Sushi has become such popular fare these days that Japanese restaurants are almost as ubiquitous as Starbucks franchises. That makes finding a truly tasty sushi experience more difficult to come by. But if you’re ready to part with your cash for an absolutely divine gastronomical experience, Ki is it.

Located in the heart of Toronto’s financial district, Ki doubles as a hot spot for schmoozing and boozing and an upscale Japanese fusion eatery. You might come here for a meal on Thursday night, only to find the place packed with Bay Street bankers. However, if you can find a booth in the corner of this huge, dimly lit establishment, you can enjoy Ki in a more intimate light.

Ki isn’t traditional sushi in that’s it’s fused with Western ingredients. We enjoyed the tasting menu, which offers the chef’s selection of several dishes. The other way to order here is tapas-style, with small plates to share amongst the group.

Our meal here was fabulous. Our waiter was extremely attentive and very knowledgeable. As each dish came, he told us what we eating and how it was prepared. The one dish that will stay in my mind forever was the Toro tower with shallots and garlic. The sweet potato wedges with garlic wasabi mayo was also delicious. The tuna and salmon served on rice cakes had to be the piece de resistance – kind of like an upscale, gourmet version of sushi pizza.

There were so many delicious things on the menu, but if you’re adventurous enough – and have the money – you will truly get the best bang for your buck with the chef’s selection. This is an amazing place for an anniversary, birthday or other special occasion. The ambiance, the service and the food were top notch and I can’t say the experience felt anything like a visit to Starbucks.

Vanessa