Nobu is that big, shiny sushi brand backed by Robert De Niro. They had two restaurants; one near Park Lane, one on Berkeley Street. Both are always busy. Good times. A strange choice then for Nobu to open a hotel in Shoreditch, right opposite The Hoxton.

It’s certainly a looker though. At one end of the building the hotel’s balconies jut out in a higgledy-piggledy Grand Designs kind of way. Inside the dining room is huge with an open kitchen at one end with a brigade of silent chefs.

The menu is vast and it all sounds lovely. We go for the Omakase menu (£85 per person) which features the chef’s favourite dishes, starting with slices of yellow tail tuna in a sharp yuzu dressing topped with jalapeño and coriander. My mouth is still watering to this day.

Soft little chunks of grilled salmon sit in a mustard and miso sauce. There’s fried shredded filo pastry for texture which has all the comfort factor of Chipsticks. Tiny baby peaches act as a real palate cleanser.

A whopping salad is dressed with Matsuhisa dressing, named after owner Nobu Matsuhisa. God knows what’s in it but it’s ruddy moreish. Seared tuna and a chutney-esque soy and onion dressing go together brilliantly.

More raw fish, this time fluke, comes in Tiradito form. The milky, citrusy dressing packs a punch along with a sprinkling of Peruvian pepper. They’re certainly not shy on seasoning at Nobu and the result is exciting.

More straightforward is rock shrimp tempura drenched in a spicy mayo. What is so impressive here is how the batter retains its crunch. Next up, black cod sitting in a lettuce leaf gives a pure sugar hit. It’s the best thing we eat. Possibly ever.

Slices of beef sizzle away on a hote stone dish but it cooks the meat too quickly. Flavour wise it’s all going on but the beef is well-done by the time we get round to it.

Puds are a highlight and we get two of them; mascarpone and miso tart and gluten free chocolate fondant tart with green tea ice cream. We cut the latter open to reveal its gooey innards. Pure indulgence.

Sure, you could order from the vast menu at Nobu Shoreditch and I’m sure it would be fabulous. But if you’re looking for hit after hit then go with the Omakase menu – it’s pure heaven.

Would we go back? Yes

NobuShoreditch.com
We dined as guests of the restaurant