Dinings

I had very high expectations, but was deeply disappointed. We ordered a grilled king crab with avocado and received ordinary crab which on the market costs half the price. The squid we had were so very chewy we couldn't eat them. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant at all.
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Marta
3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, December 14, 2011

I was so disappointed (perhaps due to too high expectation) by the experience we had with Dinings so that I feel I have to leave a review to provide a point of view different from the one-sided opinions online.

First of all, the service we got was really annoying. One of the waitress had the arrogance in her manner. It typically means if you don't have the kind of "face" or are not "dressed" as glorious as people from higher class in the society, you would feel convinced that you are not at where you are belonged to.

We didn't have an idea about the portion of the dishes, so we each ordered as normally what we would do - one starter and one “main dish", which accounts to about £60 already. From that point of time, the waitress who took our order already reassured herself with the conclusion she had from the very beginning that we were at the wrong place and could not afford what they serve. It's very annoying that people like this working basically as a "waiter/waitress" in a place branded itself as "posh" think they are above ordinary people. Why? There's no point to compare which profession is more than the other. But at least I have no reason to feel secondary when I go to a chosen restaurant to enjoy a meal, no matter how much I would want to pay at the end. Simply for this reason alone, I will never go back to this place.

Secondly, the portions were really small. You shall be prepared to order 3-4 dishes per person and pay possibly more than £50/person to have enough. So much more expensive than average.

For the food itself: When first spotted this restaurant, we really anticipated something excellent, especially with the premium price. We wouldn't mind paying a premium if the food is genuinely excellent. We went there for fresh seafood (actually only sushi and sashimi - so, raw fish), therefore we didn't order any meat. Possibly because we had lived in Paris for too long so that we have this kind of unrealistic expectation here for something from ingredients to cuisine.

The sashimi is not bad. They did prepare/make it in a different way and gave extra attention to details (the way dishes are presented). It did show some interesting ideas and ways of making the fish more tasty. But the ingredient itself to me is just not fresh enough. My husband felt the same. To us, it was more like the image, the mere manipulation of what they have in the kitchen and the fancy idea of "looking posh and fabulous". I hate being fooled in such a way. I highly respect chefs who feel genuinely proud of what they are providing to his guests. So to us, even though the sushi/sashimi is still interesting, it's not worth the price and the expectation. We wouldn't go back there, not mentioning the particular EXTREMELY annoying waitress (the other girl was genuine and kind).
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Roland - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Saturday, November 12, 2011

A fabulous, unpretentious restaurant with exceptional quality food and attentive service. We asked the waitress to help us put together a menu to get the best of Dinings (which she deed with great panache) and were not disappointed. The sashimi (sea bass and truffles), sushi (eel and foie gras) and tempura (the most delicate batter envelopping the juiciest of prawns) were among the most original and best that we have ever had. We will definitely be coming back.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 05, 2011

Waited a month for my booking, thought because it was so hard to get a table must be amazing. WRONG. The reason is because there are only 11 tables, in an underground cellar, zero decor, rubbish staff, annoying tea that comes in a tiny pot so that you have to get about 10 refills, sushi is excellent but v small portions. AVOID.
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Mark
3 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Biggest disappointment ever. I am also a japanese who likes eating good quality food whether it is in Fat Duck in Bray or in small backstreet in Tokyo.

The food had great potential but most of my 'Hot' japanese tapas arrived cold. Although the place was half empty there was unacceptably long wait between each small dishes for a professional kitchen. These dishes may only contain 3 tempura so we were left staring at empty table with just small bowl of rice which was getting cold rapidly with nothing for us to eat with. Waiters doesn't know how to serve a table and had to be prompted numerous times for few simple orders. Hideous.

Advice to the chef: Get rid of your cheap waiters. Employ a good maître d’ (or a japanese wife who is committed) and extra pair of hand in the kitchen.

The extortionate price they're charging is a complete rip off.
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akane
1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Monday, September 13, 2010

Everyone, this is a restaurant without Japanese clientele or service, you can tell something from this fact already. I'm a Japanese living in London for 5 years. It must be of some appeal to non-Japanese obviously, which I can understand. In the menu you see catchy ingredients cooked (or just prepared) in some exotic way but still accessible. In the menu you have many deep fried or oily dish so you don't starve two hours later. But from my point of view, the quality of sashimi is very low (except for chu-toro) and quantity not generous, octopus felt like it's been sliced then sat in the freezer for way too long before serving, the menu definitely lacks imagination. Even if I stop criticising the quality of food, the service was just simply bad. You will have to wait for the service to come around for anything you would like to ask for. I was actually shocked with the fact that I had to ask for the dip sauce for my cold udon noodle, and a waitress brought me two sauce, both WARM, and both tasted identical - which tasted for Tempura, not for noodle. I know I'm not returning.
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Yukie
2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Thursday, August 19, 2010

I went for a birthday celebration with my girlfriend on a Tuesday night. Menu was comprehensive and not too expensive (compared to the high-end sushi restaurants like Nobu) with lots of specials. We asked the waitress to select a meal for us at £50 a head and she came up with an excellent selection that we both thoroughly enjoyed.

The surroundings are quite basic, there are six seats at the chef's bar upstairs; we sat in the downstairs area which is small with stone floor and bare walls this means that if there is a noisy table (which there inevitably was) it gets very loud and difficult to have an intimate conversation - one couple asked to be moved upstairs.

We were served mainly by a Spanish girl. The service in general was friendly altough it took a while for our menus to come out and the food was served up by whoever was available at the time. Very few Japanese staff, but as I say, it was friendly!

I'd definitely go back for the food but next time I'll probably go with a group of noisy friends, not for a romantic meal!
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Matt
7 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Simply excellent - best sushi in London so far - so MUCH better than Nobu, without the fuss and the hasty service. Tapas menu is great to share and discover. Specials on the board really worth trying, and waitress/waiter giving you good advice. Quality of ingredients top notch, very good presentation, service very friendly. Try the foie gras sushi rolls, to die for ! The desserts are excellent too. If you are coming to eat great Japanese food then this is the place I would recommend. Not cheap but every bite is worth it and I don't think it's expensive for the amount of food you get. Perfect for a romantic dinner (12 tables max, even if the setting is quite dull) or with a few friends. Book in advance !
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9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, July 06, 2010