Ramusake: Japanese tapas meets NYC nightclub

If there is anything South Ken isn’t short of, it’s Japanese food. Counting the number of sushi places within eyeshot of the tube is a two-handed effort. So you’ll be pleased to hear Ramusake is, in fact, another Japanese restaurant. But stay with us here, because anywhere that can name drop Nobu and Kurobuta in its pedigree is worth a look in.

Ramusake is the brainchild of London club masters Piers Adam and David Phelps (Bodo’s Schloss, Mahiki, Whisky Mist), alongside chef of the moment Scott Hallsworth. With such big names behind the establishment and members of royalty attending before its doors had even officially opened, Ramusake doesn’t need anyone’s approval to be a success. With that said, we were impressed.

The décor is a mix of Shoreditch and Manhattan that may seem out of place in the opulent West London setting, but it works. The dim lighting is a clever nod to the relaxed Japanese drinking dens, or Izakayas, that inspired Ramusake’s ethos.

Many of the plates will be familiar to those who frequent Kurobuta. But who’s complaining when that involves a tuna sashimi pizza with truffle ponzu? However, there are some new additions. The beef fillet tataki with onion ponzu, complimented by garlic crisps and the suitably Godzilla-sized shrimp, was some of the meatiest we have come across. However, for a hearty, salty detour from all the sushi and sashimi, be sure to check out the ‘Junk Food Japan’ menu. Included are fried chicken sliders, along with some sweet and sticky chicken wing confit served teriyaki style.

If you like to chase your ceviche with Cîroc then stick around – the restaurant becomes a club after 11pm and stays open till 2am. However, if you’re more taster-menu-with-the-wife than table-service-with-ice-buckets, we recommend you slink out before the lights go down… partying 20-something model types don’t make for great date night petit fours.

Living up to the hype of its credentials, Ramusake isn’t just the latest pan-Asian fusion to hit South Kensington. By combining Japanese tapas with an NYC nightclub, it is a members’ club catering to the tastes of the modern West London socialite.

Ramusake, 92B Old Brompton Road, London, SW7 3LQ (020 7842 8518)

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