2018-08-11

NO LONGER AYCE - Sushi Rock (Japanese)



Update: 2021-Aug-20 - There is currently no AYCE at this location post-lockdown even though it is now permitted, and it is unknown if and when it will ever return. I am therefore removing it from the active list, and will follow up periodically and restore it should it return to AYCE status.

Sushi Rock is located at 2359 Yonge Street, a block north of Eglinton subway station so is very transit accessible. Sushi Rock has a pleasant enough interior, although the ambient music that was playing at the time was very repetitive and I don't know how the staff could stand it after a while. Reusable chopsticks are used thankfully. Soy at the table was fresh but salty, however low sodium soy sauce is available on request; it was only a moderate improvement but better than nothing. Although the outside was oppressively hot and humid, air conditioning was only moderate, and I found myself fanning myself with the menu constantly. Ordering is done through old school paper templates. Booth, half-booth and high-table seating is available.

Kami (honestly labeled surimi imitation crab) salad was actually pretty good. Miso soup was quite good and savory, although it did have some enoki mushrooms floating around in it, but not enough to throw off the flavor. Miso eggplant was very good and unique, with a nice sauce which made it, as I am not otherwise an eggplant fan. Tempura shrimp had an eggy flavour, which I didn't mind as the sauce was rich and tasty. Yam tempura was a bit al dente but good. Beef teriyaki was steak-like very good in a nice sauce. Chicken teriyaki was good, smoky and well grilled but the sauce did not work as well for it. Hot and sour soup was very good, with nice flavours, good heat and was not too sour.

Avocado cucumber roll had an excellent flavour but was a bit loosely rolled. White tuna nigiri was fresh red tuna slightly less fresh but still good, salmon nigiri very fresh and all had good rice and consistency. Crab surimi sashimi was good and fresh. Salmon sashimi was excellent and very fresh. White tuna sashimi also was good and fresh. Tamago sushi was quite tasty. Red snapper sashimi was good. I noted that several of the sashimi pieces were not cut all the way through and still adhered. Beware the portion sizes on pan-fried mixed vegetables and beef udon soup; I ordered them last and had difficulty finishing them. Beef udon did not have much seasoning, flavour or savour in the broth whatsoever. Pan fried vegetables were good but could have used some more zest.

Curried chicken I did not care for as the sauce just didn't work very well for me. Sadly I left it until almost last; sauce was too salty for me, and lacking in curry notes. It also had things in it such as cabbage that did not seem to belong. Spring rolls were good in a bit too sweet of a dipping sauce. Cheese wontons were good and the same sauce was better for them.

For dessert, banana tempura was excellent with the right amount of sauce and good breading. Green tea ice cream was fresh and good, red bean ice cream not bad but not as good; I can't tell if it was freezer burned, stale or was just like that. Service was excellent, even though I was at the front of the place away from the other patrons... being an oppressively hot day I was very thirsty on arrival and think I had about ten waters, with no issues from the wait staff on all those refills. I went on a civic holiday Monday and dinner was all day for $26; it's $22.99 regular weekdays and $24.99 Fridays / weekends / holidays. This isn't too far over the mark and there wasn't anything there that was really bad... aside from the shortcomings, most items were good with a few very good.

Rating 7 - 7.5 / 10

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