Koi est un restaurant chaleureux. Ce lieu apprécié est ouvert tard tous les jours de la semaine. Vous pouvez vous y rendre par transport en commun et voiture et venez découvrir ce voisinage entraînant reconnu pour sa vie nocturne.
Let's get the food out of the way: mediocre.
We had just bought a house so we stopped there for a beer and some food. They served us and then we were informed that something "special" was happening that night and that we better hurry up and eat? When we inquired with another server she did not know what we were talking about. About 5 minutes later a boneheaded bouncer type starts standing over our table egging us on. He handed us our bill and proceeded to stand over our table waiting for us to finish. The only thing we could figure out was that we didn't fit in with the crowd but they had no problem taking our money and then ruining a great evening.
After reading a few reviews on this place I can...
After reading a few reviews on this place I can see possibly where the feeling of "pretentious" comes from. However, our experience was quite enjoyable. Our server was attentive, and polite, although seemed like she was trying to rush us a bit. The food was excellent as far as I was concerned. The sushi was fresh, and the coconut shrimp is excellent. I admit I noticed the prices on the menu were steep for certain items like the steak mentioned in the previous review (almost $30 for 12oz), but generally for this type of formal more upscale restaurant the prices are satisfactory and in check. I would definetely go back to Koi, especially in the summer where the patio looks very nice. Even just for some drinks and some apps (the tempura was also very good). No doubt, there may be better sushi houses around but overall to please a varied palette, Koi is quite delicious.
Once again I'm at odds with Restaurantica's rating system. Would I visit koi again? To eat inside, No. To sit outside on the patio in nice weather and have a couple of koi's more edible appetizers and some beers? Absolutely Yes.
How come? I'll be honest; some of the most beautiful girls I've seen on four continents work at koi. Am I shallow enough to visit koi's patio in the summer for that reason alone? You betcha. Plus the food at most patios in Hess Village is lousy anyway, so I might as well go to koi.
Inside is another matter. Although I heard a man at another table compliment the waitress on his steak, we found our meals mediocre and expensive.
In fact, koi comes close to committing that most unpardonable of Hamilton sins.....it's pretentious.
The servers were non-existent. Never asked how our meals went or made any attempts for a friendly conversation.
Food was expensive and not that great. Other sushi all-you-can-eat restaurants were better than teh sushi here.
We convinced four of our friends to join us for a night out in Hamilton. They are from Oakville, and quite snobby about coming to Hamilton for a night out. We usually have to go out in Oakville or Toronto when we get together with them... but they FINALLY came our way.
We got a great table on the patio.. and had a FABULOUS night. We unknowingly came on a theme night. There was a gorgeous Ice Bar on the patio, infused with tropical flowers, as part of their themed party "A Midsummer's Night Dream". There were pretty tropical flowers sprinkled all over the patio, and the servers had cute flowery makeup designs on their face.
As we ate our yummy food, we thought what we were seeing was the theme party. Boy were we wrong. When we asked the server if there was more to the party... she smiled coyly and said "Oh yes... just wait till later!"
We finished our meal close to 10 p.m. and were enjoying some aperitifs and cocktails when we started seeing girls dressed as "Fairies" and guys as "Wizards" beginning to appear from everywhere!! Apparently the restaurant had hired Hair and Makeup people to do up scores of staff and models who were all in full costumes!! The bartender at the Ice Bar was STUNNING in her costume and makeup. We took pictures of her.. she said she was in hair and makeup for THREE HOURS!! The entire place took on an aura of fantasy... it was surreal.
We ended up staying the entire night... and even ventured upstairs to the nightclub and danced the night away. Our friends from Oakville were BLOWN AWAY. First by the food and dining experience... then by the incredible theme party that followed.
My husband and I were proud Hamiltonians... and laughed to each other when our snobby Oakville friends asked when we were going out in Hamilton again!!!
WELL DONE KOI !!!!
