Titu

Japanese·
££££
·
Silver Award
·

SquareMeal Review of Titu

Silver Award

Kiwi chef Jeff Tyler used to be in charge of the Asian side of flashy mega restaurant Novikov, so it’s surprising that his first solo project is a quirky “hole in the wall” corner spot in olde-worlde Shepherd Market, with space for only 15 diners (tables are bookable). “It’s not fancy at all”, notes a fan, “but it’s good fun”.

What isn’t surprising is the sheer quality of Tyler’s modern Japanese food. Titu is billed as a gyoza specialist, and its “light and creative” dumplings are served linked like conjoined twins attached by a filigree of lacy batter – although we preferred the warmly spiced chicken and foie gras version to a Wagyu and black pepper riff that seemed like an ostentatious intrusion from Novikov.

However, there’s much more to Titu’s small-plates menu than gyoza: expect anything from meltingly soft tuna blobbed with a subtle jalapeño mayo to deep-fried chicken popcorn (like eating a gourmet McNugget) or a citrusy salad of chunky soft-shell crab. Complimentary snacks of lotus root crisps with corn yuzu dipping sauce go down a treat, while desserts could include green tea brûlée and a ‘mochi ball’ selection.

Prices, while not exactly cheap, are something of a bargain for Mayfair given the quality of the ingredients and cooking. And while Titu’s tiny dimensions mean that confidential discussions are out of the question, the charming staff somehow find space to mix plenty of cocktails including Pisco Sours and Espresso Martinis. We’ll definitely be back – perhaps after a matinee at the nearby Curzon Mayfair.   

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
Japanese
Ambience
Cosy, Lively
Perfect for
Dates, Special occasions

Location

1A Shepherd Street, London, W1J 7HJ

020 7493 8746 020 7493 8746

Website

Opening Times

Mon-Fri 8am-11am Mon-Sat 12N-2.30pm 5-11.30pm

Reviews

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5 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Matthew R

21 February 2023   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
Little gem

Amazing little gem in Mayfair.  Sure the Gyoza is perfectly delicious but so is everything else.  Fried squid, Bao buns, tuna tacos were all just so tasty and impeccably crafted by the chef.  Make sure you wash it all down with a pot of ginger tea.  Wow. I may come back to the UK just for Titu.

Graham D

20 December 2018  
Food & Drink 3.5
Service 4
Atmosphere 3
Value 4.5
Fun little place
It's a quirky little place. The food was good and "street food" in style. We liked it and would go back again. It's not fancy at all but good fun.

Ziyad N

31 July 2018  
A newcomer to the Shepherd's Market eateries, this gyoza inspired restaurant has the potential to be such a great hole-in-the-wall gyoza mecca. The space is very intimate and adheres to the vibe of the restaurants in this area. I have to say though that my culinary experience here was underwhelming. The gyozas were in fairness creative and light but the remainder of the offering lacks any real innovation or thoughtfulness - there is a seemingly endless selection of deep fried balls of chicken, squid and the like. I left feeling like i wanted to enjoy this new spot but knowing that i didn't and that I would not likely be repeating my experience here.

Alex G

17 July 2018  
Food & Drink 5
Service 3
Atmosphere 3.5
Value 3
If gyoza dreams were not enough
Any restaurant that adorns its windows and website with the caption ‘#gyozadreams’ risks setting itself up for disappointment. The bar is set high, with an implied suggestion that the chef has the temerity to be able not only to interpret, but also to fulfil, my dreams. The message is also a somewhat misleading one: the gyoza served at Titu did fortuitously live up to their billing, but the restaurant is about much more than this - overall Titu shows how good modern Japanese cooking can be. By way of background, this is the first venture from Jeff Tyler, the former head chef at Novikov. It is located in a wonderful spot, a prime position at the centre of Shepherd Market. Formerly a coffee shop, the venue seats just 15 people, so advance booking is advisable. Also, if you don’t want to run the risk of disturbing other diners when you’re leaving (as we did), then don’t choose the corner table. There is a fine line between small and intimate on one hand, and cluttered and claustrophobic on the other. Understandably, Titu wants to maximise its revenues, even at the expense of convenience. The main event, of course, is the food. Our snack of fresh lotus root crisps with a corn yuzu dipping sauce, provided on arrival, set the tone perfectly. It was light, piquant and very tasty. While the menu offers six different gyoza (filled Japanese dumplings wrapped in a thin dough for the uninitiated), we also enjoyed several other small dishes as well as the extravagantly-billed ‘dream steak.’ There was not a single disappointment from the selection we sampled: tuna truffle was moist and sensual, avocado salad delicately flavoured with miso and the gyoza so very moreish. Spicy prawn and wagyu beef stood out among the fillings. Even the dream steak did not disappoint. The one catch: many small dishes add up in the sense that there was simply not enough room on our table to accommodate them all (never pleasant), while the final bill could be considered steep, at ~£60/head, without even any alcohol consumed. Cooking of this quality helps soften the financial blow and by creating such a small venue, there is certainly scope for the #gyozadreams cult to grow.

Rachel H

22 May 2018  
Food & Drink 5
Service 4
Atmosphere 3
Value 4
Yuzu mayo to die for
Dined next to a group of senior ladies-who-lunch whose conversation about The Goring vs Petersham Nurseries was entertaining. Though their presence felt somewhat incongruous to the surroundings and menu. A complimentary snack of deep fried lotus root was heavenly, mainly due to the addictive yuzu mayonnaise served with it. Wine list was interesting and not overly pricey. Popcorn chicken to start was improved on with another pilfered pot of yuzu mayo. Crunchy prawns with deliciously crispy heads disappeared in seconds. Soft shell crab salad was fabulous (the crab stayed crispy despite the dressing), but the foie and chicken gyoza were the star of the show, once we had freed them from their lacey batter. A trip to the loo felt distinctly nautical with very narrow, steep steps descending into the world's teeniest loo, next to the galley-style kitchen. How they knock dishes of this quality out of that tiny hole is beyond me! A great addition to the area, best for a couple as too small for larger groups.
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