CHOTTO MATTE

Chotto Matte
11-13 Frith Street
London
W1D 4RB

020 7042 7171

An interesting name for a very interesting place.

Smooth black marble floors, polished surfaces and neat wooden tables adjacent to walls boasting bright street art murals and modern light installations give an unusually warm welcome. Clean lines with an approachable edge – cool, but not aloof.

The same goes for the staff in fact. Well dressed, neatly put together, but friendly, professional and more than happy to share their behind the scenes knowledge and favourite dishes.

We were swiftly greeted and brought to the table, and given a brief synopsis of the restaurant. Having explained the idea behind it, we asked for recommendations from the starters, and picked two of those along with one of our own (you have to be a little original sometimes). Paired with a delicious white wine, the dishes arrived one after another as we began to explore the rest of the menu.

The word ‘fusion’ is bandied about a lot, and sometimes the concept fails utterly. This is most definitely not one of those times. Bringing together two very compatible cuisines, Japanese and Peruvian, into a complementary blend known as Nikkei this menu is brilliantly executed.

The unusually soft texture of the gyoza worked surprisingly well with the butternut puree, but our favourites far and away were the Yellowtail Sashimi and the Seabass Ceviche. Delicious textures, fresh and spicy flavours that never overpowered the fish, perfectly ‘cooked’ ceviche marinade and beautiful cuts of fish presented with pops of colour and textured accents. In mains, the teriyaki beef fillet and pomegranate salsa didn’t last long, and neither did the delicately battered tempura prawns. Apparently, as is tradition (and because neither of us had a particularly sweet tooth) we finished with the chef’s very special flame-grilled sushi and asparagus creation, and the taster plate of 8 different sushi samplers.

A word of warning, give yourself plenty of time to get to the bathroom – the shocking neon artwork on the blacklit walls outside is definitely worth a photo, while the push-button action of the sliding door bathrooms and almost flush black facade of the cubicles could cost you precious moments figuring them out – no pun intended.

If you’re coming here in the evening I would definitely recommend a reservation, it’s reputation precedes itself and it’s one of the busiest spots in the area for dinner. It’s a little louder than your usual dinner spot, but great if you’re looking for something a little special and don’t mind leaning in a little closer to chat. Bright and colourful, in both flavour and presentation, and every so often a little twist on the standard, I just loved Chotto Matte.