Jun I understands the essential factor: offer high quality Japanese cuisine. Their talented chef, who uses her passion for culinary art and new trends, and the freshness and delicacy of the food leave no doubt on the reputation of Jun I. The marriage of styles harmonizes with an impressive wine list and a nice variety of saké. In addition, a tasting menu is available so you can sample a little bit of everything. Enjoy a unique experience in a warm and intimate setting at one of the largest Japanese tables in Montreal.
Overall, Jun I is described as a premier sushi destination with exceptionally fresh fish, standout uni and omakase that many reviewers rate as among the best in Montreal. The atmosphere is frequently praised as lively yet intimate, with warm and attentive service that adds to the experience, though a few reviews note slower or uneven pacing at high prices. Many guests highlight creative dishes and careful preparation, such as expertly prepared nigiri, sashimi and seasonal courses, and some call it the best sushi in the city or even Canada. A minority mention that some courses can be over spiced or overly salty and that portions or value may not fully match expectations given the price, while others report consistently excellent quality across the menu. In sum, Jun I is viewed as an impressive, high end sushi experience ideal for special occasions, with caveats about price and occasional service pacing.
I visited once this past summer for lunch & was very disappointed by the quality of the dishes. I returned this fall again for lunch to find out that the quality has improved better but along with high yet pricing. I prefer to pay more fo have excellent quality at Juni. There are many others with poor quality.in Mtl. Juni must maintain the best they can offer.
Service was weird I felt uncomfortable I had to ask if we had received everything as he was picking up my wine glass , & we were missing half the meal , the sashimis Wich are usually served first arrived last & were warm & cooked by the lime sliced because it stayed on the counter for so long , taste wise the makis were delicious
We ate here last night & overall enjoyed the entire meal. The kitchen staff is very talented & it is obvious in the output. They generally showed better than the front of house. We decided to order the omakase menu as the best way to try the most dishes & get a sense of the restaurant.
Here is the menu we had last night:
Asari kinoko
Palourdes, jus de palourde, tomates, fenouil, pleurottes royales, huile de poireau.
Clams, clam juice, tomatoes, fennel, king oyster mushrooms, leek oil
A fantastic little starter course served with a small bowl of marinated daikon radishes. The clams were perfectly cooked. It seems a bit weird to eat tomatoes this late in the season.
Hotate crudo
Pétoncles kobujime au gin Ungava, betteraves jaunes, vinaigrette au yuzu, huile de coriandre
Ungava gin kobujime scallops, golden beets, yuzu dressing, cilantro oil
This was my wife's favorite course. I loved it too. The scallops were delicious. The flavors complemented each other well. I felt the cilantro was a bit overbearing in the dish. (& yes, I do like cilantro)
Shiromi
Poisson blanc du jour mariné au shio koji, courge musquée, babaganoush d'aubergines asiatiques, myoga
Shio koji marinated white fish of the day, butternut squash, Asian eggplants babaganoush, myoga
I like this dish quite a bit. But I wish the wait staff had explained all the components rather than just dropping it at the table after saying it was white fish with eggplant. The chef is far more poetic in his wording & it would have enhanced the meal to see the eggplant was an Asian version of babaganoush. Reading it today, I now have a better picture of the dish & that would have added to the experience.
Tako
Pieuvre marinée au sel de Kombu & grillée, radicchio, piments shishito, pommes de terre, choux de Bruxelles, suprêmes d'orange, sauce yaki & ail noir
Kombu salt marinated & grilled octopus, radicchio, shishito peppers, potatoes, brussels sprouts, orange supreme, yaki & black garlic sauce
This is another course where the wait staff could have better explained the dish rather than simply drop at the table with only a few words. Black garlic was never mentioned & it is a key ingredient. It was a fantastic use of Fall ingredients. Bravo to the chef.
Omakase de Junichi San
Assortiment de nigiris, sashimis & makis : 15 mcx / personnel
A very nice selection of beautiful seafood presented well. We added uni & were thankful that our main server explained the difference between the taste & textures of the west coast versus east coast uni (oursin) choices. The tempura roll with a sort of salmon tartare on top was out of this world - the kind of dish I would have eaten a second plate of. The hand roll served alongside was incredible too.
I forget all the components of the dessert. Overall it had a very beautiful fall feel to it. The apples & salted caramels were great. My only complaint would have been to have fewer flavors competing for attention by my palate. I like fewer flavors & allow the ones present to shine more brightly. But I am nitpicking.
PROS: great food, beautiful dining room, good staff.
CONS: I mean this as constructive criticism to the dining room manager. The service does not match the quality level of the food. Service was done a bit too fast with plates being brought the second after we finished one course. I hate being rushed through a tasting menu. I want to savor every flavor & relax. I wish they had printed a copy of the omakase menu & left it at the table if the wait staff is unable to describe all the nuances of the dish when presenting it to us. So many descriptions were left out. I also wish the server would pour less when refilling our glasses - but that is a personal preference.
Fraicheur des produits, service extra & excellent repas. Petit bémol: carte des vins un peu trop dispendieuse & environnement assez bruyant mais trés bonne expérience gastronomique.
Nov 18, 2022
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Flawless, attentive service. Perfect plating, presentation & first-rates, fresh ingredients, including fish not usually available in Montreal. Nice cocktail & wine list (including local cider). Honestly, not much to add. Just a great meal in a lovely venue supported by enthusiastic staff.
Fun & festive place. Great cocktails & beer. Wonderful service. Vey delicious tuna tar tar appetizer with taro chips. The sushi rolls were good but nothing special.
