Kyo Bar Japonais Located In The Old Port Of Montreal

on 29 July, 2013 at 03:24

This isn’t just about food, it almost feels like travel. The minds behind newly opened Kyo Bar Japonais left no stone unturned delivering an authentically modern Japanese trip in the heart of old Montreal. Perfectly located in the Place D’Armes Hotel, the Antonopoulos Group raises the bar and invites you to an experience only it can provide.
You will find solace in Kyo’s superb simple subtle setting and approach to everything. We enjoyed the natural light cascading into the room which is neatly modular with row of high tables towards the middle. If the casual high seat is not your thing you can sit at one of the lower tables which line the rest of the room. One can also admire sushi chef Terrence Ting in action from the sushi bar which is visible from every seat in the house. It is important to note that Kyo`s menu draws inspiration from the Izakaya tradition in which food serves as an accompaniment to drink. Izakaya historically refers to a sake shop where one could stay and drink. Patrons could choose from an extensive array of dishes which were ordered not all at once but as the drinking went on. As we were about to discover, you can`t say that the kitchen takes a back seat to the sake list at Kyo Bar.

Faced with so many choices, we decided to let manager Marie-Claude show us the way. We were invited to sample Kyo bar`s signature cocktails. All Asian inspired and fresher than fresh, try the Pinky Ginger a Shochu, berry and ginger taste or Pomelo Old Fashioned, sweet and perfect. Sake lovers rejoice, Kyo`s list boasts no less than 25 varieties hot, cold and even sparkling. You can also go for traditional plum wine as an alternate authentic choice. Throw caution to the wind and have yourself an intercontinental experience with a bottle from the international wine list. We opted for Cold Sake and were truly impressed with what came next. In line with tradition our Sake glasses were served in small cedar boxes specially crafted for the establishment. The glass is filled over spilling a small amount of Sake into the cedar box. The beautifully odorous Cedar wood lends its taste to the Sake and will give you a beautifully woody taste of Sake at the end of your meal. Kyo Bar’s menu is a voyage of discovery punctuated by original twists on classis dishes. The selection is ideal for a small group of friends as much as a larger bunch and all will enjoy sharing so many wonderful tastes. Gomaae steamed sesame spinach salad was refreshing topped off with candied lotus, a nice little touch. Warm appetizers include fried sea ray wing with ponzu and daikon and Gyutan Korean grilled beef tongue. You will find a solid selection of appetizer style dishes for every taste including vegetarian options. Next, we had spectacular Sashimi and Negri, special mention for the Japanese Scallop Ceviche which Marie Claude strongly recommended. We urge you to try Gindara Saikyo Yaki, expertly miso marinated cod which is then grilled and guaranteed to blow you away. Sample Hamachi Bibimbap served in a hot stone bowl that cooks marinated Hamachi and Gochujang rice in front of your eyes. Save some space for Kyo bar’s Maki creations such as Shogun (Eel, salmon and omelette) or Beef Sashimi tempura cheese and avocado with caramelized onions and spicy mayo (KYO). When all was said and done we had a new appreciation for the tradition of Izakaya. Kyo bar’s food and drink choices warrant more than one visit and this is a good thing. The establishment draws in a cool crowd and everything here is done right, food, service and ambiance. You will want to come back and most probably just like us, will not want to leave.
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