Nobu

Been several times to Nobu and Nobu Berkeley previously and loved them. My first visit a few years ago was absolutely stunning, but it feels like on each subsequent visit it's got a little bit worse.

Most recently went last weekend with a couple of friends and were fortunate to get a table overlooking the park but wow, was the restaurant feeling jammed together. I mean it's always had a canteen feel stylistically but it felt like they'd pushed a few extra tables in. There were only a couple of inches between tables along the walls and barely passing room between the tables in the middle of the floor for the waiters. With the steady flow of service and noise levels it felt a LOT more like a high street chain noodle restaurant than a high end Michelin starred place. Ditto, the service whilst pleasant enough made you feel like you on a conveyor belt, processing each order, each dish, each drink.

But hey, it's not like Nobu has ever been about the decor or service it's always been about the food. We had the Omakase - multi-course set meal. Not cheap at £80 per head but always worth it in the past. Unfortunately, this time it just wasn't, it really wasn't. There were some great dishes - the tuna sashimi starter was great, the black cod as good as always and the expresso ice cream at the end was fantastic. But several of the dishes were borderline inedible. In particular both the sea bream with lemon and the beef with lime were way too heavy on the citrus, the lemon and lime absolutely obliterating the other flavours - I remember similar dishes before being an amazing blend of flavours but these just tasted of, well, lemon or lime. And arguably even worse, the sushi wasn't that great. Not bad you understand, just not that great, slightly cloying and dull. So out of 8 courses, maybe 3 great, 3 absolutely awful and 2 very indifferent.

Yes, we probably should have said something but it was a fun evening with friends who were in town for the night so didn't really want to spoil it for them by complaining about the food as we'd chosen the venue and were paying.

And talking of paying, yes, it's always been expensive but I really don't mind paying for a great meal. This wasn't. And at a total bill of well over £500 for four, I'd really expect a lot more. 'Fraid I won't be going again.
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Sam
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Just read one of the reviews on Nobu calling it average and I am stunned! I have eaten all over the world in the best places and Nobu is right up there. If you want to pay for pomp and circumstance then perhaps you would not get this place.

It is about slick service in an unpretentious atmosphere and the food is AMAZING!

Black Cod, Beef, Bento Box just to mention some of the mouth watering things to eat. Yes it is expensive but it is good quality.
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Amanda Bannister
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Thursday, November 10, 2011

I went to Nobu on a Saturday evening with my wife expecting good things. On entering the decor isn't bad but is a bit sparse. Seemed to be a lot of staff about and the service was attentive although our server was not very helpful at explaining the menu which is huge and confusing.

The food was tasty but nothing special and certainly not value for money (bottle of water £6). It was more like an average restaurant serving decent enough food but with no wow factor.

We won't be going back. I've had much better meals for half the price.
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Stan Webb - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Saturday, September 17, 2011

My family and I have been attending this restaurant for a number of years as we absolutely love Nobu. The food is prepared extremely well and comes out really rather flavourful and we over the years have experimented with the tasting menu, bento boxes and so on. However, we have only ever gone to the Nobu based in Park Lane, yet we plan on trying out the Nobu restaurants in some of its other locations. I also like the difference in sitting in the bar area and ordering some of its' marvellous cocktails upon awaiting for our table to be ready. I, most definitely, with other people plan on coming back to Nobu much more in the future.
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Alexandra
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Thursday, July 28, 2011

Sadly the maître d’ Wednesday 27th July (from 18:00) was so rude the experience was not at all pleasurable. Apparently, it is expectable to answer the phone rather than attend to the people standing in front of you.

Then on leaving the restaurant, we had to wait again while she finished her conversation (with her colleague, something very important regarding Facebook) before she would return our overcoats which were then dumped at the end of the counted.

Rude on arrive, rude on departure.

Food however, excellent.

Nobu management, get yourself some decent staff!!
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7 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Thursday, July 28, 2011

Went to Nobu (in Metropolitan hotel) tonight, and must say I was disappointed when leaving the restaurant : -

Negative points :- Big let down on the Wagyu beef, it was too chewy

- The drinks that we ordered came after our starter - I would never have expected that at any decent restaurant, let alone a high end restaurant

- The decor is looked dated, tables too close together, felt like a canteen, rather than a top restaurant in London

Positive point :- The waiter was very knowledgeable when we were ordering, he was able to explain the menu, charateristic of dishes, etc

Overall - I just feel this place is overhyped, didn't really feel that we were looked after properly. For similar amount of money, I have had much better dining experience in other high end / Michelin star restaurants.

This was our first and last time to this Nobu.
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Joe
5 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Sunday, February 13, 2011

I've been to Nobu one month ago...I'm really disappointed, the staff was really fair, the food good but nothing special... But the atmosphere was really nice! I was expecting more, I don't think I will come once again...
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6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 5
Friday, February 11, 2011

My partner and I went to Nobu for the first (and last) time last Saturday. The service was poor and inattentive. I had to ask several times for our wine to be topped up after a very long wait between refills. Our steak was over cooked even though our waitress specifically asked us how we wanted this cooked.

The staff were all friendly enough, but the restaurant was very busy and had the feel of a cafeteria. The food was ok but far from exceptional. Only the price of the lunch and the service charge were exceptional. When you charge exceptional prices, its reasonable to expect exceptional service and food.

We were greatly disappointed and will not be back!
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S.Stevens
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, November 02, 2010

I have been to this branch of Nobu on three occasions and each time it has been a major let down. I keep hoping that the food and service will improve, because the ambience is very good, but it does not seem that will ever happen. The food is very average and the tables are too close to each other which is not ideal for a romantic meal. Worth a visit just to cross it off your list. Never again.
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Jamil Ahmud
4 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Nobu is a very casual place to wine and dine. I love sushi and I was looking forward to having a meal there but it was not as good as I expected. People are attracted to a restaurant by more than just good food and unfortunately, the decor at Nobu in London was unattractive.

The staff were kind, friendly and helpful. The dishes were delicious but nothing more special than the other sushi restaurants I have been to.
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EFTYCHIA CHARALAMBOUS
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, August 10, 2010