Harden's says
Japanese chef Daisuke Shimoyama, who spent six years at UMU in Mayfair, has opened his own restaurant, in County Hall; bento boxes are available at lunch, with fine dining and omakase tasting menus in the evenings.
Harden's survey result
Summary
This top-class Japanese dining room in the monolithic former County Hall near the London Eye is “a surprising delight in an area largely devoid of good eating options”. Daisuke Shimoyama, previously head chef at Umu in Mayfair who began his career at 15 washing pots in Kanagawa, serves everything from “good-value lunch bentos to enticing main menus”, including a 13-course omakase with the chef’s sake pairing.
Summary
This little-known “hidden Japanese gem” near the London Eye showcases the skills of chef-parton Daisuke Shimoyama, who spent six years as head chef at Umu in Mayfair before launching his own venture at this hotel in the former County Hall. His omakase “tasting menu is particularly impressive” and is matched by an interesting sake list selected by the chef, while budget options at lunchtime include a bento box.
Summary
“A great addition to the area” – the reason to re-evaluate this hotel Japanese at County Hall includes the CV of chef patron Daisuke Shimoyama, who joined in early 2020. Daisuke spent six years as head chef at UMU under the immensely talented Yoshinori Ishii. At lunch you can eat for as little as £17 from the bento box selection, but aficionados of Japanese cuisine will go for the evening omakase tasting menu. Staff are “very pleasant and efficient” and the “zingy” cuisine is “really imaginative and delicious”. More reports please!
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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Southbank Riverside, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 7PB
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £45.00 |  |
|
|
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 165.00 | Always available | 11 |
| Menu2 | 105.00 | Always available | 6 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £32.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
Southbank Riverside, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 7PB
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
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