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Square Meal Review of Zuma ?

‘So fabulous, it’s almost beyond words’, exclaims an adoring fan of this high-gloss, über-glamorous Knightsbridge jet setter. Normal socialising rules do not apply here, celebrity is king, & you should ‘get ready to spend more than you expect’ – but everyone agrees that Zuma is ‘electric’. Join the cocktail crowds in the bar, take a raw fix at the sushi counter (‘the best this side of Tokyo’, according to one well-travelled reader), or ensconce yourself amid marble pillars, unyielding wooden surfaces & natural stonework in the smart dining room. For a considerable outlay, you can sample some miraculously good contemporary Japanese food – tantalising tasting plates of addictive sweetcorn ‘popcorn’, creamily succulent, robata-grilled sea bass with a hot-&-sour sauce, or ise ibe (whole lobster transmuted so that the shell becomes a plate). Wagyu beef is ‘outstanding’, & desserts blend Japanese heritage with French finesse: try the sweet chawan mushi (egg custard) for a lesson in the pleasures of texture. ‘What an experience!’
WINE LIST: If you’re new to saké, this list will definitely help, with its large selection of sakés & shochus. Considering the location of the restaurant (a stone’s throw from Harrods), prices are fair & the overall offering well balanced. BEST BUY WHITE 2010 Domäne Wachau, Terrassen Grüner Veltliner, Federspiel, Wachau, Austria, £36. BEST BUY RED 2009 Domaine Julien Sunier, Morgon, Beaujolais, France, £48.

Overall Diner Rating

8.6
Food & Drink
9.0
Service
8.0
Atmosphere
8.5
Value
7.7

Based on 22 ratings. Rate it!

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  1. Ellen K.
    Reviews: 1

    Ellen K. ( 30s, Female )

    November 2010

    I do like Zuma, but I think the kind of plates are quite cheap they seem like desert plates like IKEA plates!!! And sometimes you can see many cheap girls I mean many prostitutes around!!
    By the way the food and drinks are very good:)
    x ek

    • Overall: 7
    • Food & Drink: 9
    • Service: 7
    • Atmosphere: 8
    • Value: 7
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful. Was it helpful to you?
     
  2. Liz G.
    Gold Reviewer

    Liz G. ( 30s, Female, United Kingdom )

    October 2010

    Went there for a romantic dinner. Opted for Tasting Menu, and we were not disappointed – a huge amount of food, beautifully and very carefully presented, and a total delight to the palate. Sake was served precisely at the temperature we requested, and plenty of advice given on choice. Service was very attentive and friendly, not a single mistake (although the restaurant was very busy on a Saturday night) – this puts both Nobu's to shame!! I also asked to view their private dining facilities, and the front of house lady was very helpful, and even sorted out my private dining booking immediately (which I could not do over the phone). Overall, a hugely enjoyable evening, money well spent, and the quality of food and service definitely worth the bill. I like this more than I like UMU (which is also great, but with more emphasis on fine dining presentation rather than food itself). Will do my best to be back (and in the meantime will book more people to dine at Zuma!).

    • Overall: 9
    • Food & Drink: 9
    • Service: 8
    • Atmosphere: 9
    • Value: 8
    2 of 2 people found this review helpful. Was it helpful to you?
     
  3. Rafael D.

    Rafael D. ( 40s, Male, United Kingdom )

    September 2010

    Great food and atmosphere, service is a bit confuse maybe because the restuarant is busy and the waiters are always different (turnover probably). But I tully reccomend this place, similar to Nobu but teh “grandeur” of the place impress. Get ready to spend more than you expect as if you are hungry it will cost a lot. Sake list is impressive. Cocktails are very good also…

    • Overall: 8
    • Food & Drink: 7
    • Service: 6
    • Atmosphere: 9
    • Value: 7
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  4. Paul S.
    Silver Reviewer

    Paul S. ( 30s, Male )

    April 2010

    have been going to zuma now for nearly 6 years and its as good now as it was on day 1. sushi and sashimi is first rate. wagu if off the clock, although better if u not paying the bill!!! The atmosphere is great, and is a good place for celeb spotting. Staff are very knowledgeable about the menu as with the wines to. Great if you going with a group, if you can get in that is! defo no credit crunch at this place. first rate.

    • Overall: 10
    • Food & Drink: 10
    • Service: 10
    • Atmosphere: 10
    • Value: 10
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  5. Antonella C.

    Antonella C. ( 30s )

    January 2010

    Zuma is a continuos surprise and in all these years I was never disappointed after a meal at Zuma…Excellent and unique!

    • Overall: 9
    • Food & Drink: 9
    • Service: 9
    • Atmosphere: 9
    • Value: 9
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  6. Garlic Confit
    Silver Reviewer

    Garlic Confit ( 30s, Male, United Kingdom )

    November 2009

    There is no doubting that Zuma is a good restaurant. The food (which is the primary concern of a restaurant) is always perfect. The rest of the elements that go to make up a restaurant are in the ‘take it or leave it’ category.

    It is a celeb style hangout. It is loud not buzzy. It overshadows the real reason you are there.

    For those who have not experienced Zuma, you must. If you fancy yourself, you may return. If you like good food and want to have a conversation with your friends you probably won't.

    The price reflects the attitude of the place. You pay for great ingredients, fancy sounding cocktails a restaurant designed by a man called ‘super potato’. You may also be still paying for the fact that Russell Crowe had a fight in the loos many years ago.

    I do like it, in small doses. Maybe I am getting old.

    In all honesty I prefer it sibling, Roka. Smaller, Subtler and Sophisticated.

    • Overall: 8
    • Food & Drink: 9
    • Service: 7
    • Atmosphere: 7
    • Value: 7
    3 of 3 people found this review helpful. Was it helpful to you?
     
  7. Jonesy
    Silver Reviewer

    Jonesy ( 30s, Male, London )

    March 2009
    Editor's pick

    Mixing urban industrial chic with natural elements of stone and wood, the interior of Zuma immediately reeks of cool. No wonder this is a hotbed of celebrities and the Knightsbridge elite.

    In the bar area, I'm surrounded by people wearing Prada and oversized sunglasses. It's like stepping into a Bret Easton Ellis novel.

    At the table, it’s a more relaxed affair. Urban music plays from somewhere amidst the metal piping overhead, but the stone floor and the size of the room gives it the noisy acoustic that one finds in a large canteen.

    We plumped for the tasting menu, a wallet-busting price but well worth it for the exceptional food on offer. The selection of nigiri sushi and sashimi arrives on a bed of crushed ice; the fish is of the highest quality and virtually melts in the mouth. The robata grilled wagyu beef is superlative, the marinated black cod a delight.

    The most notable dish of the evening was a seared and miso-marinated foie gras with umeboshi compote. The umeboshi, a type of dried, pickled fruit, was unbelievably sharp, sour and salty, providing an incredible contrast to the deep, rich and overbearing foie gras. You couldn’t eat one without the other. It was a black and white flavour combination that made one wince and laugh at the same time, utterly fabulous.

    To drink, we tried one of their sakes from the extensive list. Service was polite and attentive, and we weren’t table-turned despite it being a busy Saturday night.

    If you don’t mind posing with wannabe celebrities, then you really must give Zuma a go. For foodies, it’s simply heavenly.

    • Overall: 8
    • Food & Drink: 9
    • Service: 7
    • Atmosphere: 7
    • Value: 8
    8 of 8 people found this review helpful. Was it helpful to you?
     
  8. Karen S.

    Karen S. ( 50s, Female, London )

    December 2008

    Zuma clearly want to turn the tables so quickly that scant attention is paid to the pace at which the diners wish to eat. The ability to enjoy the ambience of the restaurant is marred by the converyor type service. When you weigh the outlay vs the overall experience, we were left disappointed in the extreme.

    • Overall: 5
    • Food & Drink: 7
    • Service: 6
    • Atmosphere: 6
    • Value: 4
    1 of 2 people found this review helpful. Was it helpful to you?
     
  9. MissSushi
    Gold Reviewer

    MissSushi ( 30s, Female, London&Paris )

    November 2008

    Zuma has been one of my favourite London restaurants for years now. The girls at the entrance can be uneccessarily rude and arrogant at times and the crowd at the bar a little tacky but the food is always great, so who cares.
    Some of the best dishes that Zuma has to offer include Chillie Salt Squid, Giant King Prawn on robata grill, Hotate (scallop) sashimi with yuzu, sashimi salad, waguy beef and the unusual bean creme brulee' with green tea ice cream which I only tasted recently for the first time and immediately got addicted to. Incidentally Zuma (in my humble opinion) has the best green tea ice cream in London – not too sweet or creamy. Yummie.

    • Overall: 9
    • Food & Drink: 10
    • Service: 6
    • Atmosphere: 8
    • Value: 8
    6 of 6 people found this review helpful. Was it helpful to you?
     
  10. Felix's Guide
    Silver Reviewer

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

    September 2008
    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.

    • Overall: 9
    • Food & Drink: 7
    • Service: 7
    • Atmosphere: 10
    • Value: 8
    4 of 4 people found this review helpful. Was it helpful to you?
     
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Rainer Becker

Zuma’s Chef - Zuma chef Rainer Becker Rainer Becker's hyper-trendy Zuma was a truly cosmopolitan affair when it opened in 2002: a German chef with an Indian business partner selling Japanese food to London diners. Becker began his career working in Germany's finest restaurants, before touring the world with Hyatt hotels. He arrived in London via Sydney & Tokyo, where he spent six years immersed in local cuisine & culture. After launching the Rib Room at London's Hyatt Carlton Tower (now the Jumeirah Carlton Tower), he branched out on his own in 2002 with Zuma, following it up two years later with Roka. Meanwhile, Zuma is establishing itself as a global brand, with openings in Hong Kong, Dubai & Istanbul.
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Essential Details for Zuma

  • Address: 5 Raphael Street, London SW7 1DL
  • Telephone: 020 7584 1010
  • Email: info@zumarestaurant.com
  • Website: Visit Zuma
  • Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 12N-2.30pm Sat-Sun 12.30-3.30pm Mon-Sun 6-10.45pm
  • Capacities: Private rooms for 12, 14 people
  • Restaurant Facilities: Alfresco dining area

Location of Zuma

Been to this restaurant? Write a comment

Write Your Review
  • 1Win fab prizes with free monthly prize draws!
  • 2See your views in print.
  • 3Collect your thoughts in one place.
  • 4Be rewarded with an Editor's Pick.
  • 5Rate restaurants and share your views.

Showing 5 of 10 Reviews

View all Zuma reviews

  1. Ellen K.
    Reviews: 1

    Ellen K. ( 30s, Female )

    November 2010

    I do like Zuma, but I think the kind of plates are quite cheap they seem like desert plates like IKEA plates!!! And sometimes you can see many cheap girls I mean many prostitutes around!!
    By the way the food and drinks are very good:)
    x ek

    • Overall: 7
    • Food & Drink: 9
    • Service: 7
    • Atmosphere: 8
    • Value: 7
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful. Was it helpful to you?
     
  2. Liz G.
    Gold Reviewer

    Liz G. ( 30s, Female, United Kingdom )

    October 2010

    Went there for a romantic dinner. Opted for Tasting Menu, and we were not disappointed – a huge amount of food, beautifully and very carefully presented, and a total delight to the palate. Sake was served precisely at the temperature we requested, and plenty of advice given on choice. Service was very attentive and… More

    • Overall: 9
    • Food & Drink: 9
    • Service: 8
    • Atmosphere: 9
    • Value: 8
    2 of 2 people found this review helpful. Was it helpful to you?
     
  3. Rafael D.

    Rafael D. ( 40s, Male, United Kingdom )

    September 2010

    Great food and atmosphere, service is a bit confuse maybe because the restuarant is busy and the waiters are always different (turnover probably). But I tully reccomend this place, similar to Nobu but teh “grandeur” of the place impress. Get ready to spend more than you expect as if you are hungry it will cost a lot. Sake… More

    • Overall: 8
    • Food & Drink: 7
    • Service: 6
    • Atmosphere: 9
    • Value: 7
    Was it helpful to you?
     
  4. Paul S.
    Silver Reviewer

    Paul S. ( 30s, Male )

    April 2010

    have been going to zuma now for nearly 6 years and its as good now as it was on day 1. sushi and sashimi is first rate. wagu if off the clock, although better if u not paying the bill!!! The atmosphere is great, and is a good place for celeb spotting. Staff are very knowledgeable about the menu as with the wines to. Great… More

    • Overall: 10
    • Food & Drink: 10
    • Service: 10
    • Atmosphere: 10
    • Value: 10
    Was it helpful to you?
     
  5. Antonella C.

    Antonella C. ( 30s )

    January 2010

    Zuma is a continuos surprise and in all these years I was never disappointed after a meal at Zuma…Excellent and unique!

    • Overall: 9
    • Food & Drink: 9
    • Service: 9
    • Atmosphere: 9
    • Value: 9
    Was it helpful to you?
     
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