WORDS
Antonino Biondo
The wait is finally over. Offering a unique blend of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine, Chotto Matte is ready to greet diners in its newly renovated Soho venue, set in the heart of London’s gastronomical scene.
The eclectic Peru-meets-Japan food offering is perfectly integrated with a vibrant space that epitomises the bold yet very individual Chotto Matte DNA. London-based architects AndyMartin Architecture (AMA)–the creative minds behind the restaurant interior–opted for a series of natural elements that organically mirror the hybrid soul of the menu. Japanese lava stone plinths grow up sinuously from the floor while leafy corners of greenery pay homage to South American tropical vegetation. The ambience feels sophisticated yet energetic with a series of glowing art walls–a trademark of Chotto’s visual aesthetic–recalling Tokyo’s eccentric urban culture.
‘We are always looking to innovate and evolve, from the kitchen to design, so after almost10 years of service it was time to shake things up,’ Chotto Matte’s founder, Kurt Zdesar, says.
Aligning with the ebullient Soho’s entertainment scene, a lively lounge bar occupies the ground floor. However, the real action happens upstairs. The first floor houses the dining room, a sushi counter and the kitchen, where the fine art of cooking on a robata grill is theatrically staged. The ancient Japanese style of cooking over hot charcoal ensures a succulent smokey taste to signature dishes such as lomo a la parrilla–a beef fillet garnished with spicy teriyaki. Other highlights from the Soho menu include yellowtail “Nikkei sashimi” with jalapeño, coriander and yuzu truffle soy, and Wagyu sirloin with truffle teriyaki sauce.
Tempting new entries have been added to the unique Nikkei Brunch, kicking off every Saturday from 11 to 4 pm–the party certainly doesn’t stop at night. Spicy prawn bao, tuna tataki and truffled hamachi nigiri are paired with daring drinks from the “Tokyo to Lima” list. Try the yubari bellini and the Meiji Mary, Chotto’s revisited alternatives to the iconic bellini and bloody Mary.
Nikkei Brunch, £70 per personBottomless
Nikkei Brunch, £125 per person
Reservations now open on Chotto Matte Soho; chotto-matte.com/london-soho