August 8 is located in an outdoor mall at 280 North Service Road in Oakville. We've also reviewed its other location in downtown Toronto. August 8 has a dark and modern interior with benches and tables, and is all in one square dining area so is rather small. AYCD pop is available at $2.75, and tea is $1 per cup with free water refill. Ginger is not dyed pink. Soy at table was green-lid low-sodium and only slightly salty. We went for weekend lunch.
Miso soup was very good, savoury, and not dilute, though Mishy said hers was but it turned out she had merely forgotten to stir it. Hot and sour soup was very good, and again another dish that benefits from simple black pepper. Chicken teriyaki was excellent with well-cooked tender chicken and a flavorful understated sauce. Shrimp tempura was very good, also with understated sauce but it was good nonetheless. Beef skewers were excellent and probably the best we ever had, tender and juicy with a fantastic spice mix. Chicken skewers Mishy didn't like saying they tasted like fish, but I disagreed and liked them.
Mango chicken was so amazing with its sauce that Mishy oohed and aahed over it until I tried it and agreed it was delicious. Deep fried scallops were very good in their sauce. Steak teriyaki's steak were big thick strips of beef, although the sauce was too understated and could have amplified the savour. Spring rolls were good and not oily, and the sauce was tasty and tangy.|
Salmon nigiri was very good and fresh although the salmon had very indistinct marbling. Philadelphia roll was very good with good balance of ingredients. Red snapper aka tilapia nigiri fresh and good, also surf clam, crab surimi and red tuna. In the dim sum options, pork shiu mai was also very good. Sweet custard buns was delicious. Shrimp dumplings were delicious and nicely seasoned. Spicy salmon taco was very good, and a nice addition to the regular menu.
For dessert, we both loved the mango pudding with its rich flavor. Vanilla ice cream was rich French-style vanilla, chocolate super rich and delicious, green tea very good, mango excellent and very rich. Sesame balls were very good with notable sesame flavors. Service fast and friendly. Weekend lunch was $24.99. (Watch the cost on the menu as it was entered as dinner price for us and we had to correct it.) This isn't bad considering the current dining situation and that it was a very good lunch, but still nearby Yame Sushi managed to deliver similar, or even slightly better, for $5 less, which of course is factored into the rating.
Rating: 7.5-8/10
