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Dinings (∗)

Address:22 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HH
Tel:020 7723 0666
Website: Visit Dinings website
Price: £60.00Wine: £16.50 Champagne: £48.00
Opening Hours:Mon-Fri 12N-2.30pm Mon-Sat 6-10.30pm

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It’s a tiny venue, but Dinings has an army of fans who could fill its pocket-sized basement 100 times over. At street level there are also a few seats propped against the counter, if you fancy grazing on slices of spanking-fresh fish & thickly packed sushi rolls. Hot dishes score highly – chef/owner Tomonari Chiba honed his skills at Nobu & it shows in his inspired tapas-sized plates. Wagyu beef tataki with ponzu sauce & porcini oil, or char-grilled Iberian pork with Korean spicy miso, might catch the eye from a menu packed with appealing possibilities. Despite the terrific food, many feel the place is ‘severely let down’ by its surrounds. The basement looks like a utilitarian bunker, & little attempt has been made to brighten up its concrete walls. Nevertheless, for excellent Japanese cooking & sweet-natured service, Dinings proves the old adage: ‘good things come in small packages’.

Dinings Location:

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Reader reviews of Dinings:

MissSushi
Gold Reviewer

MissSushi ( 30s, Female, London&Paris )

Editor's pick

A tiny little gem.
Although Dinings lacks in atmosphere due to its size and indeed gives one a bunkeresque feeling when sitting downstairs, the food definately makes up for it. I recommend sitting at the ground floor sushi bar if you're alone or with max 3 people. Staff is always friendly, efficient and knowledgeable and provides great service. Diners should share multiple delicious dishes such as their inventive tartare tacos, lobster miso soup, hamachi sashimi with yuzu, tuna or beef tataki, chilean seabass and soft shell crab roll. One dish I particularly recommend is the Wagyu Beef nigiri, which is dressed with truffle oil and garnished with a jellyfied piece of yuzu for sharpness. It's divine – for lack of a better word.
It is always worth (or actually imperative) to check the daily specials on the blackboard and chosing a couple of dishes from there because they never disappoint. Should you have any room left try the macha (green tea) créme brulee' for dessert.

4 December 2009
Overall:9
Food and Drink:10
Service:8
Atmosphere:5
Value for Money:7
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Richard E.
Silver Reviewer

Richard E. ( 40s, Male, United Kingdom )

Whilst Mayfair may have two Nobu's, Marylebone has some of the best sushi counters in London, with both Dinings and Defune being amongst the Capital's best places to watch the artistry of the Itamae.

Dinings share a fair amount with Nobu in the style of food, with more inventive use of sashimi than just a few lumps of perfectly fresh fish and some daikon and wasabi. Sauces are light and each perfectly suited to the type of fish being used. Rolls are inventive, although call me old-fashioned, but I'm not sure that foie gras ever deserves to be wrapped in rice, no matter how amazingly cooked it is.

8 October 2009
Overall:10
Food and Drink:10
Service:6
Atmosphere:7
Value for Money:10
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