i'm so sorry but i'm afraid i do not understand the hype with this place. the dishes are expensive for the portion size, and i could excuse the price if the dishes were good, but they're so average!! every dish i had i could list at least one other place in toronto that does it better. i visited and i had the same impression of the food. the first time i went i had the fried monkfish and it was so salty that we sent it back. my favourite dish was the kaisendon. i do feel that they do the kaisendon well here, it's just expensive. ambiance and service were all great, just disappointed with the taste of the food :/ read more

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Kaisen Don (off-menu) We asked if they could make it, and the chef said yes I've seen people get the chopped version, but we got a sashimi-style one instead. Probably because they currently have sushi on the menu, so sashimi was available. At first they brought out one bowl and I thought, "that's it?" Then they came back with another one--super delicate presentation. Ended up being one each, which was perfect. Beef Tartare Really well done. The seasoning actually reminded me a bit of Côte de Bœuf--rich and balanced. Ryu Kyu (off-menu) Not on the current menu, but they were still able to make it. Fresh sashimi with soy sauce, sesame, seaweed, and shiso. Simple, but when the fish is fresh, that's all you need. Horumon Yakisoba Stir-fried noodles with pork intestine. Not really our favorite--partly because we were already full, and also because of the chopped ginger in it. Drinks Ume Plum Soda (left) I went non-alcoholic that day, but as a plum wine lover, this still hit the spot. Yuzu Radler (right) A yuzu-infused beer that even made someone who usually dislikes beer actually enjoy it. -- Even though the menu is mostly small plates, we ended up surprisingly full. We originally thought we might grab udon or dumplings after, but that'll have to wait for next time. read more

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New Retro brought me back to Japan and it makes me yearn to fly back to the country even more. What made it even more enticing was that we were told that we can share a tasting menu so we were able to try two additional à la carte items. (Note: I dined in October 2025 and was told recently that the tasting was no longer offered.) We ordered the yodare duck and ryukyu. Great flavours but I did find the duck a little chewy that day. Everything else on the tasting menu was delicious. A must visit! read more

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Had the pleasure of coming here to celebrate and OMG the food was incredible. The little shop instantly reminded me of Japan! A small cute space dedicated to simple yet delicious umami packed dishes. The service and overall vibe were amazing. It's the perfect spot for drinks and dinner with the girlies or even a cozy date night. I wouldn't recommend it for big groups since the space is quite small but for a more intimate setting, it's perfect. Every dish I tried was enjoyable but if I had to pick favourites, the beef tartare and steamed egg were the standout! What we tried: Obanzai 3 Kinds Beef Tartar Monkfish Karaage Cha One Mushi (steamed egg) Yodare Duck Kaisen Don Already can't wait to go back! read more

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Came for a girls night out dinner but was unfortunately a bit disappointed with the spot. We made reservations and got seated timely once we arrived. It's located at the basement level of Zakkushi and they share the same washroom with the upstairs location as well. We only had half our party seated and decided to order drinks and 2 appetizers first while we waited for the rest of our party to arrive. This is where things started going downhill. Our drinks took forever to come, and still weren't there when the rest of our party got seated. This was the same for our appetizer that we ordered. In total the wait for the 2 plates of assorted appetizer was about 40 minutes. The appetizer plate was good as a little snack for the table but that's to the extent of what I can comment on in terms of their food since we decided to go elsewhere afterwards. It was such a bummer that this was our experience since we really wanted to try their food, but unfortunately the long wait times were just not it for us. Service was also good, but at times really hard to even get the attention of our server since she was the only server running the entire restaurant. Hopefully the wait times get a bit better here in the future. We decided to go upstairs to Zakkushi hoping for a better dining experience and to get some food in our bellies! read more

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I first heard about New Retro from my friends who frequents this basement bar a lot. It is located underneath Zakkushi; it uses the same entrance, and just down a flight of stairs. The ambiance is moody and dim, and the music from the 80s-90s really hit the spot. I did see other tables using flashlights on their phone to look at the menu though, so you can imagine how dark it must be inside XD The kitchen is open-style; you can certainly see the all the actions going on behind the scenes. Since there were so many choices on the menu, we opted in for the 6-course tasting menu (85). The tasting menu was quite sharable between the two of us; you can order more food/snacks a la carte later if you want more. The food was delicious - loved the appetizers, hamachi sashimi, chawanmushi, wagyu beef, and the somen was SO GOOD. The only thing I had an issue with was the salmon fish roes used in the rice dish at the end. The roes were too salty for my liking, and I had to unfortunately pick all of them out :( The rice itself was amazing. Other than the little hiccup, we really enjoyed our meal. read more

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New Retro is truly a hidden gem. It's one of those places that you want to tell everyone about but also keep a secret. Toni, the head chef is born and trained in Japan and consistently crafts some of the most creative dishes in the city. His rotating menu is tight and purposeful, often reflective of seasonal flavours with much of the ingredients coming directly from Japan, through one of Toni's trusted purveyors based in the land of the rising sun. From fresh sashimi, to a tomato and truffle based dashi broth with thin somen noodles and expertly cooked duck breast, to amazing sushi, Toni doesn't miss. Did I mention that everything is prepared and cooked in front of you? I visit New Retro often - sometimes for a set menu, or just some sake and a snack or a full omakase experience. It's a neighbourhood restaurant - welcoming and warm. It's dimly lit with funky soul, jazz or reggae tunes played on an excellent sound system. The bar is traditionally Japanese; made of solid wood and the best place to sit. I'm privileged to have such an amazing restaurant in my neighbourhood. I hope you get a chance to visit soon. read more

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Tucked away under Zakkushi, this intimate basement bar is truly a hidden gem. The moment I stepped inside, I felt like I had been transported back to Japan--the simplicity, cozy atmosphere, and authenticity in both the food and vibe were spot on. We ordered the Goma Miso Hamachi (torched yellowtail with sesame, green onion, and mustard miso), beef tartare (Raw AAA beef tenderloin with mustard, mayo, shallot, capers, pickles, miso, and truffle oil), Roasted Duck (Confit roasted duck breast with balsamic onion sauce and cheese), Uni Butter Toast, (Hokkaido sea urchin, saikyo miso onion, butter, and soy sauce on brioche), and Karaage. Standouts were the Hamachi - light but packed with umami; uni butter toast - absolute decadence; and roasted duck - savory, slightly sweet, and super tender. Also, shoutout to the Yuzu Soda--refreshing, with just the right amount of sweetness. 100% would go back. A must-visit for anyone who loves Japanese flavors in a cozy, intimate setting. read more

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Very interesting bar setup under Zakkushi. Was expecting a dive bar situation being in the basement and all, but the bar itself feels very posh. On one side you have the open kitchen and the other is seating with velvet walls. The price of the food and drinks are on the expensive side, but food was quite unique. There wasn't much people when I was there, so service was top notch. Monk fish karaage - Something you don't see often! Batter was light and compliments the texture of the fish. The seasoning was just right with a light amount of salt and pepper to add flavour but not in-salt the fish. Would recommend! Smoked duck breast salad - Smokey duck breast that was cooked to perfection. Unfortunately sliced too thin for my liking, so didn't get the texture of my liking but still has Smokey flavour. Salad was good too. Would recommend, next time ask for some thicker cuts. Chirashi - Such a beautiful dish. A good amount of seafood in every bite. The seafood was also cut to an optimal size for little bites of fish and rice. But this dish is all too common (minus the uni). Nice to try, but not get again. read more

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Foods and drinks here were good. Cute, small restaurant to sit and chill with friends. Smaller menu but everything tasted good. Servers were friendly and attentive. read more

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Food is pricy for the portion size and quality. Service is friendly. But, most concerning were so many bugs around - there were cockroaches, flies, and tiny bugs. The cockroach climbing on the wall almost fell into my friend's bag... read more

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Tucked away in the basement of Zakkushi on Carlton, New Retro is a hidden gem I didn't even know existed, and I live in the area! The space is small with a cozy, lively vibe, and it was pretty full when we went, which added to the atmosphere. The menu is limited but thoughtfully curated, and everything we tried was fresh and delicious. We tried the cucumber salad, kinpira, sashimi, and ryukyu, each prepared with care and balance. I love the "new retro" concept, and this bar really does capture that mix of modern creativity with classic Japanese comfort. I'm already planning my next visit. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, which made the whole experience even better. It feels like the kind of spot you could stop by regularly on your way home for a bite and a drink. I noticed a few regulars who clearly knew the staff well, and it gave the place a welcoming, neighbourhood vibe. Definitely a place I'd be happy to come back to. read more

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New Retro is a Japanese basement bar located near Cabbagetown on Carlton near Ontario St. They are managed by Zakkushi where they occupy the space below them. The bar is Japanese retro in a way where everything from the hospitality to the food make you feel welcome. I found out about New Retro on IG and was excited to try the place. They offer small places where everything is meant to be shared with your party. The drink selection is also pretty unique. Reservations are available online but walk ins are also welcomed. I stopped by New Retro on a Thurs evening. I had made reservations prior but there were still space available during our visit (there space for ~20 customers, either at the bar or at a table). The service was great - the staff were accommodating and also made recommendations as well as answered any questions we may have. They stopped by our table numerous times to make sure we were satisfied with everything. They also allowed us to sit and enjoy the space after we were done eating as my friend and I were catching up. At no point in time did we feel rushed at all and the pacing of the food was timed well. Drink wise, my friend ordered a glass of plum wine. I opted for a Japanese white wine (the Grace Koshu). I've never seen or tried a white wine produced in Japan, so it was interesting when staff tried to explain to me what it might taste like. Japanese wines are extremely light bodied that also have some floral notes. Definitely tasted great with all the dishes we ordered. Food wise, we ordered the following items: - Sashimi (10% off on Thurs!) - chef's choice of assorted sashimi. We were lucky enough to get (I believe), snapper, otoro, and uni. - Dashi maki (rolled omelettes, soy sauce, kombu, and bonito dashi stock). - Beef tartare (raw beef tenderloin, salted quail egg yolk, truffle oil, saikyo miso) - Roasted duck (roasted duck confit, balsamic vinegar, garlic teriyaki sauce, duxelle paste, blue cheese sauce) - Kaisen don (assorted sashimi on rice - we got otoro, uni, salmon, ikura and another type of fish as our sashimi). 5 dishes between 2 people was definitely the right amount of food! Overall, the food and fish/seasfood was extremely fresh! The uni and otoro literally melted in your mouth. Definitely recommend getting the sashimi as well as Kaisen don. Both were excellent and the Kaisen don is definitely worth your money (I could have eaten an entire bowl myself!). The dashi maki was a bit disappointing. I've had similar items in Japan before where the taste is slightly sweeter. However, the egg was fluffy and we enjoyed eating it with the bonito dashi stock. The beef tartare was a classic, the beef was tender and the truffle oil and saikyo miso flavours really came through. The roasted duck was good in terms of how the components of the dish worked well together. However, my friend and I had hoped for the duck to be a bit hotter (temperature wise). Otherwise, all the components worked harmoniously together with each bite! Overall, great food, service and vibes! It reminded me of being in a hidden Japanese bar. I especially liked the small details - the lamps in the space were really nice and the service and overall vibe of the place gives off a feeling of feeling welcomed. Would recommend! read more

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I'm a sucker for hidden gems, so when I saw this new Japanese Izakaya-style spot with lots of seafood open up, I was super eager to try. The plates are on the smaller side which is good for those like me who like to try a bit of everything We had: Roasted Duck: I liked this for the most part except for the blue cheese sauce. I felt it was too pugent and overpowering, which took away from the other flavors Dashi Maki: These rolled egg omlettes were actually super fluffy and reminded me of the ones you get on the streets in Japan Thailandaise Seared Mackerel: This was the highlight of the meal. The combination of nuts, herbs, and various house made sauces worked well together Grill & Steam Sablefish: Pretty good, no complaints Stewed oxtail: The oxtail was tender however I felt it was missing some salt Sashimi: The highlight of the platter was the toro, which I'm surprised they included Tako Wasa- Definitely different than the ones you get at generic sushi restaurants. The slices of squid are whole and thick. My only issue was that it was a bit chewy, but I looked past that Sea's Harvest: The prawns were fresh and tasted great dipped in the crab and sea urchin sauce. Too bad it was too busy for them to deep fry the heads which would have been *chefs kiss* Overall there were more hits than misses. I think this place has lots of potential since they're quite new and probably just working out the kinks in the menu. I'd be back to try more of their items and also visit Zakkushi upstairs after read more

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New Retro is a basement bar flooded with divine dishes. Loved how a tiny menu could offer such an outsized variety of tastes. Plates are small-ish, flavours are big, and would suggest sharing to maximize the experience. Went here for dinner and got: - Stewed Oxtail: Superb fall-off-the-bone oxtail with a rich thick sauce. You believe it when they say this was cooked for five days in hatcho miso and red wine because it tastes that way. - Sea's Harvest: Raw spot prawn that is really juicy. Side crab and uni miso sauces were excellent counterbalances to the raw freshness. Afterwards, they deep fried the leftover heads, and it came out really tasty and crunchy. - Thailandaise Seared Mackarel: The rich fishy-ness of the mackerel was balanced nicely by a generous amount of cilantro and sauce. My wife usually doesn't like mackarel and she loved this dish. - Kaisen Don: If you're on the hungrier side, get this dish. It's your standard chirashi bowl but with uni! - Smoked Katsuo Tataki: Came with the theatrical smoke bowl. The sear on the tataki was spot on. - Dashi Maki: Rolled omelette which was traditional in its delicacy of taste and consistency. After the strong flavours across the dishes, this was almost like a palette cleanser. - Yuzu Sorbet: Looked like a mess, tasted like the absolute best yuzu sorbet I've had in the city. - Salty Lychee: Refreshing cocktail that tones down the sweet soho lychee with some rum, lemon juice and salt. Everything is pricey but the quality makes it worth the treat. Service is top-noth: informative, welcoming, efficient. Overall vibe is casually energetic. New Retro will easily be one of those (literal) underground places that everyone talks about because it is that good. read more

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We came here to try some more food after being thoroughly impressed with the food upstairs. The food took awhile to come out and was decent. We weren't entirely fans of the darker fish in the sashimi/kaisen don. Our favorite was definitely the stir fried vegetable dish! read more

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We were a table of 12 people. Everyone agreed that the food and drinks were excellent. Tony handled the reservation process smoothly and ensured we were well taken care of. We will visit again soon! read more

Ambience: cool speak easy style restaurant Food: food quality is amazing Service: amazing Overall: id prefer to go to zukushi upstairs and they have more food options. This place is more like a "date night" type of place. read more

Oh. The best experience of eating fresh Japanese high quality cuisine. I loved the ambiance - see if you can spot the retro flare when you visit; chefs were phenomenal and staff was both knowledgeable and so friendly! read more