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
