Harden's survey result
Summary
Set in a very 1960s Modernist building next to The Economist, this ambitious Japanese in St James’s is part of the all-conquering Hakkasan Group, but its up-and-down performance over the years means it’s never achieved the high profile of its siblings. This said, “the food has moved up a level” in the last couple of years, and the place is nowadays achieving consistently good ratings all round.
Summary
Though part of the can’t-put-a-step-wrong Hakkasan Group, this wackily impressive modern Japanese, in a deeply 1960s St James’s building next to The Economist, has divided opinion in the past, not helped by the fact that its “closely packed” interior “can lack ambience when empty”. Still, its “delicate”, “melt-in-the-mouth” cuisine wins over all reporters this year.
Summary
This offbeat, potentially impressive Japanese-inspired outfit has an unusual ’60s setting next to The Economist in St James’s, and its “trendy” but soulless decor was the result of a refit (overseen by Alan Yau) several years ago. Its modern Asian cuisine can be “incredible”, but is too often “only OK at the top-end prices” making the “patchy” service all the harder to bear.
Summary
You take “a weirdly shopping-centre-esque escalator” to this slickly designed Japanese, in a ’60s St James’s development next to The Economist; its “Asian-fusion” cuisine can be “very enjoyable”, but it’s “expensive”, service can be “un-welcoming” and too often there’s “no atmosphere”.
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £44.00 |  |
|
|
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 74.00 | Always Available | 7 |
| Menu2 | 59.00 | Always Available | 7 |
Tapas / Dim Sum
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £5.00 | £15.00 | £13.50 | £8.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £35.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £2.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
23 St James’s St, London, SW1A 1HA
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm-3 pm, 6 pm-11 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm-3 pm, 6 pm-11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm-3 pm, 6 pm-11 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm-3 pm, 6 pm-11 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm-3 pm, 6 pm-11:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm-4 pm, 6 pm-11:30 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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