We don’t often get to say Paris’ loss is London’s gain, but with the news that Taku Mayfair has opened, we can. Chef Takuya Watanabe, the man behind Jin, the first sushi Omakase restaurant in Paris to receive a Michelin star, has brought his talents to town.
Omakase, whereby all dining decisions are delegated to the chef, is more than just a trust exercise. At Taku Mayfair’s 16-cover restaurant, it means the tasting menu changes daily to suit the produce available and the chef’s interpretations of the season’s bounty. For those not totally ready to surrender control, there is a choice in terms of menu selection: the 17-course Lunch Menu (£180), the Signature Menu with 20 dishes (£280) or the Prestige Menu (a pretty extreme £380), featuring even more courses and luxurious ingredients such as caviar and truffle.
Dishes are prepared in edomae style, a traditional technique dating back centuries, where fresh fish is cured and stored in vinegar to encourage its gentle umami flavours to emerge. Chef Takuya (or ‘Taku’, hence the restaurant’s name) has been working with sushi since age 19 in Japan, including three years of intensive training at a traditional Kaiseki restaurant prior to his decade as chef patron at Jin Paris. Tales of his sushi craft, along with a perfect rice, vinegar and salt ratio, and his bespoke soy sauce blend, precede him.
On the drinks side of things, sommelier Bowie Tsang is serving specialty sakes alongside fine and rare wines to match each course.
It's the latest high-end omakase restaurant to hit London, following recent openings like Roji, Roketsu and the upcoming Mayha - certainly something of a trend.
More about Taku
Where is it? 36 Albemarle St, London W1S 4JE
When does it open? Open now
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @takumayfair.
Subscribe to be the first to get the news from Hot Dinners
