Tasting Britain
TastingBritain.co.uk - Murakami, Covent Garden, London
Opened in early 2015, Murakami brings Izakaya(ish) food to St Martinâs Lane, Covent Garden, a road perhaps better known more for chain dining, tourists and theatres. A relatively new interior (over-sized filament light bulbs) belies a little less zen/minimalist approach than some of its Japanese competitors - though the calligraphy that adorns the wooden walls has been hand painted. In the traditional style, thereâs a long bar for people dining alone, an open kitchen and some kinda modern minimal furniture that reminds me of Ikea (I like Ikea). If you sit by the front entrance you can watch people walk by and an Asian guy making hand rolls at an impressive pace, sit by the back you'll probably find a more secluded corner for the solitary (and satisfying) consumption of rainbow rolls. I read that thereâs a âliving wall' of moss in here too, but damned if I can find it.
And no, it might not be immediately obvious but Murakami are a Ukrainian chain - this is their first foothold in the big smoke. Before visiting, I hear of some... mixed reviews about the place. Where the service is not where it could be (this is the only place Iâve not been able to get many shots of the venue due to the staff being weird about itâ¦), the food is definitely quite something; with too many Western touches to be called âtraditional Japaneseâ. Thereâs enough saké and saké flights on there for the curious (and I am always curious) - including Junmai 'Happo-seishu' sparkling sake, £32 for 30cl, though they have definitely missed a trick on the Japanese whisky selection, in this writerâs most humble opinion.
Anyway, saké and whiskies aside, Murakami havenât shirked on their cocktail obligations. Like many Japanese places, theyâve gone with a variety of things mixed with saké, plus some of the obligatories/classics. Preferring my saké neat (and my life messy) I canât give you any personal recommendations but the "Japanese style for Espresso Martiniâ (Great King Street scotch, Kahlua, espresso, green tea syrupâ¦) looks quite something. The menu is not immense but thereâs plenty of variety; tuna and beef off of the robata grill comes out simultaneously charred on the outside and rare on the inside (a worthy combination I seem unable to pull off on my grill).
Verdict: prices seem to come out about average for this part of town, even compared with all of the bigger chains nearby. Donât expect cheap sushi here or anywhere. and donât worry if you donât like sushi - thereâs tempura, grilled stuff, dumplings and more. Something for everyone. Want to put them to the test? Try their signature Murakami Rolls - Salmon sashimi, tuna, avocado, spring onion, tobiko, spicy mayo, in a cucumber sheet. Delicious!
TastingBritain.co.uk - Murakami, Covent Garden, London
Opened in early 2015, Murakami brings Izakaya(ish) food to St Martinâs Lane, Covent Garden, a road perhaps better known more for chain dining, tourists and theatres. A relatively new interior (over-sized filament light bulbs) belies a little less zen/minimalist approach than some of its Japanese competitors - though the calligraphy that adorns the wooden walls has been hand painted. In the traditional style, thereâs a long bar for people dining alone, an open kitchen and some kinda modern minimal furniture that reminds me of Ikea (I like Ikea). If you sit by the front entrance you can watch people walk by and an Asian guy making hand rolls at an impressive pace, sit by the back you'll probably find a more secluded corner for the solitary (and satisfying) consumption of rainbow rolls. I read that thereâs a âliving wall' of moss in here too, but damned if I can find it.
And no, it might not be immediately obvious but Murakami are a Ukrainian chain - this is their first foothold in the big smoke. Before visiting, I hear of some... mixed reviews about the place. Where the service is not where it could be (this is the only place Iâve not been able to get many shots of the venue due to the staff being weird about itâ¦), the food is definitely quite something; with too many Western touches to be called âtraditional Japaneseâ. Thereâs enough saké and saké flights on there for the curious (and I am always curious) - including Junmai 'Happo-seishu' sparkling sake, £32 for 30cl, though they have definitely missed a trick on the Japanese whisky selection, in this writerâs most humble opinion.
Anyway, saké and whiskies aside, Murakami havenât shirked on their cocktail obligations. Like many Japanese places, theyâve gone with a variety of things mixed with saké, plus some of the obligatories/classics. Preferring my saké neat (and my life messy) I canât give you any personal recommendations but the "Japanese style for Espresso Martiniâ (Great King Street scotch, Kahlua, espresso, green tea syrupâ¦) looks quite something. The menu is not immense but thereâs plenty of variety; tuna and beef off of the robata grill comes out simultaneously charred on the outside and rare on the inside (a worthy combination I seem unable to pull off on my grill).
Verdict: prices seem to come out about average for this part of town, even compared with all of the bigger chains nearby. Donât expect cheap sushi here or anywhere. and donât worry if you donât like sushi - thereâs tempura, grilled stuff, dumplings and more. Something for everyone. Want to put them to the test? Try their signature Murakami Rolls - Salmon sashimi, tuna, avocado, spring onion, tobiko, spicy mayo, in a cucumber sheet. Delicious!