Maguro

This bento box of a restaurant has Maida Vale’s sushi-lovers in a spin: they must book well in advance for Saturday night, or settle for a takeaway. It’s a miracle the kitchen can churn out so many dishes in such a small space. There’s much to tempt, aside from a stonking line-up of sashimi & nigiri. Buttery in-shell scallops arrive coated in sticky, spicy barbecue sauce; fruity ponzu sauce enlivens seared slices of beef; & the rainbow roll is a multi-piece extravaganza featuring four types of fish, plus eel, crab meat & prawns. Japanese beers, plum wine & sakés are bolstered by a limited wine list. The quality of the cooking more than justifies the high prices, but service can be surly – though we’ve always found staff perfectly pleasant.