Review: Sake No Hana, Mayfair
Style Points: 5/5
Price: £££
Overall: 5/5
Sake No Hana hits the high notes when it comes to swank, especially with the glossy escalator that greets diners and glides them along to the first floor where the main dining space is based.
Based in Mayfair the location reflects the stylish air of this restaurant which fits right into the surroundings.
The interiors have been designed by esteemed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma in his signature style and as a result the main dining area is very attractively decked out. Shiny black surfaces are combined with light linear bamboo style beams. Each of these tree like structure of cypress wood is designed to represent a futuristic forest.
As diners reach this space the appetite is wetted as they walk past the sushi chefs preparing the freshly made dishes. The tables here are composed of booths and large tables across a curved room, the maintains the intimacy despite the large space and high walls.
Freshly prepared sushi
Main dining space
Escalator leading to the dining area
Would I Want Seconds?
Once we had ordered our Prosecco, the meal started with a choice of white or red miso soup with yam croquette, perfect to awake our tastebuds up.
For my main course I ordered the Tori sukiyaki toban which was chicken sukiyaki with shimeji mushrooms, sautéed onions and tofu. My bowl of food was a good portion size with a balance of chicken vegetables and tofu. The combination of flavours also worked well, but as always I piled on the soya sauce as I do love the flavour!
As well as the main course we also ordered sushi. I tried the vegetable spicy chirashi maki and the crunchy yasai maki. My newly developed love for sushi was satisfied with this collection of highly moreish and freshly prepared sushi.
As we ordered from a set menu, we didn’t have a choice in our dessert as it was the ‘dessert of the day’. What we received was an elegant bowl of raspberry panna cotta
. Out of all the dishes we tried this one had the least distinct flavours, and many of my table were not impressed with the lack of sweetness in it. However Japanese cuisine is not known for the sweet dishes and so this was not too much of a disappointment.
Prosecco
Chicken sukiyaki
Tofu teriyaki toban
Vegetable spicy chirashi maki
Could I Afford Seconds?
We booked using a Bookatable offer of 4 courses and a glass of Prosecco £29 per person. This was an immensely good deal as individually the dishes would cost much more. The only downside was the fact that we were unable to choose our dessert.
Sake No Hana also have a similar menu and offer on their website. Their Taste Menu includes 5 courses for £29.00 per person and is a great way to sample a few different dishes. This restaurant also have impressive signature menus which offer many of their specialities from £65 to £49 per person. There is also a vegetarian signature menu for £39 per person.
As a result of these special menus dining at the lavish Sake No Hana is much more accessible and definitely worth a try.
Panna cotta
Expert staff at the bar
Overall: 5/5
Sake No Hana is an impressive restaurant both in its decor and food. This makes it’s a great venue for a swanky meal for two and even for a group celebration. The restaurant also has a bar on the first floor which is a lovely place to start the meal, as the cocktails are expertly made for as you wait for your table. Overall I am really impressed by Sake No Hana and will definitely be coming back!
Website: sakenohana.com/london
Address: 23 Saint James's Street, London SW1A 1HA
Closest Tube Station: Green Park