Dinings SW3

Sitting in a quiet, sheltered mews just minutes from the glitz and glam of Harrods and Knightsbridge, Dinings SW3 has nabbed an enviable spot in West London. And that’s not all it has going for it. In the five years since Masaki Sugisaki first threw open the doors here, the restaurant has evolved greatly. Once upon a time the menu was heavy with European influence; now it seems, those fusion accents are a welcome background note to some absolutely delicious modern Japanese cooking.

First thing's first though, yes - you’re still in Knightsbridge, and the menu does reflect that. There’s a lot of truffle, and plenty of luxe ingredients like caviar, wagyu and lobster. You will pay through the nose for it. But the food that emerges from the kitchen ranges from good to spectacular, so if you’re splashing out on a special meal, you won’t be disappointed.

The interiors are nice and spacious too. At street level you’re greeted by a smart cocktail lounge (and some clever cocktails too - try the Kumamoto Spicy Margarita, made with mezcal, Ancho Reyes, chocolate bitters, watermelon and yuzu juice), before descending into a cavernous, moody dining room that still conjures the raw fun of an izakaya.

What follows is luxury food, turned up to 11. We start off with sashimi, then get stuck into juicy wagyu beef burgers in impossibly-soft buns, and a fat round of double-cooked aubergine, coated in a sticky layer of sweet, salty miso. Your mileage may vary with some of these dishes - every dish is so full-on with ingredients and flavour that it can get a bit much - but the sushi is where the restaurant excels. In fact, the shrimp tempura inside-out roll was one of the best things we ate, and at £15 for six pieces it was also one of the most affordable things on the menu. Don't sleep on the sake menu either, which features some very exclusive bottles available by the cup.

Located between Chelsea and Belgravia, Dinings SW3 offers a contemporary fine dining experience, with a menu that blends authentic Japanese techniques with European twists. Chef-owner Masaki Suhisaki channels the Japanese concept of 'Omotenashi’ ensuring a spirit of warm, attentive hospitality. Guests can opt for a seat at the counter, watching the sushi chefs at work, or enjoy a more relaxed feel in the main dining room at one of the banquettes. A lively bar is the perfect spot for pre- or post-dinner drinks, whilst a large garden terrace is ideal for al fresco dining in the warmer months.

The dishes here are made with wonderfully sourced, local and seasonal ingredients, so that you can always be sure your food will be as fresh as possible. Kick off your evening with the likes of toro fatty tuna with spicy sesame emulsion, or seared A5 Japanese wagyu beef with chilli miso. Elsewhere, guests can enjoy a selection of crispy rice, with toppings such as akami bluefun tuna and truffle, or salmon and yuzu emulsion, or tuck into miso soup with seasonal vegetables and umami chilli oil. There’s a great selection of cold shuko, including wild seabass carpaccio with truffle salsa and ponzu jelly, along with spinach and seaweed salad with sweet sesame soy and goma-dare vinaigrette.

From the sumiyaki grill, you can order the amazake soy marinated black cod with shio-koji cured roasted cauliflower with tahini miso and pickled vegetables, or the sake-kasu red chicken breast with yuzu sabayon. Sushi and sashimi are also available to order by the piece, with options spanning aged akami tuna with truffle soy salsa, hand dived scallop with coral salt and lemon, or cured yellowtail belly with preserved yuzu zest. Lastly, the menu features a selection of sushi rolls and ‘temaki’ hand rolls, such as the maguro maki made with akami and otoro cuts, or the double crab roll full of crispy soft shell crab and a yuzu garlic vinaigrette.