Yamato Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Toronto

My sister and I are very regular customers at Yamato and have been for the past 15 years. We planned a lovely, end of summer afternoon of sushi lunch followed by strolling Yorkville today. We ordered our usual order, sushi "pizza" and an assortment of a la carte nigiri and some wine. We found that for the first time ever, the tuna on the sushi pizza had a bit of a metallic aftertaste that we had never tasted before. Nothing serious but concerning, given that nobody likes food poisoning. So, we expected our concerns to be taken seriously and the dish simply replaced without a fuss. The waitress was polite and took our plate away immediately. We were shocked and embarrassed when, five minutes later, the manager returned and stood over our table, holding the plate with the remaining sushi pizza in our faces, angrily scolding that he has served that tuna to "100 people" that day and we were the first to complain. In front of all of the other diners. We pressed the point that we were very familiar with the taste of the dish and were being extra cautious given the risk of food born illness with sushi (we did not mention that the prices at Yamato are approximately double many fine sushi restaurants in the city and with that price point also comes an expectation of a certain level of service). With utter rudeness and "attitude", he took our sushi platter and removed the roll which also contained the same tuna and unceremoniously returned the platter, not offering to replace anything. The waitress attempted to compensate for her manager's behavior by being kind and attentive and sent us another sushi pizza with salmon. My sister decided to speak to the manager on our way out at the end of the meal. I went to the washroom and when I came out, the manager kept repeating, in a loud voice, at the front of the restaurant, that if we had only had "one bite" he might not have had a problem but because we had "three pieces" it was a problem. His posture and tone of voice were extremely confrontational. I attempted to interject and explain calmly that the bar for freshness is high with sushi and that the service was not acceptable and he ignored me and continued to escalate. Finally, my sister realized that she was getting nowhere and remarked that he was an hole. He responded by following us out of the restaurant and screaming at us at top volume that we are "ing b*es" and never to come back. It was loud enough that several passersby noticed and one gasped in surprise. I understood her reaction; it isn't every day that the host of a supposedly top tier restaurant follows customers out of the restaurant, swearing and behaving in a manner that is completely unhinged. I had always noticed that this man's manner was terse to the point of rude at every encounter I had with him (I either eat in or order take-out from them every 4-6 weeks year round), but I never imagined him capable of this. I feel strongly that this restaurant believes that because of it's prime location and it's (largely undeserved) reputation (it's good sushi but there are several much better places in Toronto, most of which are much more reasonably priced), it owes it's customers nothing. The attitude toward customers conveys the sense that they feel that the customer is lucky to have the privilege of paying $75 plus tax and tip per person to dine in their fine establishment. I will never go...

If you're looking for a delightful dining experience that combines top-notch cuisine with an entertaining atmosphere, Yamato is the Japanese restaurant to visit. From the moment we stepped in until the time we left, we were thoroughly impressed with the overall experience this establishment had to offer.

One of the highlights of our visit to Yamato was the incredibly talented and fun-loving chef. From the get-go, he charmed us with his warm smile and witty sense of humor. Throughout the meal, he delighted us with practical jokes, all while showcasing his remarkable culinary skills on the grill right in front of our eyes. Watching him expertly cook our food while engaging us in playful banter added an extra layer of enjoyment to our dining experience.

The quality of the food at Yamato surpassed our expectations. Each dish was made with fresh ingredients and presented beautifully. From the sizzling teppanyaki dishes to the mouthwatering sushi rolls, every bite was a burst of flavors that left us craving for more. The chef's mastery in grilling and creating exquisite dishes right in front of us was truly a sight to behold.

Apart from the delectable cuisine and the chef's showmanship, we were pleasantly surprised by the attention to detail in the restaurant's hygiene and cleanliness. The well-managed bathrooms were a testament to the restaurant's commitment to providing a pleasant and hygienic environment for its guests. It was evident that the staff took great care in ensuring that the facilities were promptly cleaned and maintained, creating a comfortable dining atmosphere.

The ambiance at Yamato was vibrant and inviting, further enhancing the overall experience. The staff members were courteous, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu, making excellent recommendations based on our preferences. The restaurant's cozy and traditional Japanese decor added a touch of authenticity to the dining experience.

In conclusion, Yamato is an exceptional Japanese restaurant that leaves a lasting impression on its guests. The combination of delicious, high-quality food, a charismatic and fun-loving chef, and a well-managed dining space makes it a must-visit for any Japanese cuisine enthusiast. Whether you're looking for a fun family dinner or a memorable outing with friends, Yamato will undoubtedly exceed your expectations. We can't wait to return for another unforgettable meal at this fantastic...

My boyfriend and I visited Yamato Teppanyaki at Yorkville in early Nov, 2018. We had the reservations for 7 pm. Arrived at the restaurant on time and was surprised that there is no waiting area and despite of our reservations, the table is not ready for us. We waited for 10 mins, which is ok, because we were sincere looking forward to the experience especially I reserved this for my boyfriend’s birthday. We were shown to our table, but was surprised to see children were allowed to sit and play on the window. Usually we have no issue with that, but were not expecting that at an unpscale Japanese restaurant. Anyhow, my boyfriend ordered a Teriyaki Ribeye with lobster which is serve with Prime Ribe and I ordered a sirlion with scallops. The chef Olivier came to cook for the guests, the experience was fine until he served my boyfriend the same meat he served me. We were a bit confused, and asked Olivier if thats The prime rib he served my boyfriend. He replied “Yes”. We looked at each other, since there were other guests on the table, we did not want to make the scene and destroy or delay the experience for other guests. We then quitely accepted it; however we knew it is not Prime Ribeye that my boyfriend had, and he did not serve me prime ribeye, he served me sirlion as I ordered, so if my boyfriend and I served the same meat, how can his be prime ribeye. The price difference between his order and my is $14. The prime ribeye with lobster is $35, and my is $21. We often cooked steak at home, so we definitely can tell the difference between meats and cuts. The fact that the chef made an mistake and did not want to compansate or admit the mistakes turned the entire experience sour. Also the server did not even empty the sake bottle into my boyfriend’s sake cup before taking it away, there was a bit of sake left in the bottle, that could make almost a full cup. That also turned the experience side way. Other than that, the ventilation in teppanyaki area was not the best. So when we get the bill, we did not leave any tips. The server who cashed us out was a bit shocked, even so, they did not asked us what was wrong. So we walked out of that restaurant with the thoughts of never going back. Worst of all, my boyfriend’s birthday dinner was ruined. Who can...