“Asian fusion” restaurants are popping up all over the place these days, but amidst the swarm of kitchens attempting to add a little twist to eastern classics ROKA stands out: an up-market joint in Canary Wharf where suits lunch on weekdays and families go on weekends.
The menu offers a selection of raw and cooked mini-dishes including a variety of sushi and robata options. The latter are prepared on a large grill behind an open bar to one side of the spacious room,.
Sushi in London comes in two classes: the conveyor-belt chains where the pickings are mediocre and reasonably priced, and the really good stuff with price tags to match. ROKA achieves the quality of the latter at a cost closer to the former all served in a classy minimalist oriental-style space.
The fish is tender and fresh and I highly recommend the California makis – a roll of crab meat and avocado – and the butterfish tataki, bite-size folds that melt in your mouth.
For those who shy away from anything raw, there is a large selection of seafood, meat and vegetables grilled to order. The scallops, served like lollipops topped with a spicy seasoning of wasabi and shiso on a small skewer, are particularly good as is the broccoli shinme, a vegetarian bowl of small broccoli florets with ginger and moromi miso. Ask for a sample selection of shochu, a refreshing Japanese liquor infused with fruit and herbs.
If after you polish off a heavily laden table – over-ordering is almost inevitable – you still have room to succumb to your sweet tooth, ROKA has a mouth-watering dessert menu. The chocolate and mango ussugiri with mango and lime sorbet is light and a modest size. For a more indulgent option, try the dark chocolate tomacha pudding with pear ice cream and crunchy givara – a sumptuous, warm
cake that melts onto the plate.
ROKA has tasting menus for a minimum of two people, starting at £50 per person (£75 with the wine and sake pairing), and their premium one at £75 per person (£120 with the wine and sake pairing). Mondays have become very popular after introducing a set menu where lobster and wagyu steak dishes are reduced in price: £20 for the lobsters and £40 for the wagyu steaks.
Although Canary Wharf may be a ghost town during weekends, at ROKA Saturday and Sunday are family affairs where brunch is served with a complimentary Bellini or Bloody Mary and wine for £42. Children under 10 eat for free. Saturday nights heat up during happy hour (5.30pm-7.30pm) where at £45 per person, Champagne and wine are served like coffee in an American diner.
ROKA makes venturing out to London’s business island worthwhile.
ROKA http://www.rokarestaurant.com/
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