Sake no Hana can be found in St James’s just steps from Piccadilly Circus. This bustling Japanese restaurant is the go to choice if you’re looking for sushi in the West End. The minimalist, crisp décor becomes especially inviting as the lights dim and the atmosphere becomes electric. This restaurant always provides a fantastic experience.
Having visited Sake no Hana previously, we knew we were going to be in good hands. Upon arrival we were greeted warmly and shown to our table, taking in the buzzing atmosphere as we walked through. With few tables spare, we were instantly reassured that nothing had changed, and Sake no Hana’s reputation was very much still in-tact.
We decided to start our evening with an aperitif, two glasses of the Louis Roederer Brut Premier Champagne, which went down very nicely indeed. We also snacked on the salted edamame whilst we browsed the menu.
“The service is flawless, the wine is fantastic, and the food is of a high quality.”
To begin our culinary experience, we opted to share some sushi, deciding on the salmon avocado maki and the akami maki cut rolls. Both were beautifully presented, with the wonderfully fresh salmon and lean tuna really set the tone of quality for the evening.
For our main courses, we opted for the salmon hobayaki which came as char-grilled salmon served on a hoba leaf with red miso teriyaki. The flavours were sensational in this dish and the salmon was so wonderfully prepared, its flavour was not lost and only complimented greatly by the aromatic miso teriyaki. We also chose the Japanese Wagyu beef, which again was served char-grilled, with garlic ponzu. This dish was simply outstanding and a real highlight of the evening – the beef melted in the mouth and the flavours were just stunning.
To accompany our meal we chose a bottle of the 2011 Château de Barbe Blanche, Lussac-Saint-Émilion Bordeaux, France. It complimented the beef particularly well.
Sake no Hana really is one of those restaurants that is more of an overall experience than just somewhere to eat. The service is flawless, the wine is fantastic, and the food is of a high quality. But aside from the team ticking all the boxes of a great restaurant, the general atmosphere and ambiance is sophisticated; you can easily spend hours there enjoying the mood. We’ll certainly be back, and thoroughly encourage you to pay a visit.
The Bill: £82 per head
