It's one of the most highly-rated sushi restaurants in London. But when Endo at the Rotunda reopens next month following a five-month closure for refurbishment there are going to be some key changes you need to know about.
The first is that it's going to be even harder to get a reservation. Before there were seats for 11 guests up at the omakase counter. Now that it's been reduced in size to increase intimacy between the guests and chef Endo, resulting in the removal of one seat.
Next are the changes to what was the bar area. Before this was fairly standard counter seating and it's here where the biggest changes have been made. They brought in architect Kengo Kuma (who did the Japan National Stadium for the Tokyo Olympics). He's created a woodscape lounge area that picks up on the design of the restaurant's undulating paper ceiling, using stacking cedar planks in modulating layers as seating. We've seen designs and it looks quite otherworldly.
Finally - and this is going to be the hardest change for London sushi nuts - they're going to be discouraging the use of mobile phones and cameras at the counter. So your bragging rights are going to be seriously diminished without photographic evidence that you came here.
As for the food, we're told the menu is being 'edited' rather than entirely rewritten. Before they used to offer 20 courses for the omakase and from reopening it'll now be 18 courses.
"I hope to have created a space that has grown alongside me as a chef," says Endo, "but also with all our guests of Rotunda."
More about Endo at the Rotunda
Where is it? 8th Floor, The Helios, Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London W12 7FR
When does it open? Bookings go live 17 August. It reopens on 17 September 2024.
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @kazutoshi.endo
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