Ginnan

Unlike some Japanese restaurants, Ginnan does not limit its menu to only sushi, but offers the full range of traditional Nipponese dishes. A brave venture (the longer the menu, the greater the risk of uneven results), but the night we visited, everything that landed on our table was nothing short of excellent! The beef and salmon mains left nothing to desire, the vegetable side dishes were simple but tasty and most importantly: the sushi offered was some of the freshest and most savoury raw fish I've had anywhere in London. Service was friendly, polite and swift, and the decor and atmosphere of the place struck us as very authentic. Prices, finally, are perhaps somewhat higher than those of certain other establishments, but nevertheless in line for a restaurant of this quality. My compliments to the staff of Ginnan for offering a truly fine dining experience.
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Carl
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, June 23, 2008

Beware - this restaurant cheats. The types of sushi is listed partially in Japanese - I am a Japanese speaker, so I know what I should be expecting. It only occurred to me, about two-thirds of the way into my meal I realised that not all the types of sushi which was listed in the menu appeared were served. They were substituted by a much cheaper sushi! I confronted the waitress, and she said that was because they didn't have the type of sushi (called uni - which is sea urchin) that day. I think it is outrageous that they do not tell you before serving the dish and waited until I realised that they did not deliver what they promised. Further, because they have listed the types of sushi on the menu partially in Japanese, they feel they can do whatever they want because most diners would not be able to read Japanese so would never notice. I did not have manager or the chef and come and apologise which I think was called for. Further, they did not feel that they should knock off any amount off the bill. There were hardly any other diners, the restaurant is dindgy and totally lacking in atmosphere.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, June 08, 2008

I really cannot comprehend the consistently positive comments on this website. It was off the back of these recommendations that I booked a table for eight for my birthday last Saturday. Since this is the second time I have fallen foul of this trap, and on my birthday, I have begun to wonder if they are written by genuine punters.

Our wait of around 80 minutes for our mains was an anxious one not only due to our growling stomachs, but as we were hoping to have left for a nearby party by around that time. This tension may have been offset by a tasty feed but the eventual offerings merely cast us further into our slough of despond.

My main course of pork katsu curry was one of the worst plates of food I’ve ever eaten. The meat cutlet was tough and bog brush dry and the crumb coating was rock hard and almost burnt. The accompanying meaty sauce was quite tasty by contrast but then so is the stuff you get for a quid with a bag of chips.

I wasn’t the only disappointed member of my party. My friend’s teriyaki salmon was plasticky and did not taste fresh and a sinewy steak dish gave another admirably dedicated member of my party an embarrassing 20-minute workout of his jaw.

To be fair, rather bafflingly the complimentary marinated roast veg appetisers, fresh fruit salad dessert, and anything tofu or sushi-based were all delicious. The tableware was also stylish.

Despite the good points I actually felt relieved to be finally walking out of the place. I would suggest the people behind Ginnan substantially shrink the menu and concentrate on their strengths. In my experience places that follow this rule tend to achieve better quality grub more consistently, and for less cash.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, April 08, 2008

This place is fantastic. I grew up in Japan and it is Japanese food as it should be - e.g. with the sushi, there is more fish than rice, as it should be, not the other way around as you tend to find in less authentic places. They do a set menu for £30 which may seem a little pricey but is amazingly good value considering the variety and quality that you get to experience over 7 courses of outstanding food. It made me homesick, which somewhere like Yo sushi never will, so I figure it is doing something right.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, March 17, 2008

We went to this on valentines day for dinner and i have to say.

The food was very good we had a severn course meal for £33 which for valentines day is not to bad

The service was very good the staff was always there to serve you and helped us on what certain foods was.

In a whole it is a well organised restaurant and it is very pouplar with japanese people which is allways a good sign that its own people eat there

Will be returning again soon!!
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anthony
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, February 14, 2008

This tucked away restaurant is what I would call 'a hidden gem'. Having been twice, on both occassions, the place was quite empty. However, the diners were mostly Japanese, which probably means that the food is quite authentic.

The staff were friendly and very helpful. They were generous with their servings of katsu curry and sashimi. The quality and freshness of the sushi and sashimi was one of the best I have tried in London.

The prices were affordable and, from my experience, not any higher than some of the Japanese restaurants around the Soho area. Will definitely go again.
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T.
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Thursday, January 31, 2008

Had a working lunch here last month. The place was nice, interior subdued enough. Food was of excellent quality. Certainly not as cheap as you can get elsewhere, but definitely much better.

My colleagues said that the place regularly has bus loads of Japanese tourists. To me that generally means authentic food. But it could be a risk of the place being overcrowded since it isn't very big.
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Peter
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, January 21, 2008

Ginnan is a one of best Japanese restaurant in London.

Food is always fantastic and their staff are so polite and kind.

When I visited there, there were many Japanese peple.

I think because food is real japanese taste.

I 've visited there 3 times with my Japanese friend.

He said "Ginnan's Ramen is the best in london.

I love a salmon teri and sushi and their hand-made green tea ice cream is amazing.

You won't disapoint!!!!
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Lee
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, September 13, 2007

This is a quality restaurant. A little unloved and un-noticed by customers, I stumbled in there last week after Ikyuu closed.

Besides losing a minor mark for lack of customers, the rest gets top marks.

Everything was quite simply perfect with a huge menu, quality service, great tasting food and a reasonable bill.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 10, 2007

This restaurant is lovely.

I've been there twice now and both times have been memorable experiences.

The ambience is relaxed and welcoming. The decor is charmingly retro. The food is fantastic. I've lived in Japan for 2 years and this is the real thing. Even down to the mayo used in the prawn tempura handroll, which tasted like Japanese kyuupi mayo.

Highlights were: katsu curry - one of the best and probably the biggest in london, said prawn tempura handroll, yaki soba and of course, the sushi.

I live quite near this place and it's fast becoming my regular.
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Douglas Hauser
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, May 09, 2006