South Kensington, Japanese Restaurant Guide

Despite designer interiors and posh locations (the ten-year-old original in a Kensington backstreet; the ‘Ocean House’ spin-off in South Kensington, in a quirky building built as Brompton Library), this off-radar duo perennially inspire surprisingly little feedback. Not only that, such reports as we do get typically say something like “one of the most delicious Japanese restaurants in town”. Perhaps it’s because they are not cheap?

2019 Review: “Informal Japanese” which offers “rare good value” in pricey South Kensington, near the former Christie’s showroom (there’s also a similar heart-of-Soho branch which inspires little feedback). Eating at “sunk-in tables” adds to the ambience.

2019 Review: The “mish-mash of very tasty plates” can still win praise these “fun”, Japanese-inspired izakayas in Chelsea and Marble Arch. The odd fear is raised that “it’s gone really downhill” since it was sold by founder, Aussie chef Scott Hallsworth, in 2017, particularly at the W2 branch, but the ratings in SW3 are pretty consistent.