It’s the view from our table at SUSHISAMBA that is just so impressive. I’ve been up to a few of these restaurants in tall buildings now – Hutong, City Social, the Walkie Talkie – but this one, on the 38th floor of the Heron Tower, has got to be the best.

Even the lift up there, on the outside of the building, gives me a little tingle as we rocket up, maybe because of its ferocious speed.

But enough about my tingles. The food? It’s a Brazilian/Peruvian/Japanese mix and the plates are as pretty as the view. We start with toro tiradito (£16) which sees slices of raw fatty tuna in a yuzu sauce. A drizzle of black truffle oil is an unusual and unexpectedly successful addition. We wash it down with a particularly good smoked plum Negroni.

Sushi wise, we keep it simple with more toro (£14 for two nigiri) and salmon (£8 for two nigiri). It’s high end prices but the quality of the fish is sublime.

Wagyu gyoza (£15) have that lovely blend of crisp and soggy exterior with a super rich and beefy filling. Sesame “snow” is a fun accompaniment.

Unagi maki (£10), a filling of freshwater eel and spring onion, comes with a sticky soy reduction – it’s a sweet and salty explosion. The eel is as flavoursome as it gets.

Lamb chops (£16) are cooked on the robata grill giving the meat a lovely crust. They arrive carved up, personally I prefer doing that bit myself, but I do enjoy gnawing on the bone with zilch class.

‘Churrasco rio Grande’ (£46), a selection of rib eye, chorizo and aged picanha, comes atop hot stones, which is always fun. It’s served alongside a colourful array of dips – it looks like a holiday somewhere sunny. The meat is cracking but you don’t want to leave it on the stones for long as it quickly chars.

For pud, we share the chocolate banana cake (£10) which is like a chocolatey take on treacle sponge. Marvellous wouldn’t even begin to describe it.

The great thing about SUSHISAMBA is that it doesn’t just rely on the view doing all the impressing. Executive chef, Claudio Cardoso, ensures the food would be enjoyable at street level too. It just helps that the sun setting over London as you tuck into your pud really sweetens the deal.

Would we go back? Yes.

Sushisamba.com
We dined as guests of the restaurant