Add: 5 Raphael Street, London SW7 1DL
Tel: 020 7584 1010
Website: http://www.zumarestaurant.com/
I had been eyeing on Zuma for a long time (after hearing many positive feedbacks from ST's colleagues). It's known to be an expensive (yet popular) place serving contemporary Japanese cuisine. Finally went there with ST and Scott last Friday. Scott's eyes lit up when I mentioned contemporary Jap... bet he missed Jap food after a record-breaking period of 4 weeks in the UK!
Zuma was absolutely packed when we got there at 8pm! Chic crowd (though not really our cup of tea). We were told that we had to wait 45min to an hour to get a table (ha, we didn't make reservation). Ah well, all good things are worth waiting for right? :)
While waiting to be seated, we ordered some drinks at the bar area. Even the bar area was packed... took us 15min just to place our orders. Interesting drink menu (e.g. a wide variety of sake cocktails), though it has got to be one of the most expensive cocktails I've ever had. £10.50 for a Cosmopolitan... the Singapore Sling I had at Raffles Hotel in Singapore still tops the list so far!
An hour later, we were finally shown to our seats. Counter seats... definitely not ideal for 3 people, but whatever, we were hungry! Scott had the honour to order for us since he's the expert in Jap food, and ST made a request for their famous black cod (and white rice as she can't live without it, really). Poor Scott had a hard time trying to ignore the prices in pounds!
Food was served pretty fast despite the restaurant operating at its full capacity. And I have to say I'm impressed with almost every dish! The freshly-made tofu was excellent (ST's favourite dish!)... very soft and bursting with soya bean flavour (it's quite different from the silken tofu which we are used to eating). The black cod was very good too (though probably not worth £26?)... well-marinated in mirin (Jap sweetened rice wine) and served with yuku sauce. I have no idea what's yuzu. A check on the internet yielded the following definition: a highly prized and expensive (ha!) lemon-like citrus. My favourite dish of the night has got to be to the pork skewers. Grilled to perfection in yakitori sauce (lightly crisp on the outside)... it was a very good cut of the meat (pork belly?) so there's a good balance of meat and soft fat bits (health freak's alert!).
Overall, it was a really good dining experience (minus the 1st hour of waiting). Bustling ambience, open kitchen concept, well-presented and excellent tasting food, and a good range of sake and shochu (Jap vodka). We didn't dare to look at the bill after... Scott paid (what can I say, he's a true gentleman), phew! Thank you Scott!!! :D
PS: Will be back again. Need to take pictures!
Tel: 020 7584 1010
Website: http://www.zumarestaurant.com/
I had been eyeing on Zuma for a long time (after hearing many positive feedbacks from ST's colleagues). It's known to be an expensive (yet popular) place serving contemporary Japanese cuisine. Finally went there with ST and Scott last Friday. Scott's eyes lit up when I mentioned contemporary Jap... bet he missed Jap food after a record-breaking period of 4 weeks in the UK!
Zuma was absolutely packed when we got there at 8pm! Chic crowd (though not really our cup of tea). We were told that we had to wait 45min to an hour to get a table (ha, we didn't make reservation). Ah well, all good things are worth waiting for right? :)
While waiting to be seated, we ordered some drinks at the bar area. Even the bar area was packed... took us 15min just to place our orders. Interesting drink menu (e.g. a wide variety of sake cocktails), though it has got to be one of the most expensive cocktails I've ever had. £10.50 for a Cosmopolitan... the Singapore Sling I had at Raffles Hotel in Singapore still tops the list so far!
An hour later, we were finally shown to our seats. Counter seats... definitely not ideal for 3 people, but whatever, we were hungry! Scott had the honour to order for us since he's the expert in Jap food, and ST made a request for their famous black cod (and white rice as she can't live without it, really). Poor Scott had a hard time trying to ignore the prices in pounds!
Food was served pretty fast despite the restaurant operating at its full capacity. And I have to say I'm impressed with almost every dish! The freshly-made tofu was excellent (ST's favourite dish!)... very soft and bursting with soya bean flavour (it's quite different from the silken tofu which we are used to eating). The black cod was very good too (though probably not worth £26?)... well-marinated in mirin (Jap sweetened rice wine) and served with yuku sauce. I have no idea what's yuzu. A check on the internet yielded the following definition: a highly prized and expensive (ha!) lemon-like citrus. My favourite dish of the night has got to be to the pork skewers. Grilled to perfection in yakitori sauce (lightly crisp on the outside)... it was a very good cut of the meat (pork belly?) so there's a good balance of meat and soft fat bits (health freak's alert!).
Overall, it was a really good dining experience (minus the 1st hour of waiting). Bustling ambience, open kitchen concept, well-presented and excellent tasting food, and a good range of sake and shochu (Jap vodka). We didn't dare to look at the bill after... Scott paid (what can I say, he's a true gentleman), phew! Thank you Scott!!! :D
PS: Will be back again. Need to take pictures!
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