NOPI

Fusion, Mediterranean·
££££
·
Silver Award
·

SquareMeal Review of NOPI

Silver Award

Aimed higher than his eponymous deli/café chain, Yottam Ottolenghi's "gleaming" spin-off hits its target with ease: the cream-coloured ground floor is a serene space artfully decorated with white tiles, polished marble and brass fittings, while downstairs offers large communal tables and an open kitchen. Find the culinary hotspot in Soho offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and pre- and post-theatre menus.

Nopi’s menu is seasonal and celebrates those bold flavours in its colourful dishes, while keeping health in mind. To go alongside its menu is an extensive wine list and a whole host of classic and Nopi-themed cocktails. These signature cocktails also pick up on the kitchen's eclectic ingredients, such as the Mumbai Slap: rum mixed with an Asian herb called pandan, ginger, lime, and the kickers, curry syrup and green chilli jam.

However, readers save most praise for Nopi's "exquisite", "healthy" and supremely tasty food: raw cauliflower is paired with sprouts, nectarines and Gorgonzola, sea trout gets a global makeover with koji rice, watercress pesto and labneh, while beef short-rib keeps more familiar company with smoked beer glaze and horseradish. Whether you're sharing dishes or going it alone with one of the more expensive mains, it's all about creativity and depth of flavour.

The desserts are fuss-free but still incorporate Nopi’s character. Tuck into the cantaloupe sorbet with elderflower liqueur or yuzu caramels with black sesame and salt. Ramp up the traditional ganache with Nopi’s take: a baked chocolate ganache resting upon plum soil and a swig of orange oil. Round it off with dessert wine or an after-dinner cocktail, including the Banana White Chocolate featuring tonka bean, white chocolate liqueur and white rum.

Some bemoan high prices and petite portions, but most reckon that Nopi is "worth every penny", because where else can you find unique dishes like a black rice and coconut milk porridge with banana and mango for breakfast?

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
Fusion, Mediterranean
Ambience
Cool, Lively, Romantic
Food Occasions
All day dining, Breakfast
Special Features
Chef’s table, Counter dining
Perfect for
Dates, Group dining [8+], Romantic, Special occasions

Location

21-22 Warwick Street, Soho, London, W1B 5NE

020 7494 9584 020 7494 9584

Website

Opening Times

Breakfast
Mon 08:00-11:30
Tue 08:00-11:30
Wed 08:00-11:30
Thu 08:00-11:30
Fri 08:00-11:30
Sat 10:00-11:30
Sun 10:00-11:30
Lunch
Mon 12:00-15:00
Tue 12:00-15:00
Wed 12:00-15:00
Thu 12:00-15:00
Fri 12:00-17:30
Sat 12:00-17:30
Sun 12:00-16:00
Dinner
Mon 17:30-22:30
Tue 17:30-22:30
Wed 17:30-22:30
Thu 17:30-22:30
Fri 17:30-22:30
Sat 17:30-22:30
Sun Closed

Reviews

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31 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

David Gibson

28 September 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 0
Atmosphere 0
Value 2.5
Customer Service - VERY Dissapointing

We've been a loyal customer of Nopi for what must be 10-years now, but probably today was our last visit. We ate at the bar today (as usual) but even as the waiter took our order, he said we would need to be quite quick as reception said the place would be needed. So throughout, we were stressed to eat quickly and finish our bottle of wine - so we didn't have our usual aperitif before what would normally be 2 bottles of wine. We had only one because of time (we weren't late to arrive). In fact, we had our 'nibbles', vegetables and meet/fish. Then the waiter said he'd have to check the time before we ordered any more food. The manager came to us and said that we would need to leave as there was technically a booking due. So, no time for a main or dessert nor our usual digestive. Looking around there were currently 7 free tables and 4 free places at the bar! We paid (£167.73) and left. Looks like Nopi is now more interested in turning tables at the expense of loyal customers who like to enjoy their food. Sad, as it was one of favourite place to eat - but with the number of good restaurants around, it most certainly will not be our go-to place any longer. Very disappointing!!!
As it was my birthday, there was a happy ending as we had a couple of Martini Espresso at the excellent Bar Termini before our dessert at Cafe Royal.

Alex G

25 November 2019  
Food & Drink 5
Service 4
Atmosphere 4
Value 3
So good, it’s hard knowing what not to eat

With half a dozen restaurants and a similar number of books to his name, as well as a regular newspaper column, superstars in the culinary world don’t come much bigger than Yotam Ottolenghi. He has arguably done more to change eating habits in London over the last decade than any other figure, making the fusion of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food mainstream. Nopi, his relatively upscale Soho venture, hits all the spots in terms of both vibe and food.

If first impressions count, then the image at Nopi is certainly memorable. Large bowls of gleaming salads sit within sight but frustratingly out of touch, visible from the front-of-house desk. Once over the threshold, upstairs is full of light while downstairs offers the option of viewing the chefs at work in their open kitchen, albeit from large communal tables. The menu emphasises relative brevity (eight vegetable options, three fish and three meat – all meant for sharing) and changes regularly, generally with a nod to seasonal ingredients. Our server suggested that we should each order between two and three dishes. The biggest problem at Nopi is choosing what not to have. Everything sounded so exciting, artfully combining flavour and texture. Based on what we did eat, there would be every reason to return; I want to sample everything!

Roasted aubergine, tamarind yoghurt, preserved lemon and cashews perhaps gives the best insight into the Ottolenghi approach. None of the ingredients is that obscure – at least not if you’re a foodie – but it’s the combination that really does it. The smoke from the aubergine complements the rich bitter-sweet notes of both the tamarind and the preserved lemon. It looks a dream too. More plaudits for the other dishes, with a combination of chickpeas, butternut squash, sundried tomatoes, mint, sumac and feta being another notable stand-out. With vegetables this good, the one meat option we sampled – a mutton shawarma – was almost a relative disappointment, albeit from a high bar. No complaints either in terms of service. Pricing, while by no means a bargain, seemed fair given the experience. Go here, eat and opine about Ottolenghi.

Helene M

08 April 2019  
Really great flavours and small plates.

Sienna L

12 November 2018  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 4.5
Lovely as always
I have been to Nopi many times in the last few years and I have never been disappointed. Every dish from starter through to dessert to drinks is faultless. The menu is inventive with a wide variety of options for all diet types. Will definitely keep coming back!

Felicity G

24 April 2018  
Fantastic fish restaurant. Super fresh produce. Creative chef, service could be better but it wouldn't put me off going back.

Jennifer L

24 April 2018  
Great fish.

Richard F

15 June 2017  
Busy, bustling and vibrant - food still surprises and delights. Service is efficient and knowledgeable. .

Lynn W

25 October 2015  
Food & Drink 4
Service 4
Atmosphere 3
Value 3.5
Smart cafe
We were welcomed to the restaurant and seated upstairs, and a charming waitress brought us water and wine. Crusty sourdough came with good olive oil, and we started with a selection of small plates to share - soft roast aubergine, with black garlic and crunchy toasted broad beans, lightly spiced chickpeas with butternut squash and feta, and hot freshly cooked courgette and manouri fritters with cardamom yoghurt. All these were very good and we tucked in, enjoying the flavours and textures. It's great to have so many choices that happen to be meat free and really good to eat. For the main course we both chose fish - cleverly boned whole seabass stuffed with spring greens and Calabrese peppers, and a buttery lemon sole, with sweet salted grapes and sharp verjus. These were both excellent. But neither of us felt like staying for dessert - the staff were friendly, the food very good, but the white tiles on the wall, hard floors and clattery house music did not make it a place to linger. We both felt it was more like a smart cafe than a restaurant, fine as it is and great if you want to be done and out in about an hour.

Fang-Fang L

02 August 2014  
Food & Drink 3
Service 3
Atmosphere 2.5
Value 2
I went to Nopi for a friend's birthday meal. Lovely food and gorgeous setting. We were both ill soon afterwards. Nopi wrote back: “We checked all NOPI daily HACCP records from Saturday and we are sure our food, including the fish and scallops served to you and your partner were safe for consumption. All necessary controls were in place, quality and temperature alike. Additionally, during dinner service of your visit to NOPI we served a high number of every single dish you consumed and received no other reports of any adverse reaction. Also if it would have been food poisoning it will take at least 4 to 5 hours before you would react to it. I hope you are feeling better and wish you all the best” Needless to say we won't be returning after such a dismissive response.

Nina K

02 May 2014  
Food & Drink 5
Service 2.5
Atmosphere 3.5
Value 3
Lovely food, but a bit over priced. The service was so slow our 2 hour slot was up and they kicked us out before we could have pudding.
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020 7494 9584 020 7494 9584

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