Image courtesy of the Hakkasan Group
 
The buzz From this Saturday 31 January, elegant Japanese eaterie Sake no Hana – sister venue to the Hakkasan haunts – will offer guests an amazing new lunch experience, called Umai Saturdays. Umai is often translated from Japanese to mean ‘delicious,’ and the concept nods to traditional Japanese dining where you begin a meal with the most delicate flavours, and move on to more substantial and textured dishes.
 
The lowdown The restaurant’s striking interiors, designed by architect Kengo Kuma, are the perfect setting to enjoy Umai Saturdays’ five-course menu, priced at a very reasonable £37, accompanied by a bottle of sparkling sake, and one bottle of still. Created by executive head chef Hideki Hiwatashi, it’s a culinary journey into upmarket Japanese cuisine that is not meant to be rushed, so take a group of hungry friends who you haven’t seen for a while for a lengthy afternoon catch-up. Warm and efficient waiters are on hand to guide you through the menu, and dishes seamlessly begin to arrive.
 
Menu highlights The meal starts with a small bowl of White miso soup with wild mushrooms, followed by a choice of Thinly sliced sea bass sashimi with chilli ponzu, or Seared rib eye with sesame dressing, with a side of Sesame spinach with cassava chips. All the dishes were stunning to look at – with a sprinkling of edible flowers, and served on gorgeous crockery – and the clever balance of ingredients tasted fresh and flavourful.
 
Up next was a hearty plate of sushi rolls, including spicy tuna maki, and salmon avocado maki; but the main event is Sukiyaki, a pot of sliced rib-eye beef served with vegetables, tofu and mushrooms, which cooks at the table in front of you. Topped with candyfloss which dissolves when hot sauce is poured over it, this dish certainly has the wow-factor. You can opt for chargrilled salmon on hoba leaf with teriyaki sauce, or prawn and vegetable tempura instead – all equally tasty, the salmon in particular was a sweet and sticky delight! Another excellent side dish of soy stir-fried green and white asparagus was one of our favourites. Desserts of the day will change, but we enjoyed a perfect apple tart tatin, and a sesame creme with yuzu sorbet.  
 
Final word Umai Saturdays has found the winning formula for a lazy weekend lunch on a cold winter's day, treating diners to course after course of authentic Japanese delicacies in a truly beautiful setting.
 
Contact Sake no Hana, 23 St. James’s Street, SW1A 1HA (020 7925 8988; )
 
Website
 
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