Reviews describe Yubari as a stylish, intimate Japanese restaurant in Montreal's Old Port with a refined vibe, low lighting, and a DJ that adds a lounge energy without overpowering conversations. The food is consistently praised for freshness and presentation, with favorites including sushi, sashimi, wagyu dishes, and creative specials, along with standout cocktails and a lunch menu that offers good value for the quality. Service is often described as attentive and friendly, though some visits note inconsistent experiences, tight pacing or overbooking, occasional rude interactions, and prices that can feel steep. Overall, Yubari is seen as a high end, versatile dining destination ideal for celebrations, dates, or a chic night out, delivering strong food and atmosphere even if a few visits diverge in service or value.
Went for ladies night. Ladies eat free, we just have to pay for our drink. Me & my girls were so excited for this, expecting to pay a bill of about 22$ (which is the price of the drink) plus tip. We were even considering tipping over 20% because the whole thing was so cheap. But when the waitress came to us, she told us that if we came on a regular day our food would've actually cost us about 80 dollars & so we should tip her on that amount instead. We were so confused & didn't really understand how to respond to that situation & we just caved in because saying no was making us feel cheap. But we should've never had been made to feel that way. If our bill is 22$, we tip on that amount not on what the bill could've been. It is the restaurant's policy so I don't understand what made the waitress think this was okay. This basically doubled our bill & the waitress made a tip higher than what our bill was. Ridiculous. Will not be returning.
The food was very mediocre. Portions were very little & grossly overpriced. The atmosphere could have made up for it if our server didn't ruin that for us as well. We came here for our friend's birthday yesterday, & what started off as a great night ended in frustration & anger.
The service was nothing to write home about, the most notable thing was another server coming to check on if everything was okay. We were sat (not even by our main server), the food & drinks were served, & that was literally it.
However, at the end of the night, our server found it fitting to put the burden of'paying her salary' on us despite her basic service. My friend, the birthday girl, paid first & didn't tip. We're not from Montreal so we're not familiar with the tipping culture here. Where i'm from we only tip if there was something spectacular about the service, & like i said, there was absolutely nothing that stood out. The server saw that she didn't tip, asked if anything was wrong with the service, my friend said no, then the server proceeded to say something along the lines of'oh i was wondering why you didn't tip.' After she was met with silence, she then said'you know tips are how i make my salary right?' &'so i basically just worked for free, cool.' Mind you, the rest of the table (3/4 people, including me) tipped.
I decided to confront her about the passive aggression & how that's not an appropriate way to talk to anyone let alone a customer. She maintained that she was not being passive aggressive, that she was simply letting us know how things are for her. I also maintained my stance that she was passive aggressive & that was not okay, especially knowing that today is a special day for our friend. Once everybody paid, she then threw out another passive aggressive'happy birthday!' to which i responded'no thank you' on behalf of my friend & left the restaurant.
To put it plainly, this was a rubbish experience & if i could give it 0 stars i would. I don't leave reviews of anywhere much but this situation brought a lot of anger to all of us, especially on a day where we're supposed to be celebrating.
Edit: I just remembered she also told us it was mandatory to tip in Quebec (which i now know is a lie). When my friend asked'so why isn't it included on the bill' she seemed to not have an answer. This was such a poor experience.
May 13, 2026
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I celebrated my birthday at this restaurant yesterday & unfortunately left disappointed because of how I was treated at the end of the night.
When we arrived, we informed the staff that it was my birthday. While I wasn't expecting anything extravagant, the overall service throughout the evening was very basic & did not stand out in any way. Everyone at the table paid separately, & several people still chose to tip. I personally decided not to because I did not feel the service warranted it.
What made the experience uncomfortable was the waitress confronting me about my decision. She asked if there was anything wrong with the service, & I honestly answered no. She then responded with comments like,'So I just won't get paid? Okay,' & proceeded to explain that tips are her salary. As we were leaving, she said'happy birthday anyways' in a very passive-aggressive tone.
Regardless of how someone feels about tipping, confronting a customer in that manner is extremely unprofessional & left a very negative impression on me, especially on my birthday. Because of this experience, I would not return or recommend this restaurant to others.
Our server Fred was excellent, everything she recommended was incredible. Fresh sashimi, electric vibe & good service. There are two services so at times the restaurant might empty out however it will fill up again & the energy will re-ignite. Cocktails are good & off sushi menu times are great. Highly recommend & keep up the great work.
I was highly impressed! Honestly, above my expectations. The service was amazing, & they even helped us find a table that perfectly suited our needs even though it was Friday evening.
The food was incredible. Literally everything we tried was delicious. My favorite were the wagyu maki topped with foie gras - absolutely unforgettable.
Beautiful & creative design, ambient lighting, good music, & a great location. I would definitely come back:)
Food was underwhelming, the music was excessively loud, & the service needs significant improvement. We had to ask multiple times for basic items like napkins & utensils, which was frustrating. Considering the high prices, the portion sizes & quality didn't match expectations. You can find much better food, atmosphere, & service at places like Juni or Parc. Would not recommend.
Overall, nice ambiance, friendly staff, & excellent service. Most of what we ordered was good, especially the Gyosa dumplings.
The chicken karaage was a miss. It lacked flavor & tasted like plain fried chicken coated in a glaze. It could use a serious upgrade or be reconsidered as it didn't match the quality of the rest of the menu.
I'd still recommend this place.
Apr 28, 2026
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Beautiful food in a beautiful atmosphere. Lovely selection of food & drinks all the way from apps to mains. Thank you for an exquisite experience in the old port.
The restaurant & ambiance is beautiful! But, the prices are WAY too high for the quality of sushi & portion sizes you get. Drinks also very expensive. You go for the experience, not expecting to eat the best sushi of your life.
A beautiful space located inside the St Paul hotel on the edge of Old Montreal.
Great selection of food & cocktails- be prepared for the prices as they can be a bit of a sticker shock (my husband's cocktail was $40 but was unique & he said it was amazing) & mine was also delicious.
Server was really helpful, she explained every dish that came out. Our highlights were the ceviche & the scallop foie gras maki roll.
A fantastic experience- reservations are suggested as the restaurant filled up quickly.
Apr 26, 2026
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Service & food were excellent! The staff were incredible & we were appreciative of the attention my wife & son received for their birthdays. Thank you for a memorable evening!
