Sea bream carpaccio
So what do we need to know about Bisushima?
This new Japanese rooftop restaurant had a bit of a rocky start last year, barely getting its doors open before everything shut down. But we'd tried their at home service during lockdown and, being seriously impressed by it, promised ourselves a trip in person to the restaurant itself.
Where is it exactly?
You'll find it on top of the Page8 hotel just off Trafalgar Square. There's a separate entrance and devoted lift up to the restaurant to the right of the hotel's entrance on St Martin's Place. The nearest tube is Charing Cross (come out at exit 6 - Duncannon Street).
Where should we meet friends for a drink first?
The best place is out on the terrace at Bisushima which has really wonderful views across London. It's properly jaw-dropping with the Coliseum on one side, St Martin's in the Fields on the other and Nelson's Column in the middle. But it is going to be chilly if you're here during the winter, despite some heaters - so you'll need to be wrapped up warm.
Start your meal out here with those views over London...
Is there a particularly good spot to sit?
We had a very nice booth right by the kitchen so we could observe the sushi chef's skills up close. There are also seats along the pass here if you really want to get up close and personal. And, during the day, the tables by the windows are the obvious choice if you want to enjoy those views.
The dining room at Bisushima
What's on the menu?
Think sushi, but using some of the best local produce - so the lobster will be native blue, the caviar comes from Exmoor and the wagyu in their pithivier pie comes from the Scottish highlands.
Here's what we had:
Lobster & Cauliflower - we saw a lot of these going out on the night. They feature steamed native blue lobster in a cauliflower puree with tosazu jelly (£16)
Tuna Carpaccio - Tuna sashimi, seasonal greens, micro herbs with nori dressing (£27) - such a pretty plating.
Yuan Chicken Kara-Age - Deep-fried yuan marinated corn-fed chicken thigh served with a punchy yurinchi (sweet and sour) sauce (£9)
Chef's Selection of Sashimi - mackerel, tuna, sea bream and trout (£35). Excellent sashimi, particularly with that tuna dry-aged in house for added flavour.
Hotate - scallop nigiri (£11)
And to drink?
We didn't trouble the drinks menu much, but there look to be some interesting cocktails and, as you'd expect, a wide variety of sakes on offer.
Overall thoughts:
With their wrap around terrace affording great views over central London, Bisushima would be a great date place or somewhere to take a friend from out of town who loves sushi. Soak in the views and enjoy that sashimi.
More about Bisushima
Where is it? 8 St Martin's Place, London WC2N 4JH
How to book: Book online
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @bisushima
Hot Dinners dined as guests of Bisushima. Prices are correct at the time of publication.
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