Honesty isn’t always the best policy, as this recent exchange between an interviewer and a job applicant proves:
“What’s your greatest weakness?”
“Honesty.”
“I don’t think honesty is a weakness.”
“I don’t give a toss what you think.”
However in many cases – like right now, for example – being honest is definitely the correct policy. And so without any embellishment, prevarication or further ado, behold seven stone-cold, hard facts:
1. Chotto Matte – a huge, tri-level Japanese / Peruvian restaurant and bar – has opened in Soho courtesy of Kurt Zdesar, the man who brought Nobu to London. Which is a good start.
2. There’s DJs at weekends.
3. You’ll find Japanese and Peruvian spirits – like pisco, shochu, and sake – whipped into cocktails metaphorically erupting from the expansive, lava stone cocktail bar downstairs. Case in point: the Lima Old Fashioned, with banana-infused rum, honey and orange blossom, all poured over a chocolate ice block.
4. The toilets have cool spaceship doors.
5. On the ground floor, protected behind bullet proof glass*, is a vast, UV-illuminated mural painted by Tokyo-based graffiti artist Houxo Que, and a low, black ceiling painted by some London decorators, that nonetheless contributes to the atmosphere in its own way.
6. Executive chef Jordan Sclare (ex-head chef at Aqua Kyoto and Nobu) has created the menus for a sushi bar (scallop, sea urchin, snow crab) and an exposed Robata grill serving smokey Nikkei BBQ (yuzu-dressed octopus, beef teriyaki, pork belly with nashi pear) on the first floor, and a raised dining area on the ground floor manned by chef Tetsuya Kato… ex-personal sushi chef to the Emperor of Japan.
7. Last but not least, they do a 9-course Nikkei cuisine tasting menu – with gyoza, tostaditos and sushi – for £50.
It’s a pretty raw deal.
*ok, the bullet-proof bit’s a lie.
NOTE: Chotto Matte is open noon-1.30am Mon-Sat and 1pm-12am Sundays. You can reserve a table, and find out more, HERE.
Chotto Matte | 11-13 Frith Street, W1D 4RB
Like Nikkei cuisine? Check out Chicama