Coffeeman

Sorry for the extremely late reply... Yes I am referring to take out. I'm not a big fan of coffee shops, for the reason that it takes me 5 minutes to drink a double espresso. I don't even see the point in sitting down. It's not like having a leisurely drink...coffee is best drank hot. And I never get the urge to hunker down and get myself primed up for 8 coffees. Besides most good coffee shops are the surgeon general's version of hell. The smoke is so thick it makes your eyes water. I know there is a "non-smoking" section, but in a small coffee shop where people are chain smoking it's the equivalent of having a "non-peeing" section in a baby pool. But i'm going way off topic.... So for take out coffee, the container of choice is paper cups. Hot coffee actually melts down/absorbs traces of styrofoam. Although I'm not qualified to speak of its possible toxicity, it most definitely affects the flavour. If you doubt me, do a test. Try the same coffee in a paper cup and a styrofoam cup and you'll see the difference is huge. This fact is well known in the industry. I just think it's a huge oversight on their part, given they consider themselves one of the premier coffee shops in the city. If it's a business decision (paper is a bit more expensive) then it's just sad. It's not like a restaurant that has hundreds of variables that need to be well chosen to create the perfect experience....

I picked one up at "Toi, Moi et Cafe", which I have to return every three months to remind myself how much I dislike their coffee (for the record people, anyone that serves coffee in Styrofoam cups doesn't know the FIRST thing about coffee) and I saw a copy there and bought it. It's a great little book. I wonder if they have English copies available?

I had friends (read: mild acquaintances) in from out outside the city and they asked about the local eats. I knew they would be shopping downtown so I told them to drop by Chapters/Indigo on Ste-Catherine to pick up Lesley C's book, which would save me from regurgitating what she's written (not that it's stopped me before ) but alas, it was sold out. When asked when a copy would become available, the attendant staff member was suddenly paralyzed with fear like Bambi caught in high powered halogen high beams until my friend eventually walked away *vewwy vewwy carefully* on his tippy-toes with his middle fingers and thumbs firmly held together with the three other fingers extended, in order not to wake the sleeping animal. My other beef with an otherwise fine bookstore? They have books listed on Coffee that I would like/need to purchase. Some of these books range in the hundreds of dollars. Considering most coffee books, contain the informational equivalent of a Bazooka Joe comic, I think I should have the right to peruse them before purchase (e.g.: this isn't a "I'll see you in the court...of HELL" John Grisham/Stephen King straight-to-paperback collaboration for 12.95$, if you know what i'm saying). Not surprisingly, due to low demand they do not stock these in store (if not in Montreal, then why list them at all, but I digress...). If I want to SEE them before purchase, I have to pay for them and pay shipping. I then have the right to return them for a full refund as long as I absorb all shipping charges, TO AND FRO. Considering these are encyclopedia sized books, it will be a sizeable sum (read: more expensive than Marc Bellemare's daughter's annual tear-a-way g-string budget).

lol...Touche! It's a bit of chink in the armour in an otherwise upscale sushi place. I've never tried the take-out but just its presence lessens the prestige. If marketing emphasis turns from from word of mouth and reviews to HEY WE HAVE 70S-USHI! (Which is their take out # number), it most definitely lessens the place. I'm praying that your comment of "sleazy take-out policy" doesn't mean a severe drop in quality (i.e.: lesser grade sushi or 2 hour + waits). Because i'd be reliving the "Santa/Easter Bunny/Multiple Party System in Canadian Democracy/Tooth Fayrie" trauma again. I know they don't exist, but sometimes ignorance is bliss. I understand your disdain buti if you have any specific examples, i'd love to hear them.... Oh and don't you love their take out prices? rofl! Granted, i'm a big eater, and I don't mind spending three digits on a good sushi meal. Especially if you provide a great atmosphere. However, do not expect me to spend restaurant prices on delivery sushi. We'll leave those charges to bloated and irresponsible corporate expense accounts (your bank "service charges" paid for a lot of makis this year - having worked at one of the big five I can assure you that).

I'm not sure if you're saying that Koji's is as bad as Soto or that Soto is as good as Koji's....Either way, i'll chalk it up to to being a difference of opinion. If I had to put my finger on what I prefer about Koji's, I would say that they work with fresher ingredients. Also their maki's are more interesting to me both in terms the combinations and that I can actually taste the different ingredients unlike Soto's, which to my pallet are amorphous in taste. I also recall one particularly bad experience at Soto in Laval where a piece of sushi (don't remember what type of fish) was so foul, I had to walk to the bathroom to spit it out. The 'seafood gone bad' alarms were unmistakable. It wasn't a "does this smell funny to you?" bad either, it was bordering gag reflex. I didn't complain because I was on a first date and I didn't want to make fuss but in retrospect I probably should have said something.

There is a rumor circulating that one, some or all Soto restaurants (including their fast food "Sushi Shops", which IMHO make Captain High Liner frozen fish sticks seem like the height of gastronomical experiences) may be closing. The rumor also says that the Soto on St-Laurent will be taken over by Koji, to open a new Sushi place. Has anyone heard anything about this? Has their aggressive expansion finally caught up to them? It would please me a great deal to hear of their demise. I'm tired of explaing to my friends the difference between trendy location/decor and good sushi.

I'll have to agree with the Mikado on Laurier. It's my second favorite sushi place in Montreal, next to Treehouse (which is Kaizen's sister restaurant upstairs). You won't try fresher fish anywhere. One note, it's minimalist both in terms of decor and in their experimentation in makis, which suits my taste fine. However, if you like your makis freaky (i.e.: a tempura rice crispies, cream cheese, avocado and blowfish wrapped in kobe beef) then this may not be the best place. (BTW, I know that sounds gross, I just made it up to illustrate my point)

First time I heard that was on "The Simpsons"....Homer said it referring to Beer. That many seasons ago. In my case, it works better for rum ;)