100% the best dining experience I've had in Toronto, and second best experience in my life. I've been wanting to come here for a while, and after a few failed attempts (had to cancel resos because of family emergencies), finally made it out. Reservation was at 7:30, and even though they closed at 8, we were completely accommodated. The food was phenomenal and the service was excellent. Indigenous cuisine truly emphasises respect for the ingredients used, and this place espouses that ideology completely. My wife and I shared the seal trio (seared, tartare, and pâté) and I was pleasantly blown away. The flavour of the tartare and seared seal reminded me of liver (probably the iron content), and was flavourful to the fullest. However, as much as I like tartare in general, the pâté was amazing. The balance in all the flavours was perfect! My only (slight) qualm was that I felt that there wasn't enough bannock to balance the ratio of meat. After this, I had the duck, and my wife had the venison dish. My goodness. Phenominal! The duck was perfectly cooked, and though the barley was a bit too salted (could have been too much salt in the water), it wasn't overbearing. The squash and purée perfectly complemented the duck. The venison was equally perfectly cooked; the potato fondant and roasted veg were superb and I was very intrigued by the moss! I never knew that it was edible but it balanced the flavours completely. For dessert, we couldn't decide on one, so we chose two. I had the pine needle sorbet, and my wife had the bannock and chai tea. I think, quite honestly, that the sorbet was the best dessert I've had in my life. It's vegan friendly, and I doubt it has gluten, so I recommend it to all guests. It was sweet, but not cloying. Rich, but not overbearing. I was at a loss of words. The bannock was equally amazing. My wife had quite the experience with it. It took her on a story and reminded her of walking through the forest. If food can do that, you know there's something special about it. Think about the experience the food critic had in Ratatouille; he was brought back to his childhood. Food, in its perfection, should be able to convey an inner emotion, and this certainly did. The service was phenominal. The server was excellent; he brought me my own cup of tea so I could join my wife. The atmosphere was great. Indigenous art line the walls and the lighting isn't too dim. This restaurant will forever be on my list of places to return to, no matter what stage in life or where I am. If I'm ever in Toronto, I'll come back. Five out of five stars are not enough for Kūkǔm Kitchen. I completely recommend this place.