In Japanese, issho-ni means “together with”, meaning that this restaurant makes sure the food and drink pair better than almost anywhere else.
Together with some other stuff.
And that other stuff starts with the venue itself which – thanks to floor-to-ceiling widows and dark wooden interiors – manages to be both light & airy in the day, then dark & moody as the sun dips down. The chairs are leather, the wall is lined with c-shaped booths, and there’s a low-lit bar evoking the atmosphere of a Japanese izikaya. There’s a lot to like.
Food-wise, there’s even more to like. Chef Eduardo Aguiar has been through a full sushi apprenticeship, then taken on stints at Roka and Chisou – and it shows. The seared butterfish tataki is draped in truffle ponzu dressing, and it’s absolutely sensationally good. The Sushi platter comes paired with a sake flight (issho-ni, remember), with each glass complementing different fish. It’s not all sushi, either; you can expect the full izikaya gamut, from squid ink yakisoba noodles, to salted duck yolk calamari, to miso black cod.
For dessert, founder Claire Su wrangles her pastry background to put together a centrepiece of matcha French toast with red bean ice cream – it’s large enough to split between two, and it’s absolutely delicious. The there are the drinks. Ask your waiter, and you’ll get something matched perfectly to your food, whether it be a cold or warm sake, a dram of Japanese whisky, or one of the many top-shelf cocktails (try the Miso-Whisky Sour, you won’t regret it).
And the kicker? Head down there on a weekend, and you can score their bottomless brunch, featuring unlimited sashimi, unlimited maki rolls, unlimited booze, and a hearty portion of salmon teryaki, wagyu steak, chicken katsu curry, or sesame miso-fried aubergine to go with it.
Just remember to go together with someone else.
NOTE: Issho-Ni is open now. You can find out more, and make a booking at their website right HERE.
Issho-Ni | 185 Bethnal Green Rd, E2 6AB
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