With contemporary Japanese restaurants popping up all over the place it’s hard to know where to look for that special meal. Wabi certainly stands out. Situated on Kingsway in the heart of London the modern venue is chic yet entirely welcoming, and the food is delicious. The former Nobu head chef Scott Hallsworth, gives traditional Japanese cuisine a contemporary twist with an array of dishes geared to both sushi lovers and those seeking hearty comfort food.
Down the escalators of a swish Holborn sky-rise, the restaurant is spacious with minimalist, clean décor with a small cocktail lounge. It’s a good place to begin the evening with one of their exotic concoctions; the Apple Blossom and the Wild Serenity are particularly good at £9.95
If you are in an ambitious mood, we suggest the Kaiseki tasting menu, a ten- course extravaganza of a variety little dishes at £75 per head, which they also offer as a vegetarian option. It’s a bit pricey but a rewarding culinary experience. The sea bass sashimi served with home made Koji, a traditional Japanese condiment, is light and refreshing while the warm Loch Dural Salmon with lemon miso, green chilli salsa and burn cedar is a bolder, richer contrast.
Beyond the tasting menu, the sushi is especially distinguished. The Dragon Roll with mango sauce and the soft shell crab roll are definitely worth trying, as are the Nigiri Toro, tuna belly, and the Nigiri Hotate scallops. On the à la carte menu, we recommend the beef fillet Tataki with onion ponzu and garlic crisps, the pumpkin tempura with rocket aioli and the rice hot pot with unagi, Japanese mushrooms and wasabi tobiko.
The diversity of the Wabi menu invites filling the table with a variety of options, both warm and raw with prices ranging from between £4 and £15. The tasting menu is for when you really want to splurge.
Wabi is also open for lunch – a good location for the business world – but on any other occasion the restaurant is most definitely a dinner spot: cocktails, a capacious and exciting menu and a stylish ambience are all part of a dining experience after dark.
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