Sample some Japanese bar food for weekend brunch
On the Menu: As The Vapors once sang, “Turning Japanese” is definitely the way to go given the compact, inventive Guu Izakaya brunch menu. You can start with a bowl of freshly boiled soy beans sprinkled with sea salt for $3.50 or some marinated kurage — jelly fish — for $6. We order a round of takoyaki — deep fried, flour-battered octopus spheres served with a sweet tonkatsu sauce and karashi mayo, $5 for five pieces. No visit to Guu for brunch would be complete without ordering a few of the hi- bachi BBQ specialties — everything from short ribs to mackerel. We opt for scallops (two pieces for $6.80) and the grilled calamari ($6). The former are grilled on the half shell with the entire roe sack intact; meaty best describes them. The calamari is delicious, but I wish ours hadn’t been quite so “charred.” A little Canadiana joins the menu with the Guu Tine; a loose interpretation of poutine with ground beef that’s flavoured with what can be best described as TexMex mix, a scant grating of cheese, four edamame beans and a dollop of sour cream piled on top of fries, $6.80. It’s an odd combination and since ours makes its way out to the patio for a joy ride before finding us inside, it’s cold. The meal’s highlight is the Kaisou salad. Marinated seaweed slivers get tossed with crisp greens in a dressing that’s big on mirin. We end with a delicate almond
tofu dessert that you’d swear is custard. The “I’d Wake Up Early to Eat That
Again!” Dish: The Kaisou Salad and an order of Almond Tofu, $3.
The Queue: At 1:30 p.m., the patio is in full swing so we get seated indoors. The Vibe: Japanese bar chic.
Kid-Friendliness: We’re the only ones in the house with a wee one. Our second, much more animated server (our first one disappeared) offers Baby Nat a Guu fan and makes funny faces at her.
Joe and Other Liquid Assets: Coffee isn’t offered so we get a cup of hot, oolong tea, $1. The husband opts for a lychee juice that hits that sweet spot between refreshing, floral and not too sweet, $3. Sapporo is on tap, $5.30/glass, $17.30/pitcher.
Price Tag: Our bill totals $51.05 with tax and tip included.