greeted by warm welcomes and genuine smiles. Seated, and given a menu. You flip through - wow, everything looks great (it is) - but you're feeling something simple. Sashimi. You call the server over, ask a few questions (wow, are they ever nice!) and place an order. Sashimi and an Asahi.

The food arrives quickly, "Enjoy!" Little do you know that enjoyment will not even begin to describe the proceeding moments of your life. Fresh, delicious fish, prepared in such a way that you can TASTE the love and pride that the chef has for their craft. Each bite brings you somewhere new, emotionally, psychologically, philosophically (the -allys may change, we're all unique after all). You follow these bites with deep drinks of crisp, fresh beer. And before you know it, it's over.

The server walks over and asks how everything was. Great you say; and it's the truest thing you've said all week.

Suffice it to say, Kibo College is phenomenal. Great, kind and attentive staff. Delicious food. Fantastic atmosphere. Couldn't ask for much more. Thank...

Maki rolls were decent and salmon sashimi and sushi were actually of good quality.

I am just baflled with the kind of service we received.

Date: May 25, 2024 Time: around 7:30 PM Group of 3 Pax

Rushed Service

We felt that we were rushed to finish our food as quickly as possible. We were having a good time and were chatting while eating since we haven't saw each other for months.

Servers were quickly getting our dishes one by one. Always on the look out going back and forth checking if dishes were empty.

One of my friend (Friend 1) even asked if there's plenty of people waiting in line. (She's facing the kitchen thus not able to see the main dining area.) And there were no line and a couple of empty tables. She really felt that she was being rushed.

Another friend (Friend 2), we were talking and the server always getting empty dishes, like we get this vibes of "Are you done?" My friend even asked me, do they want us to go already?

And me, I always look on gestures. I really get the aura and vibes that we are not allowed to stay that long. More of eat quick and go. We only stayed for more than an hour actually.

Felt that we haven't received a warm service compared to the other guests who were White. We are of Asian decent.

I am not sure if this is training the servers received to quickly rush the service so that guests will feel that they have to eat quickly and leave quickly. If yes, please state it explicitly that "only allowed to stay 1 hour or 2 hours only". So that the guests can manage their expectation.

We really felt stressed and unrelaxed. Pity as the food was good though

Will we be back?...