Unfortunately, I walked in to this restaurant accidentally, distracted and misreading my map…read more.. thinking I was in front of another sushi restaurant one block West of my actual location. Oops. I have now learned my lesson. Attention to detail. Must remember in future.
This restaurant is located on the fourth floor of a high-rise mall/office complex, with two dozen tables and chairs spilling out into the mall itself. At least the ambiance in the mall area is consistent. The restaurant interior is a mix of styles, including almost-sunken tables, linen tablecloths, paper napkins, laminated menus and dust-covered plastic flowers. At least, there were no obnoxious blaring televisions, so common south of the border.
The trilingual staff were prompt and pleasant enough, as they sat me at the sushi bar (photo), one of the very few high points of this experience. After a quick look, I avoided the laminated menus and ordered sushi directly from what appeared to be the take-out menu. As usual, I ordered a small soup, a couple of maki and a handful of nirgiri.
The soup itself was palatable. A few complaints I often have were actually well met here: the sushi rice itself was well seasoned, there was wasabi beneath each piece of raw fish in the nigiri, the unagi was not overwhelmed with fat and the tamago was excellent. Unfortunately, only mastering the non-fresh-fish segments in a sushi restaurant is a problem.
The remainder of the main was disappointing. Both the maki, and a few of the nigiri were poorly constructed, falling apart even before being touched (photo). The spicy salmon was an unappetizing bland paste spilling from the roll. The eel cucumber had an added flavor I haven't had, or expected, before: mayonnaise. It didn't help. The ikura was also lacking - the salmon roe were soggy, not the firm "pop" expected from biting into really fresh roe.
And lastly, the lunch bill, including tax and tip, was about CAD$70, far, far above any actual value received. There are plenty of other expensive restaurants within three blocks in which anyone would be pleased to spend their time and money.
I enjoy visiting le Mille carré doré, but I cannot see any reason for me to ever return to this restaurant.
2019 02 08. S 22.