We visited Iru Izakaya on Sunday for a family dinner and opted for the tasting menu along with several of their specialty cocktails. Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience with a lot of strengths. The tasting menu offered a wide variety of dishes, beautifully presented and packed with flavour. Many of the plates leaned toward fried preparations — everything was absolutely delicious on the palate, though a few courses did leave my stomach feeling a little heavy by the end of the evening. That said, the creativity and boldness of flavours were undeniable. The cocktails were exceptional — easily one of the highlights of the night. Thoughtfully crafted, balanced, and memorable. One detail I truly appreciated was the bilingual service. Our server seamlessly switched between English and French depending on who they were speaking to. As someone who is English-only dining with family members who are exclusively French (including our older mother), that level of attentiveness and inclusion meant a lot. The only drawback was timing toward the end of the evening. The staff appeared quite busy, and although we would have happily ordered another round of drinks, we ultimately left earlier than planned. That said, this place absolutely has the makings of a great establishment. With its vibrant atmosphere, strong cocktail program, and inclusive service, we would certainly consider returning.
