Soto

[eat2much]

It seems that Soto is in under bankruptcy protection. Probably not a good idea to have so many "boutique" locations.....

infolettre

[jersey13]

I think you've hit the nail on the head. There's a location out near me but if I've seen 10 people in there since it opened over a year ago, that would be a generous estimate. There is already a successful sushi biz in this neck of the woods and I don't believe that there is such a huge demand for it, that the area can support more than a few. Plus, Soto was pricey in comparison. Katsura offers much better prices and they're great for freshness.The last time I stopped in at Soto, my sushi wasn't quite right and I vowed never to visit that location again.

Interestingly enough a new sushi place (can't recall the name) is opening a mere stone's throw from the WI location of Soto. Go figure..

[eat2much]

When a friend of mine moved to Vancouver several years ago he would constantly fax me the sushi menus from the various sushi restaurants in his adopted city. The prices were insanely low in comparison to what we pay here. He was amazed at the freshness and quality of the sushi and blown away by the low prices.

One would have thought that with all the competition here the prices would go down. No sign of any decline in prices despite the fact that in certain areas we can't walk a block without seeing a Sushishop, Katsura, or Soto Express. Unless these places start to radically rethink their pricing, methinks the sushi boutiques will go the way of the dinosaur and the cigar lounge....

[grill-it]

Boo :( . I love their Old Montreal location - I've never been disappointed there. The sushi is always tasty, pleasant service, and often the special entrées are outstanding. (NB - I'm not referring to Soto Express - I've never really enjoyed 'factory' sushi anyway...

[grill-it]

Unless these places start to radically rethink their pricing, methinks the sushi boutiques will go the way of the dinosaur and the cigar lounge....

100% agree on the pricing - although the high-end dine-in restos (as opposed to the take-outs) like Kaizen Treehouse, and Soto - will always do well IMO.

[Lesley C]

I never had a good meal at Soto.

But I'm all for expensive sushi. I wouldn't even bother with the cheap stuff.

[eat2much]

But I'm all for expensive sushi. I wouldn't even bother with the cheap stuff.

The problem is that "the cheap stuff" is actually quite expensive. Nobody would really question the quality if an assorted platter of takeout sushi cost about $20 or $25 for 40 or so pieces. If "the cheap stuff" was actually cheap there would not be a problem.

[eat2much]

and if "the cheap stuff" was cheap, then perhaps the "expensive stuff" could be a tad less expensive!

[ABG]

The soto-express concept is what killed them. Sushi ain't like burgers and fries.

And I agree with Lesley, too many customers had to many bad experiences at the MTL locations, myself included. The Mt. Tremblant local was actually the best Soto I was ever in.

One Sushi chef / owner I spoke to said this was a long time building. They had problems long ago.

[identifiler]

The McGill and Tremblant venues did have some good nights, I also did have some bad experiences. Let's just say, Soto was never in my top 5 list of sushi. A sushishop just opened in my town and even though a friend owns the franchise and brought in some good hands from spots like Kaizen. It is still dependant of it's corporate control and centralised raw product purchases. At least Sushi shop has little prices with little sushies and has specialised in take out and take out offering, I call this a fast food joint.

Soto Express propably served one of the worst take out sushi in Montreal... Dried and questionable stuff. We are years and years away of spots like sushi volant.

It was known that Soto had some liquidity problems, the whole ordeal started out when it was made public that the Soto group had gained access to offer the only food in the new Caisse de Depot building, the licence offered was highly questionned when JC Scraire and his local mafia had made arragements for that. The deal was further scrutinised when it was revealed that Soto Corp had failed to pay it's rent from day one in the new Les Ailes de la Mode buidling (I am talking about the high end lebanese restaurant upstairs, a sad affair of bankers and zuit suits who just got over their mom's spagetti sauce).

If people dig in they will see the amazing and incredible ways of raising new capital for business types who's only claim to fame is to know "the right folks"... well the right folks just got canned... and I guess they are taking down a bunch of parasites with them.

Roberge:1 Salas:0 Scraire:10 (until he goes to jail) CDP and Ivanhoe: joke of the year.

[eat2much]

The St. Laurent and Tremblant locations are now closed but McGill College and Laval branches are still open.

[Lesley C]

I walked past the St-Laurent location tonight and it seems as the the Kaizan people will be taking over.

[wattacetti]

Apart from potentially saving a couple of Japanese restaurants, is having the group behind the Kaizen take over Soto necessarily a good thing?

I've never had a good experience with dinners at Soto either (multiple attempts in the St-Laurent and Old Montreal locations) but dinners at both the Kaizen and the Tre House were uneven and could sometimes be described as "wacky".

[eat2much]

Without going into detail, the Kaizen crew will not see another penny of my hard earned money (at least not for take-out). If you don't know why, ask anyone who has tried take-out there.

[Lesley C]

I had some pretty bad sushi at Kaizan, but some interesting and good stuff at Treehouse. I just don't like the room at Treehouse.

[wattacetti]

Without going into detail, the Kaizen crew will not see another penny of my hard earned money (at least not for take-out). If you don't know why, ask anyone who has tried take-out there.

I know exactly what you're talking about. Neither of the Kaizens are my first pick, but when you're asked to go along on one of those "not mandatory but highly recommended" outings there's sometimes not a whole lot of options except to lock in that smile and keep nodding.

[ABG]

Besides Mikado Laurier, I've always enjoyed Sho-Dan on metcalfe.

[identifiler]

I drive many miles to pick up Kaizen take out. Not from that take out menu but from the regular menu. I've been pretty well served in the past. TRee is a super nice guy and I see him unloading filet's on tuesday during lunch time...

But I can certainly agree about the wacky thing, both owner, manager and sometimes patrons can be really flaky sometimes.

Last time at tre house, we had amazing company, on one side, meet the deutchlander who has invested heavily in his wife new found shape at the tender age of 65 and can't stop yelling in his cell phone with his mouth full. On the other side, meet Mario, who decided to take out a hooker for the first time and can't stop saying " Come on Ginette, tu veux du sushi, ben manges-en maudit !" in front of a 60 piece boat for one guy who hates it and one hooker wo could hardly fit 10 pieces...

At least tri noticed and one of little leather boots girl to change us from the table to the sushi bar where he dumps a daily creation in front of us to enjoy for free. I tell you wacky is a good word for that place, and sometimes,there tempura batter oil should be refreshed sooner...

See it anyway you want, it's better than sotto.

[Cole Tucker]

I have been many times to Kaizen and have never been wowed. This past Saturday I went upstairs to TriHouse.

I found it better, but once again not the best I have had.

At $920 for 8, not including liquor, I expect to be impressed at which I wasn't. Funny enough I met Leonardo Di Caprio at the bar as he was having a cigarette and after talking awhile he asked me if I knew any better places! Anyone ever heard about the owner's run in wth George Clooney?

[Lesley C]

So what d'you tell him?

[Restoswillmakemebroke]

I never had a good meal at Soto.

But I'm all for expensive sushi. I wouldn't even bother with the cheap stuff.

I think that Mrs Chesterman exagerates in here reviews of Soto, Junichi's (the main chef) creations are great and the sushi and makis he makes are among the best in town. Iv'e had experiences but the good outweight them by far. Also the menu varietiy is better than most Japanese restaurants.

Its a shame to see a successful Montreal operation crumble in no time, feel bad for the Soto people.

Laval seems like the next and the Expresses don't even have to be kept open anyway, the machined sushi is uneatable anyway............. such a shame for a (short) success story.

[identifiler]

It is ironic that it is indead sushi express that brought the house down. It was not well managed. The CEO spoke this week in the papers. I'm pretty happy he honestly said he didn't know what he was doing and lost control, it really happened when he started going corporate, you could almost smell an IPO coming... get real...

[Lesley C]

I think that Mrs Chesterman exagerates in here reviews of Soto

I never exaggerate in my reviews. In fact, I usually hold back. I had disappointing food at Soto, disappointing expensive food --and poor service. Everything I tasted off the regular menu was seriously weak. And some of the fish on my sushi platter was far from fresh.

I'm sorry to see Soto go down the tubes, but I was also sorry to see Soto expand too quickly.