In Review: Fallow
The Basics 52 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4RP Number: 020 8017 1788 Website – www.fallowrestaurant.com A snapshot Although Fallow is relatively new to the London restaurant scene, you will want to…
The Basics:
15 Berkeley St, Mayfair, London W1J 8DY
020 7290 9222
noburestaurants.com/london-berkeley-st/home/
A snapshot:
Situated amongst Mayfair’s premium sushi restaurants, Nobu is a jewel in the crown of high-end Japanese food, just off Berkeley Square. Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch-time bite, or a lavish five course meal, Nobu caters to all requirements and will satisfy any sushi lover.
A bit of background:
Nobu is the world’s most recognised Japanese restaurant, known for its innovative new style and cult celebrity following. Founded by world-renowned Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and A-lister Robert De Niro, Nobu is sleek, sophisticated and chic. With restaurants located all over the globe, it’s a name at the forefront of most cities’ culinary landscapes, and for good reason. Whether you’re looking for a modern take on Japan’s finest, or a luxurious place to stay at a Nobu hotel, this popular chain has it all.
The food:
At first glance, the menu may seem overwhelming with a large variety of Japanese delicacies on offer. However, the staff are on hand to guide you through and offer recommendations to suit, in a charming, friendly and efficient way. As this was our first visit, our waiter was extremely helpful and recommended we opt for variations of the bento box: one Classic and one Deluxe. This turned out to be the perfect choice, as we had many popular dishes to savour.
Both bento boxes arrived as a pair, with one cold platter and one hot. The cold platters offered an array of assorted sushi, beautifully served and mouth-wateringly fresh. As well as the sushi, the cold Classic platter was accompanied by a sashimi salad topped with a marvellous Matsuhisa dressing. The Deluxe served a best-selling toro sashimi salad yuzu miso – a personal highlight of our visit.
The hot courses followed, made up of three different dishes per box. Nobu’s signature black cod with miso is a real treat and one not to be missed in the classic bento box. Alongside the richly-flavoured cod were spiced vegetables with rice and delicious creamy tiger shrimp. We would recommend the Deluxe for meat lovers: the superb and succulent grilled beef tenderloin teriyaki was an absolute winner! Served medium-rare, perfectly pink and expertly executed, but we wouldn’t expect anything else from the master of sushi himself. Accompanied by spicy garlic scallops and langoustine tempura, this finished off our meal in an equally flavourful way.
This lunch for two was the perfect showcase of Nobu’s finest. We were able to try out numerous dishes which we found to be faultless combinations. Thanks to generous portions and great service, we left incredibly satisfied.
The venue:
We found Nobu to be welcoming with a friendly buzz, making it ideal for an intimate business meeting or social occasion. Unassuming from the outside, the restaurant is a large space spread across two floors. On the first level, a stylish bar caters for both relaxed business meetings and casual drinks. The open-plan second floor is spacious and bright, with a wall of windows overlooking the buzz of Berkeley Street.
In summary:
Perfectly understated from the outside while delivering on perfect flavours and execution, Nobu is an ideal venue for your principal when seeking a quiet but atmospheric lunch spot.
