London, England - Nobu London

There are three reasons I keep going back to Nobu on Old Park Lane in London:

1) They serve my favorite champagne, Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose, by the glass

2) The signature dish: Miso Black Cod

3) Green tea ice cream

Even as newer and trendier Asian eateries are constantly opening in London (the new Hakkasan in Mayfair, Yauatcha, Zuma, to name a few), Nobu maintains its reputation as a consistent favorite. Popular amongst visiting businessmen and high-brow international tourists staying at the nearby hotels on Park Lane, I've still never been able to get a reservation earlier than 9:45pm (and I know ALL the angles). It would appear then, that Chef Nobu Matsuhisa's sushi business is booming.

The sushi bar

A lively space with Hyde Park views on the second floor of the building that houses the famous Metropolitan London Hotel, Nobu has been serving "new style" Japanese with a Peruvian flair since 1997. The restaurant has also been awarded a Michelin star. There is a large sushi bar and the overall space can accommodate 150 people.

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose by the glass

The menu is quite extensive, offering sushi, sashimi, salads and soups, rice, appetizers, tempuras, a list of special dishes as well as main courses and delicious desserts. Here is a look at what we devoured.

Appetizers: Spicy tuna roll, O-Toro sashimi, avocado and sweet potato tempura, Rock Shrimp Tempura with ponzu sauce, Nobu special tuna tacos, miso soup.

A spicy tuna roll and O-Toro sashimi

Various vegetable tempura

Rock shrimp tempura with ponzu sauce

Main dishes: Chicken with terriyaki sauce and white rice, Miso Black Cod


A classic chicken with terriyaki sauce

The piece de resistance: Miso Black Cod

Dessert: Chocolate Bento Box (chocolate flourless cake with green tea ice cream), Lollipops (vanilla ice cream covered in chocolate), Banana split 3000 (poached banana, hot chocolate foam, saffron crumble and torrone ice cream), as well as extra Green Tea Ice Cream on the side (as if we were lacking on the desserts!).

My favorite green tea ice cream, I could eat pints of this!



Vanilla ice cream lollipops covered in chocolate
(a flourless chocolate cake with green tea ice cream can be
 seen in the bento box behind, and the Banana 3000 off to the right)