A Maoist red awning sits along the southeast corner of London's Berkeley Square where the owners of The Ivy and J Sheekey pen a sushi brasserie unlike any other. Caprice Holdings is no newcomer to starry eateries, but this new-concept brasserie mixes continental European style with a traditional Japanese menu unlike any other we've seen before. Inside, famous faces take a backseat to artwork by Damien Hirst and design details by Frank Gehry and Michael Roberts. Ornate woodwork, marble floors and leather details feel very much The Ivy but with a menu that's thoroughly Japanese. Additionally, a large bar offers after work cocktail scene with terrace that's a hit even in cold London weather.
The Food
A delicious cocktail menu includes modern twists on classic drinks like the Mata Hari and Mai Tai followed by a full raw bar, 5-piece sashimi selection and various tartares. ‘Sexy’ salads from grilled avocado to charred tomato lead well into beef with foie gras gyoza, prawn tempura and spicy noodles. A heartier selection of skewers includes octopus and Japanese sausage followed by robata selections from chicken or monkfish yakitori to lamb cutlets and halibut on the bone.
Last Word
The dining room stays open until midnight most nights, so arrive late and don’t rush out after dinner as the bar doesn’t close until 2am.
