ot only is the presentation of Kaiseki Sakura's signature fare meticulous, but the dining room shows a deft designer's touch, with rich black banquettes and subtle pink hues.

The Church and Wellesley eatery has two high-end Japanese tasting menus ($60 and $80) and a lengthy list of kaiseki style dishes. Owner/chef Daisuke Izutsu's periodically changing multi-course menu lets you sample Japanese food in all its diverse deliciousness.

Try the fish-tastic (sorry) Panko-Crusted Salmon stuffed with a bacon, sautéed onion and sour cream mix. The flavours are subtle but complex, creating a rollicking impression on the tongue. With a side of sendai miso paste, a myriad of sensations (salty, rich, creamy, crunchy) play off one another in uvula teasing harmony.

A plate of House-Smoked Salmon is artfully arranged with a shiso leaf and a mound of puréed capers. The best dish of the night was the Beef Tongue braised in miso. While it took the longest to arrive, it was worth the wait. This dish features a topping of green onion, while a crispy French stick helped lighten the load.

Kaiseki Sakura dazzles with its inspired gastronomy and complementary, innovative melding of ingredients. Sure, one meal costs more than the GDP of several small-to-mid-sized countries, but your poor tongue, cooped up for eternity in your dodgy mouth, deserves a little love too.