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Zuma

Address:5 Raphael Street SW7 1DL
Tel:020 7584 1010
Email:
Website: Visit Zuma website
Price: £65.00 Wine: £19.00 Champagne: £45.00
Opening Hours:Mon-Fri 12N-2.15pm (Fri -2.45pm) Sat-Sun 12.30-3.15pm Mon-Sun 6-11pm (Sun -10pm)

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‘Cool, classy & sophisticated’, Zuma has held the top spot on London’s Japanese dining scene for at least five years & shows no signs of falling from grace, leading some to ask ‘why bother with Nobu any more?’ Choosing from the menu is no easy task – ‘everything is amazing’ – but there are a few recommendations we’re happy to make: sublime tuna tataki with shards of crisp garlic, first-rate sushi (including the must-try dynamite roll), terrific spicy beef with red chilli & sweet soy from the robata grill &, possibly the standout dish, lobster tempura with spicy ponzu. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s rare to find a place that ‘has it all’ – or nearly does: Zuma’s immense popularity leads not only to high noise levels & cramped surroundings, but two-hour table slots – a major irritation given that service can be patchy.

Wine List: This list kicks off with a very good range of sake, each with a helpful note making it easy for the beginner to navigate. The rest of the list is equally good. Wines have been selected purely on their ability to match the food &, considering where you are, margins are not high. Best Buy White 2005 Chenin Blanc, Rudera, Stellenbosch, South Africa, £35. Best Buy Red 2004 Rosso di Montalcino, Carparzo, Tuscany, Italy, £32.

Chef: Rainer Becker

Zuma’s Chef - Zuma chef Rainer Becker

This past year has seen Rainer Becker & his business partner Arjun Waney launch a second Zuma site in Hong Kong, after the ongoing success of his London restaurant, which serves ground-breaking modern Japanese cuisine. German-born Becker learned his craft & picked up his business flair in some of the finest hotels & restaurants in Germany, as well as at Sydney’s Park Hyatt hotel, before moving to the Park Hyatt in Tokyo, where he worked for six years embracing the local cuisine & culture. A move to London with Hyatt saw him launch the Rib Room at the Hyatt Carlton Tower (now the Jumeirah Carlton Tower) before striking out on his own & opening Zuma in 2002. He followed this up two years later with the buzzy but less formal Roka on Charlotte Street.

Zuma Location:

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Reader reviews of Zuma:

Felix's Guide

Felix's Guide (40s, Male, United Kingdom)

Editor's pick

My favourite restaurant in London which ticks all the boxes – great, innovative modern Japanese food, good service, beautiful people and an atmosphere that reminds you that 'life is worth living'.

It is both male/female friendly and business/pleasure friendly. Due to the 'Norman Foster' style interior the room can be a bit noisy for the older generation.

Start with a cocktail at the bar, a bit pricy at £9.50 each, but worth the money to soak up the atmosphere of the top end of the London mating game, then retire to your table. Never miss the fillet beef and try as much as possible. Excellent female sommelier.

10 September 2008
Overall:9
Food and Drink:7
Service:7
Atmosphere:10
Value for Money:8
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