Sushi of Shiori

Just fantastic sushi! I'm very happy that my office is very close to it so that i can go there for lunch (rather said, take away as i don't have a lunch break) but i also go there for dinner when i can be more relax. the ‘shiori’ will be the perfect order that can be completed by a few more pieces if needed. The quality and preparation is of very high standards and i have never been disapointed.

After having read about it, I made my way to Shiori for lunch.
This supposedly delicious sushi island lies amongst a sea of kebab shops and curry houses. There are no tables at Shiori, just bar seats, 3 facing the Itamae, and 6 looking out the window front. That's it. The tiny room, smaller than Dinings or Inaho, was sparkling clean. I sat opposite the sushi chef and got excited when I was handed the menu. It boasts a long list of fish, including chu-toro and aji, which are not available at most London sushi bars.
My nigiri selection was beautifully presented. For such a teeny tiny, reasonably priced restaurant it felt unusually luxurious. A small dollop of truffle paste decorated the plump sweet scallop which was resting on perfectly cooked room temperature rice. Tiny shreds of shiso leaf complimented the salmon. The yellowtail melted on top of the tongue, together with its ginger and spring onion topping and the tuna was so buttery, it virtually disintegrated once inside the mouth. Apart from the eel, which could have been better, every piece of sushi which was presented was served with a delicious little accent. The friendly lady running Shiori told me that she had designed the mainly raw menu. It was short, but authentic yet modern compared to most London sushi bars. I'll be back.

The sushi of here was “fresh fish with delicious rice” that was best sushi rice I've ever had, elegantly seasoned and well balanced with the rice itself and perfect with the fresh raw fishes.
My friend had a vegetarian plate which looked so lovely, it had courget with miso sauce, baby carrot, Japanese mushroom, okura & marinated beans and few rolls, good valued for money. And I had shiori set which were all tastefull nigiri with rolls, especially their scallop was superb and crab & eel were deliciously meaty. Also their green tea and miso soup never disapointed with the quality. Service was great too, the waitress was so attentive. Will go back again and again.

As a Japanese food addict and trying virtally ever set sushi lunch in London and therefore probably the main reason why most Japanese restuarants have managed to continue during the recession, I feel qualified to leave my review of this special gem.

Sushi of Shiori can be found just by the junction between Drummond Street and Hampstead Road and just a few short steps away from Warren Street Tube station. Boy is this place small. With just three chairs opposite the tiny kitchen area and six more facing onto the street and opposite two rather dark and empty looking Indian restuarants, it feels somewhat lonely and claustrophobic at times. But not for long, the service is extremely attentive whatever your order and when the food arrives, you feel transported to somewhere spacious and where only real Sushi fans are allowed. It's set sushi lunch is very fresh, beautifully presented and just the right amount of portions. The Miso soup which comes with the dish was one of the best I have ever tasted.

I will be heading back real soon and just hope there will be space!