I’ve talked about my love of Japanese food before, so that is nothing new.
What also isn’t new is the concept of straightforward, honest, service. Which is exactly what we received at Bistro Sakana on Thursday night.
Tightly squeezed into Vancouver’s trendy hipster district (read: Yaletown) at 1123 Mainland Street, Bistro Sakana dishes out unique Japanese sushi-ish fusion (if I can say that).
But Bistro Sakana isn’t new…in fact, it’s been around for years. What is new (ish) – about three years now – is the management; husband and wife team, Peter & Etsuko Needham. And in particular, what they are serving up (aside from the food).
Etsuko is a highly skilled sushi chef who tends bar in the minimally appointed, yet tasteful space. Presentation is obviously high on her priority list and details are not missed. I appreciate that…says a lot about the service message a proprietor is trying to relay.
With Etsuko making the magic happen, Peter is greeting and serving guests. At our table, he went so far as to identify us as people who hadn’t been there before (he was right) and suggested dishes that he felt we’d enjoy (he was more than right). I especially enjoyed the red tuna tataki and the fact that they have a healthy lunch option!
After dinner, we chatted for quite some time about the history of the restaurant, their plans, and commitment to treating customers honestly and with the same level of service each time. This is what we like to see!
My two cents: Bistro Sakana should definitely be in you where-to-go-for-sushi-in-Vancouver-and-enjoy-everything-about-it cycle
Stay tuned for Bistro Sakana’s interior design and patio structure to change in the coming months.
darren
ps – Speaking of service, thanks to the entire staff who helped me look for the wallet that I thought I had lost about 20 minutes after we had left…it was in a zipper pocket in my new jacket that I didn’t even know existed!
Bistro Sakana is one of the few places in Yaletown that I actually like. You’re right about the service. They take care to note your first visit, but I’d like to add that they recognize repeat diners as well. The gap between my first and second visits was large (over a month, I’d say) and the server recognized me and greeted me warmly.
My favourite thing on their menu is not food – they offer a flight of Granville Island’s Osake sakes for $14. Great way to explore a different style of wine and support Artisan Sakemaker, a local sake brewery that also exemplifies customer service.