Tsunami (Clapham)

We ate early at Tsunami for the first time on a Thursday evening conscious of the fact that it was reputed to get noisy later on. We were very well pleased with everything. I am a frequent visitor to China, HK and Tokyo and the food was as good as anything there - and just as authentic.

The batter on the tempura and salt and pepper squid was excellent - and good batter is a test for any restaurant. The snow crab dumplings were fantastic to the extent my wife wanted to order them again as dessert. The belly pork was also very good. The hot udon noodles were deliciously flavoured although a little overcooked. The wine was good and the service was charming and attentive with out being over the top.

Tsumani is also good value for money. Compare the prices against anywhere else in London and you will be pleasantly surprised.

I cannot disagree more with some of the negative reports below, especially the one which recommends Tokiya near Clapham Junction. I live near there and it is the worst Japanese restaurant I have ever experienced. All I can assume is that the unhappy reviewers went late at night when I am told that Tsunami struggles to double up as a cocktail bar. Go early next time.
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David M
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Saturday, April 30, 2011

I was shocked going to tsunami recently after my last visit in 2004.

Tsunami once was an amazing place oozing charisma and inovation deserving every award. However the last few years things have changed drastically. Tsunami was once white bright clean fresh looking restaurant and now is black and dark. Tsunami has gone from being a foodie heaven and elegant customer base to an incredibly noisy and tacky venue. The food is nothing to be compared to how it was.

It is now a place to avoid. The kitchen is mimicking only some of the amazing dishes once available at tsunami, the presentation has slipped the service is terrible.

If you like alcohol and incredible noisy people and a copy cat menu then this is the place to go.
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shara - View all reviews by this user
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Sunday, December 05, 2010

It was my first visit to Tsunami in Clapham. We ate on the high chairs near the bar, which was less noisy and crowded, but a bit cold because the bar staff kept the back door open. The food was really nice and traditional oriental cuisine. There's also a great cocktail menu. The only thing letting this place down is it is small, overcrowded and you need to shout to your partner across the table to be heard. My experience wasn't improved when after queuing for a good 5 minutes to use the toilet. Classy!
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Esther Lincoln
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Saturday, October 30, 2010

Have to disagree with many of the comments posted here - myself and my wife ate here last night and absolutely loved it. On a par with many of the Michelin star restaurants we've been to in the past. Wonderful food, great service, lovely atmosphere. Just superb!
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, October 10, 2010

Have eaten here for dinner many times and it used to be good however I went with my friend recently for sunday lunch and was VERY disappointed. We had sushi and tempura and couple of other dishes, the sushi was awful the prawn did not taste fresh as all and the sushi rice just as bad tasted like left overs from the night before?! The tempura also not as good as it used to be! They no longer do the Chocolate Fondant for dessert which we used to love and had a very limited choice for dessert, my friend ordered some kind of toffee pudding that was ok a bit dry and way too sweet she left most of it! Luckily we have found through a referral of a friend a great little sushi place within walking distance of our home (just off Northcote Rd) called Tokiya which is run by a Japanese couple, FANTASTIC AUTHENTIC sushi and other dishes have just been there again for sunday linch which was half the price of Tsunami and 110 percent better quality, will never go back to Tsunami again now!!
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Sharon
1 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Sunday, May 16, 2010

We have eaten at Tsunami over a number of years and on the whole have always been happy with the service and the food. However, having returned there last night we were extremely disappointed. The standard of food was lower - and the portion sizes were less than generous taking into account the high prices. The most remarkable difference however was the service. The food was rushed and we were given our first starter before our wine had even arrived. One of our main courses was brought to the table at the same time as an appetiser - without the accompanying rice and noodles that we had ordered to go with it. On asking the whereabouts of the side dishes, we were met with a terse 'they are coming'. We were not prepared to pay the service charge which was automatically added to the bill and asked for it to be removed. To conclude, we will not be returning and I hope that other diners follow suit . Tsunami needs a wake up call and will only change its attitude if its sees a drop in business.
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5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Thursday, October 22, 2009

We chose this place as it was recommended in Time Out. Prices are too high for what you get. We ordered miso soup (too salty), mixed tempura (pretty good) and 3 types of maki rolls. The salmon rolls did not taste the way they should.....not grade A sushi. We came with a young baby, and they may have thought we wanted our food quickly, but they rushed our meal, which didn't add to the experience. We will not return to Tsunami.
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Joel
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Sunday, September 06, 2009

Agreed with the last comment about service, although I actually did eat here. I've eaten at all the Mayfair restaurants and I must say that for the most part the food at Tsunami was really good on a relative basis, especially the miso cod and the sushi. But the service was absolutely shocking. Emotionless servers, extremely slow through the meal, and it took them about half an hour to bring us the bill after asking twice and telling them we were in a rush, then another 5-10 mins later they still hadn't collected it. In the end I walked up to the counter with the bill. Not the most enjoyable experience when dining out and you have to be somewhere after.

Sent them an email to let them know (I'd want to know if it was my restaurant!), didn't hear back. Not sure if I'd go back, despite how good the food was.
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Andrew
5 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Monday, July 06, 2009

Turned up at the restaurant tonight having heard great things about the venue. Unfortunately we were kept waiting at the door whilst the waitress finished putting paper napkins in a draw and then had the cheek to ask us "what can I do for you?" without even looking at us. "Perhaps a table or even a little common courtsey might be nice" crossed my mind.

Having been seated my partner and I were so upset with the first impression and having stayed for a few minutes found the atmosphere quite oppressive, we got up and left so I'm unable to comment on the food, however, I was not prepared to spend that kind of money and resent every mouthful.
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RL
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Sunday, March 29, 2009

My partner took me to Tsunami last year for Valentine's Day and we both really loved the sushi. Therefore, when my partner told me he was going to take me out to Tsunami again I was really looking forward to it.

We ordered x2 Jalapeno Yellowtail Sashimi because we loved it so much from last year, BUT we were so disappointed because the sashimi pieces have been cut too thick and there wasn't enough of the Jalapeno sauce so it was very plain and it wasn't tasty like it should melt in your mouth.

Again, we ordered Soft shell crab roll which from my previous experience was very tasty but this time it was normal. We ordered Tobiko Nigris, Salmon & Tuna Sashimi which were nice but normal like other places.

This time, we ordered Char-Grilled Lamb with wasabi peppercorn sauce which was really tasty. I wasn't looking forward to this dish because I don't like the taste of lamb because it's strong. However, I was shocked that I really enjoyed this dish because the lamb was soft and with the wasabi creamy sauce you couldn't taste the wasabi until right at the end. There were a few slices of mushroom which I used to soak up all the wasabi sauce because it was that tasty!

I ordered my favorite japanese drink - Calpico (sweet milky yogurt-ish) and I didn't enjoy it because I think they used sparkling water to make it with so it was like flat Calpico Soda.

The service and the atmosphere were reasonable.

I don't think my partner will be taking me to Tsunami again because it is expensive, otherwise we would only go there for that one dish - char-grilled lamb with wasabi sauce!
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Eve
5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Thursday, March 12, 2009