The yakitori is great, but sake, umeshu and whisky are the real stars at Quebec City’s first proper izakaya, which adheres to the fine Japanese after-work tradition: drinks first, food second, hangovers implicit. When it comes to cocktails, co-owner Julien Vézina is less of a stickler for authenticity. His Japanese Eyeball, a twist on Jerry Thomas’s Japanese Cocktail, replaces orgeat with rice syrup, so the nut-allergic may enjoy.

TRY: VERT CHEVAL, A RIFF ON A MARGARITA WITH AVOCADO, RICE ORGEAT.
Photo: THOMAS CASAULT