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A stylish Japanese Restaurant serving more than just sushi, in a 3-floor location that is bigger than it looks.
This restaurant took the place of where Saiz Japanese Restaurant used to be. It thought it would have comparable food quality...I was wrong.
Food: The food was a little...off. First of all, like most 'Japanese' restaurants in Vancouver, this is not Japanese owned. It doesn't really matter, as long as they make good Japanese food. Sadly, this restaurant does a poor imitation of what Japanese food should taste like. There are many items on the menu that are more suitable for a Chinese restaurant.
The California roll was tasty, however, the colour was just off. Food colouring seems to be used quite frequently in the sushi, which I have never experienced before in a Japanese restaurant. The salmon looked really red. At first, I interpreted this as fresh salmon. Then I took a bite. Tasteless. No taste at all. Then I noticed the traces of salmon juice it left- that was red too. Food colouring?!
The BC roll: I've been to this restaurant twice since it opened recently. Both times, there was a BC roll special for $1.95, which is unheard of in Kitsilano. The first time, the BC roll was delicious, nice and freshly deep-fried fish skin. Second time, however, it tasted a little 'off' and was seasoned heavily by black pepper. I have never had BC roll with that much black pepper in it. Were they trying to conceal the fact that it wasn't that fresh?
Service: The service leaves much to be desired. We were the only ones in the restaurant at that time, and still, the food took forever to arrive. I would understand if we were ordering specialty items...but this was just a sushi combo!
Value: The 'value' or 'special' menu is quite decently priced. Had the BC roll been fresher, I would have definitely returned.
Ambiance: It seems as though they've made a few renovations since taking over from Saiz. Overall though, it's pretty much the same. I wish they spent more effort on the food rather than the ambiance!
Even with the high quality food Saiz offered, it eventually closed down. It's only a matter of time before this one does too. As for non-authentic Japanese food in Kitsilano, I would rather go to Kitsilano Sushi. Even though it does a poorer imitation of Japanese food than this one, at least you'll know what to expect- not BC rolls loaded with black pepper!
SaiZ Japanese Restaurant was my top, favourite "date" location. I even had a large birthday party here in a gorgeous private room...
Food: The main reason I loved SaiZ was because of the unique food. Italian/Japanese fusion? Hook me up!
Our first hint of badness was that they no longer serve an Amuse Bouche before the meal. This was a little thing that made it seem so much nicer there.
I looked for missing old SaiZ classics....
The Italian roll... with pesto and sundried tomato... we are known to have ordered 4 orders of these at a time. They were AMAZING and UNIQUE.
Gone.
The log cabin yam fries with chipotle mayo and balsamic reduction. GLORIOUS.
Gone.
The Tuna Sashimi Crepe wth avocado, mayonnaise, and wasabi?
Gone.
Japanese Spaghetti with clams and amazing sauce?
Gone.
Their Spicy Tuna Sashimi(previously one of my favourites in town), served on a bed of lettuce with with deep fried lotus root?
The "spicy" sauce has been changed(watery and bland), and the sashimi is served on a plate with the standard lump of shredded daikon and what looks to be wasabi from a tube..
It was disappointing.
EVERY SINGLE ITEM we used to order there is now gone. Replaced by dubious "Japanese" standard items. That are still incredibly overpriced.
The yam tempura roll was COLD. I have NEVER paid that much for a COLD and soggy yam tempura roll.
We now have no reason to come here.
The AMAZING wine selection has been pared down to sake, plum wine and beer. The same as EVERY OTHER SUSHI RESTAURANT IN TOWN.
Gone was the $50 German riesling we used to order as a favouite.
Gone was the substantial wine list and the suggestions for pairing it with their special wonderful food.
Service: The restaurant was EMPTY. BARREN. My bf took me here on a Friday night and we were the only ones. A couple came in later, but it was pretty embarrassingly bad for such a pricy beautiful Kits restaurant. Even so, the waitress never really came by. When we asked about custom rolls or a greater wine selection we got a giggle and "No, no." We got coffee after the meal and she didn't bring any spoons. We had to ask. She brought 3 sugar packets. For 2 of us. We had to ask for more. Even then she took her sweet time. We had to go and hunt the waitress down for our bill. We were the only ones there, I expected GREAT service at LEAST.
Value: Overpriced. It's the same sushi you could get at a million places. This is Vancouver, and there are MUCH better restaurants for this value. There are JUST AS GOOD restaurants for cheaper!
Ambience: Beautiful. Can't say a bad thing. Balcony seating, a water fountain in the back, skylights.....It's unconventional for a Japanese restaurant but gorgeous. And HUGE.
We now have moved father from Kitsilano, and were VERY willing to travel back this way to SaiZ.
For "The One"?
Not even if someone else offered to drive AND pay.
There are much BETTER, unique, cheaper, closer restaurants....
Go here if you like sitting in an empty restaurant paying through the ass for only decent boring sushi.
My girlfriend and I saw this place right across from Coppertank, they just opened where Sai Z used to be so we thought we'd give it a try.
Food: Their regular rolls are comparable to anywhere else, they had a pitcher special going on, 15.95 for a pitcher of G.I. Chicken Karrage and Yam Fries, Chicken Karrage was a bit salty. But when the specialty rolls came they were amazing, we had the dragon roll and the papaya roll, the latter of which was just as tasty as it sounded.
Ambiance: I'm giving this a 4 star, because it's rare to have Japanese in a more upscale fine-dining environment, while the food was priced just as you'd expect for sushi. Ambiance for value this place was definitely worth it, it doesn't feel too Japanese, they have a piano in there, light music and a spacious 3 floor area behind you don't expect when you first walk in.
| 1. | Tim Hortons (7 m) | |
| 2. | Hollywood Pizza Club (13 m) | |
| 3. | Kitsilano Sushi (17 m) |  |
| 4. | Kitstaya Sushi (17 m) | |
| 5. | Nuba (21 m) | |
| 6. | Fringe Cafe, The (24 m) |  |
| 7. | Coppertank Grill (33 m) |  |
| 8. | Crab Shack Grill & Oyster House (37 m) | |
| 9. | Al Basha (38 m) | |
| 10. | Cafe D'Lite (39 m) | |
