Farringdon, Japanese Restaurant Guide

“Pure craft” – Toru Takahashi’s tiny 7-seat venue in a cute Clerkenwell alley does not go out of its way to advertise itself, with almost zero online presence, and bookings released weekly each Monday via a form on one of the booking platforms. He doesn’t need to plug himself, though, as this is “hands-down some of the best sushi in London” (although, because it doesn’t fit into a jelly mould, it goes without saying that Michelin have failed to recognise it, although those less cynical about how it operates have “no idea why they have yet to recognise this place”). For one reporter: “a recent trip to Japan and then a revisit here after confirms the standard at which this charming little shop is operating – on a par with some of the higher-end Tokyo spots. Delicious, imaginative sushi and the warmest of welcomes… the only issue is actually getting a seat!”. The full menu is £187 per person, for 17-20 courses for which you should allow four hours. Or there’s a somewhat cut-down Saturday lunch experience for £167 per person. Top Tip – email info@sushitetsu.co.uk for all the details.

Spanning the eighth and ninth floors of what was once the Daily Telegraph’s Fleet Street HQ, this new pan-Asian fusion concept will major in Japanese cuisine – with a dedicated sushi counter and open robata grill – but also with Thai and Chinese dishes. The ninth-floor rooftop terrace will become a bar and lounge complete with a panorama of the nearby cityscape.