Kitchener now 100% better.

[c9]

When we got here, Kitchener had only two things to offer. At least, that's what it seemed like. Everyone who discovered that we had just moved here told us about the Farmer's Market and Oktoberfest. Then they would stop telling us about things Kitchener had to offer. At first it was amusing, but then it got a little sad.

In my opinion, only the Market is really that great.

Tonight, my list of things doubled! Niko Niko opened today. This is a sushi restaurant just two blocks from our condo, and on my way to work. We had the Dinner for Two A: sixteen (!) pieces of tempura, twelve (!) pieces of sushi (nigiri, specifically), seven pieces of California Roll (a.k.a. maki), salads, and soups. We were their very first dinner customers, so we also got edamame for free, plus some tea. All this for $26. That's really good, FYI.

First night jitters: they forgot to give us our soup (and we forgot to ask for it), they forgot to bring us little soy sauce bowls, they were discovering how to serve multiple customers at one time... lots of fun. For those who dined at Jane's in the early days, you know exactly the combination of "first day" things and yummy food.

Best. Monday. Ever.

They're friendly, the food is tasty, they have lots of space... it is almost exactly what we needed to appear in our neighbourhood to really help us start to like Kitchener a bit.

Funniest item: realizing that we were in a German-ancestry city, in a formerly Italian restaurant, eating Japanese food, drinking from Swedish glasses (IKEA) that were made in Italy, under several Christmas wreaths. At least the soundtrack made sense (heartfelt Japanese pop ballads).

Comments

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

Yes. Sushi does make everything better. :-).

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

Oh, this reminds me. You should put "make Pete and Sarah take us out for sushi" on your "to do in Seattle" list. :-). The options are endless. From just-as-expensive-and-almost-as-good-as-Blue Water to "Ghetto Sushi" in Bellevue. A sushi-go-round type place. Good fish, but the atmosphere is only a small step above "community centre basement".

[thespos]

God... you make me remember why I loved living in an urban environment. Nothing better than these experiences. :-)

[bartok.livejournal.com]

$26 for two. jealous.

even moderately priced restaurants here have their mains at $25-$30 each. Expensive ones go up to the $40-50 range.

However thankfully the listed price includes tax, and people don't tip here.

[bonoboboy.livejournal.com]

Hey, and Vin was just telling me today in an email about how he hadn't had sushi in a awhile! Yay!

If you kids are in the mood, I'd love to go with you again this weekend. :D

[leapfish.livejournal.com]

I mentioned that to Cam at dinner, actually. Sounds like a great idea to me.

I think we ordered the best deal on the menu; it's actually a bit pricey there (~$10 for your average set of 6 rolls), but the quality is superior.

[zedinbed.livejournal.com]

I hate sushi. But sushi means poshness. Poshness means better downtown Kitchener. Yay!

[c9.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear you hate sushi. What don't you like? I am actually not a big fan of the raw fish myself, so I tend to stick to the vegetarian and cooked sushi.

[zedinbed.livejournal.com]

I'll be honest and say that it was originally the raw fish that turned me off it but somehow that whole sushi beaing full of delicous salmonella really turned me off cooked and uncooked sushi. I'm such a dumb germophobe. :\

[yellowtangfish.livejournal.com]

there is also a festival of trees at the city hall, as well as a christmas marketplace there, too. and there will be a march of german carollers ( festival of lights?) that starts in victoria park and goes to city hall. my husband liked it, because he speaks german.

[c9.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, there are plenty of other events and things. I'm all about the "any weekend" attractions though. When someone visits, I need to show them something now, not tell them to come back later. :)

[rebelprince26.livejournal.com]

i didn't realize you hit it on opening night! what a treat! there's a great sushi place near me called tomo that i frequent when i can afford it (read: i've ordered there twice since i moved here). of course, i always get the vegetarian stuff. of course. :)

[ex-thrasymac191.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed a restaurant, whose name I don't remember, next to a condo development that may have been called "Distillery Lofts". It had sort of an unpleasant view of the back of a supermarket, though.

[c9.livejournal.com]

Seagram Lofts, in the old Seagram's distilleries. The restaurant is called Solé. Very yummy.