Nobu London at the Metropolitan Hotel

I've been here three times recently (not out of choice – not mine, anyway, after the first time) – once for dinner and twice for lunch. I had great expectations, as I'm sure many people do who visit for the first time.

If you too have great expectations, and think you're in for one of the finest Japanese food experiences in the world/ the UK/ London/ that little bit of Mayfair, then please don't go. If you don't care about the food, and you want either an evening spent with raucous 20-somethings and 60-something hedge-fund guys with their 30-something secretaries/ nieces/ god-daughters, or a quiet lunch surrounded by disappointed tourists (especially the Japanese ones), then do go.

The food is not bad, but it's not great. The sushi is average. The service is pretty good. The atmosphere is either too much or too little, depending on timing, and it's very canteen-ish. It needs ripping down and starting again.

Go here if you're craving Japanese food and you don't have time to go anywhere else. But Zuma is just down the road (not a recommendation) and Roka isn't far (a recommendation).

PS don't go if you're really hungry

The very slightly posher version of the sister restaurant on Berkeley Street, this Nobu is slightly more grown up, slightly more ‘civilised’ and as a result can lack a little when it comes to atmosphere. However, if you're taking someone as a treat, this is definitely the Nobu to go to. The same would apply for business diners – the restaurant just feels slightly posher.

It's the same Nobu menu nontheless – dishes to try include the gorgeous yellowtail and jalapeno sashimi, the rock shrimp in creamy garlic sauce, the blackened cod, the wagyu beef – it's all going to be moreish and delicious. I'm particularly addicted to pickled ginger and the garlic sauce, and the staff often bring me a separate bowl – they pay attention to what's happening on your table. It can be quite a fast service though, so if you want to spend more time, I'd recommend you order a few dishes at a time, and ask the waiter to come back to you in a minute.

The one in Berkley square has a better athmosphere. The Nobu is one of teh greatest restaurants in teh world, specially if you consider the quality and standards. I went to both in NYC and London, can tell you that I had a great food and service. If you want to make sure is a pefect evening go there.

I was invited to lunch here by a person I've known for some years and who I now regard as a friend and a person whose creativity, optimism and joie de vivre I admire. These are qualities which this branch of Nobu also reflects, I think. First the slight criticisms: the serving staff kept shouting in loud voices something which I thought must have been an institutionalised ralying cry – it was disruptive. Second, although a guest, this place IS expensive even if the high-quality ingredients and the sourcing dictate that this should be so. For the first time ever in my experience, the place was only half-full as well (is there a patern emerging here ? ). Now the strengths: wonderful, wonderful food – have not had better even in California where Japanese food has been taken to new levels (confession: I've not been to Japan yet). Great, informed, helpful service by people who seem genuinely interested in the food they serve and that the customers should have a positive experience. It was a sunny day, I had great company, discussed future plans and aspirations (in spite of the times we live in), had a wonderful dining experience, enjoyed the chablis my host chose (in glasses, it being lunchtime) and emerged feeling that the world is not such a bad place after all. Clearly the company had a lot to do with this, but I think that Nobu played its part as well. All the dishes we had were fresh, zingy, a joy to eat. If you go there, take advice from your server and go with the flow. Remember to check your bank balance first.

This is where i discovered Japanese food by my wife, by god it was yummy, but over the years i feel it has got sloppy. Eating there is like being on a conveyor belt, my wife and i ordered a selection of sushi and cooked food and within 30 minutes we where done!! obviuosly they needed the table back. the fact that you can get a table the same day you call tells you other people dont think its that great, call zuma on the same day and they will probably say call back in 3 weeks!! a tad dissaponting.

I have eaten at Nobu 5 times in the past 12 months, and am always impressed. The food is cooked to perfection, although with my limited knowledge of Japanese food I found myself guessing to start off with. I'd particularly recommend the Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapenos, the Beef Tenderloin Tataki and the Dover Sole with Red Chili, all are absolutely amazing dishes. Occasionally I find dishes I'm not struck on but they too are prepared and served perfectly, it's just me being fussy. There is a wide and varied wine list, and the service is almost always brilliant, though once we were served by someone who seemed new, who clearly had a few things to learn. The decor is slightly bland , although perfectly nice, and the views of Hyde Park are lovely. While it can be quite expensive, the food is quality and comes close to warranting its high price, but isn't quite there. Overall, it's a fantastic place and I'll certainly be returning as many times as my bank balance allows.

Have been four times now and also New York (mid town) once and Berkeley Street once. Park Lane may have bland decor, but the food for which we go is faultless. It stands a mile higher than the others we have visited. Well done

We dined in February, I was really looking forward to it and then read some reviews on the day, and thought, oh no we've booked into a dud.

We let the waitress order for us, and probably had two courses too many, we had a couple of the signature dishes that everyone raving about, e.g black cod but they weren't the tastiest, possibly yellow tail with truffles gets that accolade. Service was a little too brisk, and you'd finished one dish and another was arriving before you had chance to cogitate, however, our waitress was perfectly charming and looked after us. I thought the food was overall was wonderful and although I needed to remortgage when the bill came I really enjoyed my meal and would not hesitate to come back again at some point in the future or recommend to others.

Feb 2009 – excellent food for sharing (black cod and wagyu beef were totally brilliant). Service was good, but the restaurant on a Monday night was extremely noisy – there were 4 of us at a very small table, and we had to shout to keep up the conversation, otherwise won't hear each other! Left the restaurant pleasantly full but nearly deaf.
Also, too many waiters running around or just loitering and chatting to each other – feels like a busy train station!

At the peak of the recession, splurging £317 for lunch for two (without much booze too) is always going to be a little indulgent, particularly when the well sited tramp outside asked for money after and I didn't have a penny to give him.

Still, after expecting a disappointing culinary let down from reading the Sq Ml reviews , I was delighted with the results. The beef, sushi and (some) of the lobster dishes were first class. Service was adequate, but the setting over-looking Hyde Park is undeniably pretty, although the decor has faded a little. Ordering saki which had been filtered with the sound of whale music also made us laugh.

Overall it's a great place to enjoy food done in a brilliant style, with top quality ingredients. The portions though are miniscule and be prepared to either do a runner or abuse high quality drugs in the toilets when the bill arrives – it really is tramp punchingly pricey.