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April 18th, 2013  @ Yashin Sushi Category: Brasserie (£££) 
Admittedly, Yashin Sushi had a lot to live up to. I had my last sushi at the wonderful tiny sushi bar Sushi Tetsu, generally agreed to serve the best sushi in London. To add insult to injury, I was treated to a stellar meal at Zuma a couple of weeks back, which again convinced with its selection of non-sushi Japanese dishes. Yashin Sushi could only lose, and lose it did. While the sushi there was really quite good, it did not reach the level of Sushi Tetsu in regard of quality, attention to detail and presentation. Based on the sushi, I would nonetheless have awarded a green light. What however disappointed were the non-sushi dishes which were too expensive for what was offered and actually not that good. Read more... (722 words, 10 images, estimated 2:53 mins reading time)
February 10th, 2013
 Bonito @ Sushi Tetsu Category: Brasserie (£££) 
Sushi Tetsu is an intimate, miniature sushi bar just down the alleyway from The Modern Pantry in Clerkenwell. It was opened by the ex-Nobu chef Toru Takahashi in June, 2012; I would have eaten there far earlier, if it hadn’t been for my pregnancy and the unanimous medical recommendations to avoid all raw fish while incubating a little human. It was a difficult 9 months without sushi — I remember salivating over instagram pictures and blog posts of beautifully crafted nigiri or perfectly fresh sashimi and I honestly couldn’t wait to dive in myself. Read more... (754 words, 16 images, estimated 3:01 mins reading time)
January 21st, 2013  Yoshino Category: Bistro (££)
There are a few London bloggers who have a very similar taste to me and whose opinion on restaurants usually correlates very closely with mine. These are the guys I ask for recommendations when I’m stuck for places to go. One of them is the trusted Skinny Bib, the other the lovely London Tastin’ (with her mouth-watering Best of 2012 list). She was the one who recommended to check out Yoshino for well priced and good quality sushi in Central London. Read more... (517 words, 9 images, estimated 2:04 mins reading time)
September 22nd, 2011 Category: Bistro+ (££-£££)
I cannot believe that it took me so long to finally eat at Sushi of Shiori! This Japanese eatery has been on my to do list for the better part of 2 years and when I think of all the amazing sushi that I have missed by not trying it earlier…
Sushi of Shiori serves among the best, if not the best, sushi I have ever had in London, particularly considering the value for money equation. Here everything is about quality of the food without the fuss: nothing of the sedate indulgence of Umu, Zuma‘s upscale party atmosphere or Nobu‘s elitism and patronizing staff.
The place really doesn’t look like much from the outside and no one would expect a sophisticated sushi bar behind this facade in a little side street somewhere around Euston Station. Stepping through the door, you enter a tiny room with 2 tables, each with 2 seats (you might be able to fit another chair if you are slim) and 3 more seat at the sushi counter where you can watch the master in action. The head chef and owner has worked for the Michelin starred Umu before setting up his own little family venture with his lovely wife taking good care of the patrons.
 The Master at Work @Sushi of Shiori I will not go too much into detail about each of the single nigiri that I have tried, most of which were of extraordinary quality. A very good option for Sushi of Shiori newbies is the Shiori Platter which for £19.50 for 8 pieces of nigiri and 3 hosomaki is incredible value for money. The sushi master probably got sick of observing people drowning his little works of art with the rice side in salty soy sauce thereby masking the subtle taste of the different toppings. So we are explained to use the little brush to brush only little soy sauce on the fish side of the nigiri.
 Sushi Platter @Sushi of Shiori
May 3rd, 2011 Category: Le Brasserie (£££+)
Zuma is a restaurant for special occasions. It is part of a small world wide chain with subsidiaries in Hong kong, Istanbul, Miami and Dubai. You might be able to get away with a semi-affordable bill when ordering carefully, but in the end you will want to splash out. Zuma invites to decadence and gluttony, and at this night, for my birthday, I was part of it.
In London, Zuma is located in a very ugly building not far from Knightsbridge tube station and doesn’t look like much from the outside. When you enter it however, you feel like you have stepped into a night club or into one of these bars I never go to because I refuse to pay 15 pounds for a cocktail and I usually don’t confirm with the dress code.
Surrounded by the young, rich and stylish I was glad I had dressed up for this special occasion feeling like a real Chelsea girl, wearing something rather short together with very high heels in the form of my almost virgin golden Sergio Rossi stilettos. Sipping my Saffron and Poppy Seed Martini (10.50) I was waiting to be spoiled.
I really liked Zuma, in fact I liked it about 1 million times more than the only other posh Japanese restaurant I have been to in London, Nobu Berkley Square.
LIKE
- Lovely staff: Even though we didn’t have a reservation the lovely people at the counter found us a place at the sushi bar within 10 minutes. Friendly and forthcoming they had nothing in common with the pretentious waiters at Nobu.
- The menu: I liked the fact that in addition to some astronomically priced dishes they do have a good selection of dishes costing less than 10 pounds.
- The wine: There are also quite some wines for under 20 pounds, which allows you to maybe order a couple of dishes more…
- The food (see below) was sublime. I loved the fresh and exquisite ingredients, the exotic and well-balanced sauces and the inventive take on Japanese food without losing the traditional touch.
DISLIKE
- I really wanted some cold sake to go with my Japanese delicacies, but they were out of the two cheapest sakes! (19£ and 29£ respectively for 300 ml). We did not go with the next expensive one (40£) but had wine instead. Wanted sake though!
Read more... (769 words, 14 images, estimated 3:05 mins reading time)
September 19th, 2010 Kyoshi Sushi must be the smallest place I have ever eaten at but also the most charming and cute one. It is too small to be even called a restaurant actually. We found it on Chowhound and it was apparently featured on the Antony Bourdain’s No Reservation programme on US TV (which I have to be honest have not heard of before). And you can look at it here (starts at 1:00 min)
 Read more... (360 words, 6 images, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)
July 19th, 2010 Category: Bistro
I stumbled over Sa Sa Sushi close to Angel tube station in search for a quick pre-theatre bite.
Successful pre-theatre dinners are dictated by a different set of rules: I might compromise on atmosphere for fastness but am obviously not prepared to compromise on quality. Read more... (330 words, 2 images, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)
July 13th, 2010 Category: Le Budget
Tsuru Sushi is a little gem and I really wonder how I survived so long without it. My enthusiasm is attributable to several factors: (1) good food (2), so close to London Bridge (this is where I work), (3) possibly the friendliest and most charming service I have had in a long time and (4) it is already cheap but even cheaper when you have a Taste London Card (which I have and which gives me 50% off  ). Read more... (440 words, 3 images, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)
June 22nd, 2010 Category: Bistro
Why Oh Why of all places did I have to end up at another Hi Sushi restaurant? I had a bad experience previously at Hi Sushi Covent Garden and swore to never get close to one of the Hi Sushi branches ever again. Read more... (334 words, 2 images, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)
June 16th, 2010 Category: Bistro
Okawari in Chinatown has been replaced by a new, shiny Japanese restaurant with the (from an Austrian perspective) very unfortunate name Ga Ga Sushi. To be fair, Okawari desperately needed a makeover and it really worked out very well.
Albeit maybe slightly pricier than Okawari, it is definitely more stylish, the food is better, the portions more than generous and nicely presented and the personnel is incredibly friendly. Read more... (367 words, 2 images, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)
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