Tsunami, Japanese in West End
Originally uploaded by Manne.
Went for long overdue dinner with my crazy ultramarathon running friend J a few days ago, and we decided to go for Japanese. Not only because I was feeling particularly keen on Japanese food, they also had 20% off the food bill if booking before 19:00... In these times it seemed like a prudent thing to reward with a visit.
Visit from start to finish
The website: www.tsunamirestaurant.co.uk
Big pointless flash animation wasting screen real estate on start page, dark color scheme that does not match the airy and fluffy minimalist look of the restaurant, small text. Not great in other words. Useful information though including full menu (much appreciated when blogging about the experience...), albeit a bit static, with the option too book online (through Open Table). Special offer prominent on the start page, with link to book (although you have to remember yourself to get the offer since it is not actually attached to the booking as it would have been had they used Livebookings). All in all useful but slighty dull and visually sub par site. Tsunami is much better than this.
The location:
West End, 93 Charlotte Street (map)
The staff:
Very friendly, well dressed and efficient. I arrived half an hour early, Joakim was 45 minutes late, despite that they were all smiles and very welcoming. They need to stop the pacing though. Since I was so early the restaurant was near empty when I arrived, and the guy minding my table kept pacing around like a restless ghost. Really irritating.
The place:
Cute! Good music, comfortable, stylish. From the street, in the winter dark, it was a bit hard to find since the facade is dark and the door opening an odd shape. It is all glass though, and from the opening escapes this cherry blossom pinkish hue from inside the restaurant making it look really cute. Inside the decor is simple minimalist with clean lines and soft indirect lighting. Choice of music when I arrived was Mexican mariachi (tribute)... Not really my bag. Soon changed to jazzy lounge though, which worked a little bit better.
Tsunami makes me think of cherry blossoms. Simple, yet beautiful, pinkish white, and soft. Beautifully presented food, so tasty it is devoured far too quickly leaving you with a longing for more. Men's room excluded (see below), this place is a real sakura.
The crowd:
Young and equally stylish... Mostly couples and small groups of friends. Place was empty when I arrived just after 18:00 but rapidly after 18:45 filled up to capacity and stayed that way until we left. Despite the restaurant being full of people, sound levels never got out of hand and it was very easy to keep up conversation and relax.
The food:
Well presented, very tasty and innovative. While waiting for the incredibly rudely late J I had some edamame and miso. Simple things, but when done right, fresh and steaming hot, so comforting and tasty. I was very comforted, to the point of forgiving J his rudeness.
When J FINALLY arrived continued with sweet and fluffy prawn and snow crab dumplings, melt in your mouth goodness. Ordered the special which was Scottish fillet of beef with foie gras and sea urchin butter on a bed of steamed spring onion. Done medium rare to order the meat was really tender and succulent. Now, I rarely get really excited by meat in London but this dish made my eyes spin and taste buds stand at attention gagging for more. J seconded that. Served with a wasabi dipping sauce that had that perfect blowtorch-to-the-back-of-your-nose feel to it.
J had seared tuna sashimi sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds and dressed in sesame oil for starter followed by a chicken toban with crunchy steamed vegetables. All very good.
The gents:
Not too sure about the red and blue lights. Also, minimalism can go too far... I draw the line when I a) don't understand how to open the cubicle doors and b) once I figure it out don't want to touch them from fear of destroying them. Furthermore, basins with oddball designs are NOT supposed to splash you with water all over no matter how good they look.
The coffee: Standard.
The bill:
Fair, 30 pp (starter + mains). That was including the edamamame and miso I had while waiting for J but excluding the 20% discount from ordering before 19:00 since J was so unforgivingly late. He did close the sale though. Good on him, we all need to prioritize a bit of commerce in these times...
The verdict:
Will definitely go again! Great place to take a date too, you can't help but get in a romantic mode thanks to the soft pink hued lighting and intimate atmosphere. Besides, A immediately commented on my Facebook status from the other side of the world saying that one of the things she really misses from London is the Tsunami Clapham branch. Have to try that one too.
Ha ha ha, I know Manne, I totally owe you one for being so late... But to be publicly slaughtered like this, do I really deserve that? And for you to go on and on about it *smile*. Well I guess it is about time for me to mention how many times you re-scheduled... Or maybe I should just swallow my pride and accept the public harassment...
I agree with you on the food! Top notch, especially my starter, really something special!
Posted by: Joakim | January 26, 2009 at 22:41
What do you mean?!? I only rescheduled twice! Or maybe it was three times. Or... Sorry. ;)
Posted by: Manne | January 26, 2009 at 22:42