Sushi Umi (Toronto) — Restaurant in Toronto

I’ve tried almost all the omakase in Toronto except the Michelin-starred ones (because I might as well go to Japan), and here’s my review.

The $68 lunch omakase is an unbeatable deal. The atmosphere is lovely, and the chef was very attentive, even asking if the wasabi amount was to my liking. He was also very friendly, which added to the experience.

The omakase included 10 pieces: a scallop, a hamachi (yellowtail), two shrimp, three pieces of tuna (lean, medium, and fatty), one uni, one saba, and one ikura (salmon roe). The hamachi was outstanding, and the scallop was impressively large and fresh. However, the uni was disappointing—either not fresh or just lower quality—I’d actually recommend not serving it, as a bad piece can ruin the flavors of the following courses, even with ginger to cleanse the palate. I wouldn’t recommend ordering a la carte either (I tried the wagyu + foie gras + uni combo from the March special menu, and the uni didn’t hold up either, just like the one in the sushi). The rest of the selection was pretty decent but nothing extraordinary.

That said, I do have a few complaints. There was a large fish bone (not just a small bone, but an actual bone) in my handroll, which is a big no-no for omakase. The Chinese-speaking waitresses were quite chatty, often talking amongst themselves while serving, which felt unprofessional. The alcohol is on the pricey side (which I assume is how they make money), but the green tea is reasonably priced. It would also be nice if the staff introduced the origin of the ingredients, as that adds to the omakase experience.

For $68, this is an amazing deal—especially since it’s right in my neighborhood. Aside from the fish bone, I’d...

As a lover of Japanese cuisine for decades, it feels shameful to admit that this was my time trying omakase. I've wanted tobfor ages, but just never got around to it.

I must say, this was one hell of an experience! The staff was lovely, the food was delicious and the price point was very fair when compared to some of the exorbitant other restaurants in Toronto that offer a similar experience.

Our meal consisted of 1 appetizer, 10 sushi courses, 1 hand roll and 1 dessert. Each bite was exceptional, both flavorful for the taste buds and a a visual feast for the eyes.

If I had one note, I may suggest that there be a little more explanation with each course rather than just saying the name of the dish itself. It would add to, for lack of a better word, the pagentry of the meal and provide a little more insight aside from watching the preparation.

All that said, I cant wait to return and I'll be highly recommending the experience to anyone looking for some...

This place is simply delectable. They are a reservation only kind of place, it's simply too small to accept walk ins, but it's an umakase restaurant, meaning a large part of your dining experience is the experience. So if you are coming, please don't be like the inconsiderate pair next to us and put away your phones and enjoy the performance. The chefs are artisans, they are working for you. With it being a Umakase, the menu is a set 10 course, though you can add extra at the end if you wish but we were fine with the 10 courses. Each item we were presented both looked and tasted amazing. Lovely flavours. The staff there are so courteous and kind, very welcoming. Can't recommend any particular item because there's no guarantee they'll have that the next time, but we weren't disappointed with any of them. Would definitely recommend to anyone curious about Umakase, or want to have a nice evening out without...