Introducing: Kasa Moto, the Chase empire’s swanky Japanese spot in Yorkville

Name: Kasa Moto Neighbourhood: Yorkville Contact: 115 Yorkville Ave., 647-348-7000, kasamoto.ca, @kasa_moto
Previously: Montage (but prior to that, Remys) Owners: Chase Hospitality Group, Westdale Properties, Adam Arviv and Mark Silver Chefs: Daisuke Izutsu (Don Don Izakaya, Kaiseki-Sakura), Michael Parubocki (Momofuku Noodle Bar, Frank’s Kitchen) and Tsuyoshi Yoshinaga (Yuzu, Kingyo, Kaji)

The Food: Contemporary Japanese dishes including a mix of izakaya and robata-grilled hot and cold small plates with some larger options, too (like a whole roasted bass). There’s also a sushi bar that specializes in both traditional and contemporary takes on sushi and sashimi, all made with traceable and responsibly harvested seafood. There’s a menu of small plates for the patio, and, on the weekends, brunch will include items like bincho-grilled wagyu steak and eggs, and breakfast bentos of fried rice and salmon.

The Drinks: Cocktails infused with Japanese flavours like yuzu, shiso or sansho salt; Japanese beers on tap and in bottles; a selection of wine and spirits—and sake, of course.

The Space: II by IV Design was responsible for transforming the 12,000-square-foot space into multiple rooms accented with wood ceilings, indoor topiary and hand-painted murals. The two-story restaurant and lounge can seat 410 people spread out across a split-level main-floor dining room, a sizeable rooftop patio, a street-side terrace and Bar Moto on the upper level, which is available for private functions.