Nobu

I am a big fan of Nobu for the last 10 years however something really bothers me.

Many people complain about service this and that but i feel they are really good at what they do however one thing I wish they would change which is policy about Bluefin Tuna.

Thirty-one stars including Sting, Elle Macpherson, Woody Harrelson, Charlize Theron and Sienna Miller have written a letter to the owner asking him to take it off the menu so that they can "dine with a clear conscience." Under pressure, the London branches of the sushi bar have agreed to put a note on the menu informing patrons that the fish is endangered. Nobu has said that "the sushi made of bluefin tuna is "a cultural institution in Japan and there is still an enormous demand for this delicacy at all our restaurants."

Nobu only went as far as to state an endangered spice next to blue fin on the menu...hm???

The response here from the owner is based on not much intelligence or responsibility for the future generations to come. What about his cultural institution when there own people have not only killed all the bluefin but subsequently harming what they see as there rights and cultural institution?

It is so surprising that the people that should take care the most do the worst.

Is it not better to take it off the menu and maybe let the bluefin recover and see all our generations to come also enjoying this amazing fish???

Shortsightedness and financial gain now will leave the future bleak.

If the people of Nobu can not do the right thing maybe we can. Still enjoy Nobu just dont order anything that is an endangered specie!
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Sarah
6 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Saturday, July 03, 2010

Hm...Nobu is a genius, he really does deserve a michelin star as he did take Japanese cuisine to another level! No Doubt that is what you should get michelin stars for!!!!

His dishes are fantastic and famous all around the world and he is the most copied chef in his field. I am sure anyone opening a japanese restaurant will have his books as a reference.

The reality is though that we should not forget the following: Nobu is not at his restaurants any more cooking away for us. It is a business now a posh chain!

Nobu park lane is nothing what it was 10 years ago and is surly decreasing in quality year by year. The omakase dishes are french french french trying to be japanese and nobody seems to reconnect to the south american thing anymore as nobu is Japanese south american fusion!!!!

I would say a case of lazy, no imagination or enthusiasm.

I had an oyster platter that looked it had seen better days, it looked like an oyster grave. No passion came on any of the dishes I had that evening. How sad! I have a nobu cookbook and I use it for my partys and Nobu dishes are fun to make. Any chef that can not find his life in each dish irregardless of how many times he has to make it has to take a inspirational holiday!

Service at Park Lane is exceptionally good! Shame about what is coming out of the kitchen but believe me Nobu New York is amazing still!
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Jaqueline - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, June 09, 2010

wasnt happy at all, i now hate the ocean and everything in it, nice one nobu :)
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kurt hurst
3 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 0
Saturday, April 10, 2010

This was the second time I've been to Nobu. The first time I was alone and had some incredible sushi/sashimi at the bar. This time I went with my wife to celebrate our 1st anniversary.

I had a reservation for 14:30 on March 14 for me and my wife. We got there 14:20, but they could only get us a table at 14:50. Waiting 20min for a table after the booked time was really annoying, but it was mother's day, so it's "understandable".

We wanted to order the most expensive meal of the restaurant, a special set menu with 7 courses. When I told the waiter, he said he would need to check if it would be possible, because it was already too late and the kitchen would be closed soon!! Unbelievable!! We could only order at 15:00 because THEY left us waiting for a table, although our reservation was for 14:30! After 5min he came back and said it would be ok to order it.

Besides these negatives, the meal was indeed very good, but a bit overpriced for what it is. The service after that was also good. TIP: if you want to order the set menu, go at lunchtime. Of course, you lose the evening 'charm', but the price increases by £30, and I really don't think it's worth it.
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7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Simply put, there is far better Japanese food to be had at substantially cheaper prices (at the low end, Asakuska, mid-range Kikuchi and top-end Saki or Umu) - the meal was adequate and no more - but more importantly, Nobu should be boycotted until they stop serving bluefin tuna. There's nothing "brave" behind serving it, much as there wouldn't be anything "brave" behind serving white rhino or tiger. It is, simply put, quite extraordinarily stupid.
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- View all reviews by this user
3 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Saturday, March 06, 2010

Best meal i've ever had, fantastic service, good atmosphere. But most of all the only restaurant in london brave enough to serve bluefin
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, February 01, 2010

Visited a few weeks ago...probably the poorest and most over-rated London restaurant I have been to. Poor service, over inflated egos sitting in close proximity so no cosy intimate conversation to be had here I'm afraid...Not a brilliant experience....wide berth recommended!
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- View all reviews by this user
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Monday, January 25, 2010

Yes..I'm afraid this restaurant is really a 'let-down'...poor service - inflated prices and now we hear, ethically immoral...Oh dear 1 out of 10, max score....
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Annie Rey
2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Monday, January 25, 2010

I was very dissapointed with my visit to Nobu. I was expecting MIchelin star standard and I'm afraid the food feel very far short!!!

The service was appalling! We were seated at the end of a busy row of tables right next to the kitchen and service table and were constantly being knocked! We too were told that we could only have the table for a limited amount of time as it was booked. We weren't once asked if we wanted an alcoholic drink and the waitress even spilled water over me and the table!

I guess not being even a Z-list celebrity made absolutely sure that we were not going to enjoy our dining experience!
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Louise Scott
3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I was at Nobu with my fiancee a couple of weeks ago and found that Nobu in London is by far the WORST Japanese restaurant I have EVER been to. In terms of services and decorations, it is just another Fusion restaurant in London, nothing special, or am I expecting too much? Maybe.

Personally I love Japanese food and have been to both big and small Japanese restaurants all around the world, from Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe, UK to Canada. I must say Nobu in London tastes RIDICULOUSLY BAD!!

I had Toro tartar with Caviar as a starter while my fiancee had Wagyu tartar with Caviar. For my starter, I can only best describe it as a 3pcs of normal grade out of the refrigerator tuna sashimi (Note: Toro is suppose to be top grade fatty tuna), definitely not TORO! while my fiancee's Wagyu beef tasted alright, but it was a 2 teaspoons dish for 24.95 pounds. Pretencious? Maybe. Overpriced ? Defintely.

Next came our main courses. I had Anti-Cucho Peruvian Style Spicy Ribeye steak while my partner had a Sushi dinner. When the sushi dinner came, we were both Shocked! The sushi dinner comprised of all of the lowest grade sushi (i.e. salmon, tuna, egg, beancurd, etc) which defintely resembles the cheapest plates of sushi in YO! sushi's conveyor belt. A michelin star restaurant producing this type of sushi is an absolute disgrace. Nothing fusion about it at all. However, when my beef came, I wish I had ordered the Yo! sushi cheap grade stuff!! I ordered a medium rare ribeye, which is no where medium rare and it tasted exactly like rubber cooked in an Indian sauce! I know the English love Indian food, but I did not see it coming my way in Nobu!!

All in all dinner cost about 190 pounds, and both my partner and I are absoulutely disappointed with Nobu in London. Overall, service and decorations is worth 5/10 stars, but the food is defintely worth -5 stars. Returning? Never! Not even if it is free. To Nobu's owners: if you want to know what fresh sashimi is suppose to taste like, try the sashimi in Harrods.
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Axile
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, January 06, 2010