Nomé Izakaya Toronto — Restaurant in Toronto

Please let me premise this by saying the food and our server were great. The atmosphere is what ruined the entire experience. I would give it a "zero" if possible. I am hoping that this is a one-off and not the norm. I am an avid customer at the Don Mills location and have never had any issues with food, service or atmosphere. I was so excited when we found out that a location opened up just down the street from us on Fort York. It's a 10-minute walk from my front door. I couldn't wait to take my husband there for the first time. We sat at a table near the bar for dinner. Normally, I like sitting near the bar because of the lively energy. NOT TODAY. The in-house "DJ" was loitering around with a bunch of friends at the bar. Again, not something I would normally care about, but there was non-stop pacing in and out of the "DJ booth", there were bouts of yelling, a bar stool was knocked over without any regard and to top it all off, the DJ and a few of his friends engaged in an argument seated at the bar and took it right outside of the restaurant doors - yelling and getting in each other's faces. The staff looked on, but no one did anything. Eventually those in the argument dispersed, but unfortunately they all came back into the restaurant to continue their loud and obnoxious engaging. One sat on the table top that was empty next to us, another lit a spliff before deciding to continue smoking it outside. It was frustrating to watch the servers having to go around this group of people. I felt bad for them. The ambiance felt distracting and noisy, even though the restaurant itself was not super busy. I asked a staff member if this was a regular occurrence. He said he was new and wasn't sure. The only time I saw what I assume to be the manager was when she turned the volume down on the music...because yes, there was that issue. Safe to say that my husband's first time was unpleasant and I was utterly disappointed. If this is the standard of dining environment that this location has to offer, I'll continue to go to the Don Mills location since none of this evening's debauchery ever...

I’ve visited Nome a handful of times now, and each experience was generally positive. Tonight was very different. I ordered a dish that had torched fish, on top of which I could taste lighter fuel (an unpleasant, synthetic/plastic flavour) that dominated the taste of the fish. After picking off a few of the pieces, I gave up on trying to enjoy the dish. Here’s where the experience went really downhill: after notifying our server, I was offered to have it packed up to go, which I refused (because of the obvious taste of something that shouldn’t have been in there) and when I asked to speak to the manager she came over with an attitude I can only describe as condescending and dismissive. She contested and told me no one had ever complained about the dish before, and that torched food may taste somewhat burnt/smoky. I informed her that the taste wasn’t that of a pleasant nature and she interrupted me to say that the best she can do is offer a cheesecake for the table. I said I’d prefer just to have the item struck from the bill instead, as I was no longer hungry. She defended her position, saying “it’s a kind gesture that I’m offering to you”, as though that was somehow going to make it all make sense to me. After this awkward, borderline rude interaction, she sent our poor server over to reconcile the bill. The server explained she was only authorized to take $10 off the total (for a $22 dish, $90 bill), and so we had no choice but to accept. We didn’t want to be in this restaurant anymore so we paid the tab in disbelief and walked out. I’ve worked in the service industry as a server, shift manager and “fixer” and this was an appalling example of how not to treat your customers. Mistakes are an inevitable part of this business, but the way in which these mistakes are identified, managed, and corrected is what separates a good establishment...

Mixed Feelings at Nome Izakaya

My partner and I decided to visit Nome Izakaya for a date night, drawn in by the intriguing menu and looking forward to a delightful dining experience. First off, I want to commend the service and the atmosphere of the restaurant. The staff was friendly and attentive, making sure our evening went smoothly from the moment we walked in. The cleanliness of both the dining area and the washrooms was impeccable, creating a welcoming environment.

However, our main reason for visiting—the food—left us underwhelmed. While we were excited to try the Lobster Fantasy and Tuna Coin sushi rolls, among other dishes, we found that the flavors did not live up to our expectations. It seemed the emphasis was more on sauce rather than on marinating or seasoning, which prevented the true flavors from coming through. Comparatively, the freshness and taste of these items did not match the value, especially when thinking about the quality one can find elsewhere at a similar or lower price point.

The Ebi Katsu Slider, while okay, also suffered in terms of presentation and taste. It was unfortunately bland, and the slider itself could not stand upright when served, which was a bit disappointing visually.

While I believe in supporting local restaurants and appreciate the hard work that goes into every dish, I was hoping for a meal that matched both the price and the beautiful setting. Based on our experience, I would have to rate our visit as 2 stars. I genuinely hope this feedback can be a constructive part of Nome Izakaya’s ongoing effort to provide memorable meals that match the quality of their service...