It’s time to sound the alarm. The crisis I hoped to avoid is indeed upon us. But, and there’s always a but, the situation isn’t as dire as I had originally predicted. Phew. Still, the quest for sushi in Montreal that is both high in quality and affordable, remains just that – a quest.

The reason we can relax a tad and avoid an Armageddon scenario is thanks to a little place on Parc Ave. called Bistro Isakaya. My parents found out about Isakaya through their friends at La Mer, who informed them the restaurant’s Japanese born sushi chef/owner purchases only the best. Decor-wise, Isakaya isn’t particularly exciting on the eyes and the service is good, not great. But if the sashimi is fresh, I’m a happy camper and it’s definitely fresh here. I’m not sure when they have it, but if king salmon sashimi happens to be available, you must try it. Plus, the maki rolls are simple – i.e. none of that mango, curry, cream cheese crap that screams of inauthenticity. My favourite is the Isakaya roll featuring salmon, crab meat, white fish, tobiko and cucumber, however, classics like the spider with soft shell crab, salmon kamikaze and California are also excellent. And though I’m not the biggest lobster fan, my friends who tried Isakaya’s lobster roll had nothing but positive accolades for it.

Maki and sashimi at Bistro Isakaya

Appetizer wise, the dishes are also simple yet tasty. Standout apps include the tuna cocktail and the ultra light fried eggplant in bonito broth. Isakaya also does lunch and it’s cheap, cheap cheap which is why I’ll let it slide that there aren’t plenty of options to choose from. Oh, and speaking of cheap, considering the quality of the fish, a dinner for one at Isakya without alcohol can easily cost under $35. Are you out the door and in the car yet?

Fried eggplant in bonito broth at Bistro Isakaya

But, oh, there it is again, I still think Bishoku in its heyday (before new management and chefs took over) was better than Isakaya. The freshness factor is virtually equal at both, however, I simply preferred Bishoku’s slightly more inventive appetizers, maki rolls and the service was undoubtedly superior. I do think liking one over the other comes down to a matter of tastes and we all know how tastes can vary, so I’ll let you decide for yourselves. This is intended for the people who knew Bishoku before the “changes” because I don’t suggest you go there now. Sadly, it hasn’t gotten better. Let’s leave it at that because it’s a sensitive subject.

I also returned to 5 Saisons which reopened late September after a fire related closing. 5 Saisons delivers (within the NDG/Westmount areas), so there’s a big brownie point right there. It’s also a BYOB which merits at least 3 brownie points if not more. The restaurant’s fare ranks quite well on the freshness and taste scale, but I’m not exaggerating when I say it wasn’t easy finding maki rolls that weren’t “contaminated” with fruits or an abundance of tempura flakes. I find that extremely frustrating, albeit I am an easily frustrated gal. What’s more, 5 Saisons is no cheaper than Isakaya, so unless I’m ordering takeout and need lots of wine to go with my sushi (hey, somedays can be really stressful), then I’m dragging my butt to Parc Ave.

The Te Quiero roll at 5 Saisons with spicy tuna, crispy tempura, cooked shrimp and avocado rolled in a soya bean leaf was too heavy on the sauce and tempura.

Clearly a woman on a mission, I went to Sushi Yu Mi on Sherbrooke West as well. It’s an adorable little spot that’s designed mainly for takeout orders. The staff was friendly and my order of maki rolls was completed quickly and the cost was very reasonable. Though I can’t put my finger on exactly what it was, I can say that something felt just slightly off. Don’t get me wrong, it was good and I’d like to give it a second chance, yet there was a taste to certain rolls that just didn’t jive with my palette.

Kaizen was another place I visited on my search for sushi greatness only to find sushi suckiness of the highest degree. It was bad, and when I say bad I mean BAD as in awful, as in STAY THE HELL AWAY. Are we clear? My intention isn’t to insult anyone, but I feel fortunate to have walked out of there without food poisoning because the fish was the furthest thing from fresh. It’s a shame because the service was top notch, the interior is beautiful and spacious, and Kaizen has one of the best wine lists in town. To be honest, it’s also too expensive to even be on this list since my search is about quality and affordability, but I had to try it. I left Kaizen feeling robbed – it’s totally overpriced, especially when you factor in the yuckiness. If you’re willing to spend on sushi, go to Jun I. I raved about it in Montreal Sushi Crisis Part I and I have been back several times since and each meal was better than the last. Word of advice: if there’s a roll of the month, do yourself a favor and order it – you won’t regret it.

The seaweed salad was the only dish I enjoyed at Kaizen.

Unfortunately, I didn’t try Oishii Sushi, nor did I revisit Shodan or Tri Express. After all, I was beginning to fear mercury poisoning. Based on my memories, Shodan is a good bet, although for the price I suggest Jun I. As for Tri Express, I’ve only been once and it was at least five years ago. I do recall a superb meal that perhaps was a little too avant garde for me back then, though let me assure you this foodie has grown up. Okay so maybe I scared you a little too much at first, but I had to get your attention somehow. So there you have it my friends, now go and eat some sushi and share your thoughts with me.

The sashimi appetizer at Jun I

My favourite steakhouse happens to be a small chain in the States called STK. I’ve been to the one in South Beach and Manhattan, and the quality of the meat itself and its preparation blew me away. I’m mentioning STK here because a) it has become the gold standard by which I measure all other steaks and b) the restaurant’s catchphrase is “not your daddy’s steakhouse”. In fact, it’s one of those places that’s as much about the “scene” as it is about the cuisine. Moishes, on the other hand, used to be a steakhouse that was very much your daddy’s – or even granddaddy’s – steakhouse. The keywords, however, being “used to be”, because when I dined there a couple of weeks ago on a Friday night, such was not the case. Indeed, Moishes’ dining room received a gorgeous facelift several months back, and though the the new room still has elements of an old-world steakhouse (the place has been around since 1938!) it now feels less stuffy and more “fresh”. I’ve got to give them major credit for this as it would’ve been a pity to see such a storied Montreal establishment become modernized to the point of losing all touch with its roots.

Not settling on revamping the decor alone, Moishes’ renaissance extended to its menu, which now includes a 3 hours to midnight special. For the sum of $25, one can indulge in an appetizer, a main course and a coffee or tea. Pretty good, eh? And indulge we did – starting with the complimentary coleslaw and crunchier than crunchy pickles for which the eatery is well known for. To start, we sampled the organic salmon tartar and a house salad. Our other options were chopped liver (not a fan) and Caesar salad (too heavy with meat). The portions were on the smaller side and not particularly awe-inducing, but the tartar was light, fresh and well seasoned. Similar adjectives can be used to describe the house salad, but honestly, what more can you really expect from a house salad?

The stuff legends are made of – Moishes’ pickles and coleslaw, and lots of butter.

Perennial favourite salmon tartar was light, fresh and well seasoned

Coming off my experience with Milos‘ limited 10 p.m. special, I was pleasantly surprised by how many main course options there were at Moishes – 12 – and a whole hour earlier! I was also pleased to see so many people taking advantage of this incredible deal. Upon walking in at 9 p.m., my friends and I witnessed a whole slew of golden agers filing out, only to be replaced with a younger crowd – a restaurant version of changing of the guard if you will. Okay, back to food… I opted for the filet mignon, as did my friend, while our other friend ordered the famous chicken breast. My steak paled in comparison with STK’s juicy and tender filet mignon, but it was good nonetheless. And, hey, for $25 bucks… I’ll know for next time to order it medium-rare, since medium was a little too well done for my liking. Meanwhile, my friend’s chicken was very juicy and flavourful. To accompany our mains, we had the option of choosing either a Montecarlo potato which is basically mashed potatoes placed in a baked potato shell with chives and lots of yummy seasoning, or french fries. The fluffy Monte Carlo is pure-potato bliss, while the fries were lackluster and definitely needed more seasoning and crunch.

Petit Filet. Steak lovers can get steak frites, rib steak or kobe burger too

You guessed it – chicken!

Amazing Monte Carlo potato and ho-hum fries.

By the end of the meal we were beyond stuffed; it goes without saying the pickles and coleslaw didn’t help matters. We were also totally impressed by how much food the special entailed, and the quality of the service. Our waiter was an older gentlemen who was super attentive, professional and polite. It seemed as though our presence was genuinely valued and we weren’t just the “late night” crowd. This is key to making these types of deals work, and explains why Lemeac, and now Moishes are packed, while Milos’ special isn’t filling the house. Needless to say, I’ll be back – appetite in tow.

Let’s face it, the days of eating a gourmet meal for $20 or less are about as over as Lindsay Lohan’s acting career. Therefore, when a venerable Montreal fine dining institution like Milos offers you a three course late evening menu (10p.m.-12:00a.m.) for $20.11 – you make a run for it, pumps in tow. I have had the good fortune of eating off of Milos’ a la carte menu, and the Greek eaterie has repeatedly blown me away with their fresh seafood dishes, many of which have been flown in from Greece, as well as their Greek feta cheese, olive oil, and a baklava that makes me want to break out in song à la Glee. It goes without saying that a meal here can set you back a pretty penny.

Last Saturday, a good friend and I decided it was finally time to suppress our hunger till 10:00p.m. (on the dot) and try Milos’ late evening menu. Another friend had warned me one of the problems with eating at Milos at that hour is the atmosphere, since the big crowds begin to fizzle out and there’s the sense waiters are trying to rush you so they can finish their shifts. When we first arrived, the restaurant was full, although I will say by the time we were finished at 11:30, it was only about 1/3 empty. Not bad. Our waiter was friendly, swift without making us feel hurried, and all-around professional. I assume the restaurant’s reasons for offering this deal are not to give back to the community and feed the “needy”, but to make money and attract a young cliental, and therefore waiters should never make late night patrons feel like second class citizens, as was the case in my friend’s situation.

Service and atmosphere aside, what left me with mixed emotions was the food. There are three starter options and we chose to share a tomato salad with feta, olives and olive oil (a.k.a. Greek salad) and a meze platter with different “dips”, stuffed vine leaves and pita bread. The salad arrived and was 1/3 of the size of their regular priced tomato salad. I took a deep breath and reminded myself my meal was costing $20.11, whereas normally just one tomato salad costs $25. Still, I couldn’t help but be annoyed the feta came crumbled and there was so little of it, rather than the sizeable chunks that constitute a traditional Greek salad. Yet, what little there was of it tasted incredible. Meanwhile the meze platter was snooze-worthy, with only the small dollop of tzatziki eliciting any reaction. Should’ve tried the organic salmon sashimi instead.

Tomato salad, part of Milos’ “Late Evening” menu.

Next we chose among four options and ordered a dorade flown in from the Greek island of Kefalonia. The portion size of the flaky white fish was ideal for us girls (we had also loaded up on snacks at my house first), and though it was a little on the dry side, it still ranks as one of the best fish I’ve eaten in Montreal. Then came the biggest dissapointment: they were out of baklava. In case you missed that, OUT OF BAKLAVA. One more time for dramatic impact: OUT OF BAKLAVA. Our faces were priceless when we heard the news. When your meal consists of three courses and three pretty small courses at that, dessert plays a BIG role. The waiter was nice enough to offer us an almond and pear tarte that’s normally not part of the late evening menu because he could sense tears welling up at the thought of settling for ice cream, or worse – sorbet. It was actually quite tasty, but baklava it was not. I found this inexcusable for such a high-end eaterie. They’ve been in this business a long time and they’ve had this menu for a couple of years and should know how much baklava to keep around. Cue foot stomping.

The Meze Platter was BORING

With a glass of white wine, tax and tip, my meal cost $41.00 – a measly sum when you consider how much a regular meal costs at Milos and the calibre of ingredients used. That said, if Milos wants this special to draw in crowds of hip young people like Lemeac’s 10p.m. special which is $25 for an appetizer and main – they need to ensure service is consistently top-notch, baklava is ALWAYS available and they really ought to add more pizzaz to their appetizers. I would start by serving a “real” chunk of feta, none of this crumbling nonsense.

Pre-meal spread arranged by yours truly.