Salmon Salmon
Chisou

Chisou

4 Princes Street London, W1B 2LE, FSA Food H, United Kingdom

Soup • Meat • Sushi • Seafood


"I have been a lifelong fan of Japanese cuisine and went most recently went to Tokyo in 2019. Chisou stands above the crowd of all fine dining Japanese restaurants I've been to outside Japan. My mum had been there one time prior and had an...amazing experience, my father and I both went for the first time tonight with her. The menu is a complex and interesting overview of all Japanese cuisine highlights, including a comprehensive menu of Sushi/Sashimi, Noodles (Udon/Soba), Teriyaki/Tempura, and some delightful takes on the traditional izakaya offering. They also offer an extensive sake menu, with some very unique items that complement whatever you choose to order. Beyond their superbly cultivated menu, the service at Chisou can only be described as exceptional. The entire staff truly care if you are having a good time, and are happily there to provide advice on guiding you through your meal. My dad is not a huge fan of raw seafood, and the sushi chef took an interest in challenging his hesitations- he offered us an incredible smoked mackerel as an amuse-bouche to test if my dad would like it, and he did. We ordered a number of starters- the gyoza, fried oysters, uni, and chuuka seaweed salad- all were superb. I was extremely impressed at the freshness and quality of the ingredients, as well as the beauty and care with presentation. For his main, my dad ordered the tofu steak, which was the most velvety and flavourful tofu we have had outside of our favourite place in Tokyo (called I <3 Gyoza). My mum and I had the sashimi omekase for 2, and the consideration from the chef was beyond exceptional. He asked us our preferences, my mum is a fan of ami ebi, I love tako and ika- all 3 were of the highest quality I've experienced. He also took a great interest in how we were enjoying things and continually provided advice or information about what we were eating. The waiting staff was also extremely caring and fun to speak with, and really were happy to see that we enjoyed ourselves. The manager also gave us a wonderful recommendation of an undistilled sake to go with our desserts, that was simply fabulous. Chisou is not just truly fantastic dining in terms of quality of food and service, but a theatrical experience that will make you feel as if you've teleported from London right into a Japanese izakaya. We have already booked a reservation to go back tomorrow and I cannot wait."

Momo

Momo

25 Heddon St., Mayfair W1B 4BH, FSA Food H, London, United Kingdom

Bars • Coffee • Drinks • Moroccan


"My wife and I visited Momo for the first time tonight (8pm). I was a tad apprehensive at first as prior reviews had highlighted potential service problems and excessively loud music. Our experience proved my apprehensions completely unnecessary. Music was lively but kept at a comfortable level. Service was quick, staff personable and attentive. The only point with loud music was a charming 2 minute intermission wherein the staff began to dance, chefs banged on (presumably) pans, and chanting ensued. Livened up the place and ended well before it had overstayed its welcome. Crucially, the food was delightful. The lamb hummus was packed with flavour, and I just had to order more pitta for it. The briouats trio was similarly delicious, though a small portion size (6 bites worth) but to be expected for a starter. The tagines made the night (my wife and I shared the beef and lamb tagines). Tender lamb, broth full of flavour and perfectly balanced spice added depth while highlighting the flavour of the lamb. The beef's pomegranate glaze was a refreshing, modern twist which I found perfect next to the classic flavours of the lamb. Chocolate namelaka for dessert, which had a welcome simplicity in its flavours chocolate ganache and buckwheat ice cream, tiny dollops of jam, and chocolate crumble like my mother used to make. Less is sometimes more, and after the complex flavours from starters through to mains, I found the simple dessert to be the perfect way to send us off."

Akira

Akira

101-111 Kensington High Street, London I-W8 5SA, United Kingdom

Fish • Sushi • Asian • Japanese


"When the sashimi course came out, a different staff member mentioned “beef croquet” while describing the dishes. This raised a red flag, so I asked another staff member about it. She reassured me that it was potato and leek croquet and definitely contained no beef, apologizing for the confusion. I felt a bit more at ease when I cut it open, as it looked like a typical croquet. However, when I started eating it, the flavor reminded me of beef, and it made me feel ill—I almost had to spit it out. My partner also tried the same dish but didn’t recall tasting any beef. Since I was cautious about beef, I was more sensitive to the taste. It's possible they fried it in the same oil; I'm not sure. We each ordered a robata and a sushi omakase, with five courses each, but many of the courses were the same, which was a bit disappointing. Because of the croquet incident and the similarities in the courses, I would say this event turned out to be a mixed experience. The food was mostly good, though some dishes were not quite up to par. While the pricing felt slightly on the high side, it is London, so I suppose that's to be expected. I was also disappointed that the staff didn’t check in on how we were enjoying the courses when taking dishes away, especially in a restaurant of this caliber. On a positive note, the cake was delicious, the sashimi was excellent, and the grilled items were good too. I did find it a bit odd that some of the items on the plate were just sauces; I wouldn't expect to drink sauce like a soup. As for the deep-fried tomato, I would have preferred chicken instead, but that’s a minor detail. I think it would be helpful for the restaurant to provide a menu card so that customers can enjoy their omakase experience, particularly if they have any allergies."