OT: Laaandanaahs: Help a "Northern" "country bumpkin"...

bails87

...to find a japanese resaturant

I live north of Watford, therefore I'm from 'the North' and I don't live in London therefore I live on a farm and work down t'pit. But me and the missus are going to That London on Friday, to take a gander at these new horseless carriages and electric lamps I've heard so much about.

We'll be doing the tourist thing so are going to the Tate Modern. Near (Victoria?) Embankment, but I won't be bringing my bike, so can't join the peloton/scalpfest. Anyhoo, I'd like to take her to a Japanese restaurant after we're done pretending to 'get' modern art. I've found the Hare and Tortoise, which looks alright as a place to pop in and get some food after a day of traipsing around. There's also a Wagamama around the corner but that won't be any different to the Wagamamas here.

Anywhere else worth a try? What about somewhere easy to get a drink or two? The Morpeth isn't too far away....

Edit: I'm patiently waiting for the first person to suggest I take her up the Oxo.

EKE_38BPM

Jump on a Boris bike to join the Embankment peloton!
If you make it to The Morpeth let us know. I'm sure I'm not the only person who would try to make it.

No idea on a good restaurant. The best Japanese restaurant I've been to was in Amsterdam, and I can't remember the best London based one I've been to (too many sakis).

edit: You could just take her up the Oxo?

rick_chasey

http://www.tsuru-sushi.co.uk/#http://ww ... ushi.co.uk#

Done.

il_principe

Alrighty. There's a restaurant attached tp the might Japan Centre which is rather good: http://www.toku-restaurant.co.uk/

Pub wise, there's not a great deal of choice around the Tate Modern. Could be worth your while wandering along to Borough market and having a pint in the Market Porter.

The Morpeth is not a destination pub. Poor Youngs beer. Only frequented for it's proximity to the racetrack. The Cask in Victoria is an Ale lovers paradise though.

http://www.caskpubandkitchen.com/

vermin

Rick Chasey wrote:

http://www.tsuru-sushi.co.uk/#http://www.tsuru-sushi.co.uk#

Done.

+1

BigJimmyB

For Tate Modern, tube to Monument and walk over London Bridge (or to Tower Hill and walk Tower Bridge). Turn right and keep going til you see it. The footbridge outside takes you to St Pauls. Turn left down the embankment - cross over to Embankment station and then walk up to the West End.

Enjoy

Sorry - no recs on eats - too many places (even Japanese ones) - go with what you found.

vermin

For pubbing, why not head 500m east to Borough - plenty to see and do there. I rather like The Wheatsheaf (and I'm a 'proper' northern country bumpkin!).

notsoblue

These two are near Oxford Circus, so quite central.
Nagomi
Chisou

Nagomi is quite small, and intimate, Chisou is a bit more spacious and brighter with booths. Both are about midrange price wise. You'd probably need to book Nagomi.

Further afield I really like Yoshi Sushi in Hammersmith (its more Korean really) and Asakusa near Mornington Crescent. I lived/worked local to these and they were both really tasty places to eat and reasonably priced (but probably not what you're looking for).

veronese68

Excellent, hope you enjoy your visit to civilisation. Don't do what a rather elderly colleague said to a customer visiting Tate Modern from the Norff; "It's lovely, but ignore all that old bollox in there and imagine it as a power station." I admit I don't 'get' a lot of modern art but that is just laughable.
Agree with IP the Morpeth isn't worth a visit if you have your good lady with you. If you were on your tod we'd try and lead you astray. Lots to see around there, agree about Brough Market. Sorry can't advise on Japanese food.

cyclingprop

Also try The Rake in Borough Market. Plenty of beers to break yourself on in there ...

pangolin

Ooooh try this place, been twice

http://www.koya.co.uk/

Quite cheap. Very noodley.

clarkey cat

Japanese = Edokko.

graeme_s-2

bails87 wrote:

There's also a Wagamama around the corner but that won't be any different to the Wagamamas here.

Don't lie - we don't have Wagamama's in The North, it's all hotpot and dripping and stuff!

Hope you have a nice day out in London.

esspeebee

There's also Bincho in Soho, which is very good Japanese, but not sushi or noodles. Worth a try if you fancy something slightly different, and definitely if you enjoy things on sticks.

msmancunia

I used to work around the corner from the Hare and Tortoise in Bloomsbury until I moved back up North. Never eaten there as I don't like Japanese food (fussy eater) but there were always huge queues of Japanese people outside at lunchtime, so that's probably an indicator that it's decent. Just be careful - there's a Hobbs, LK Bennett and French Connection the other side of the piazza, so you might want to watch your flexible friend.

Headhuunter

OK a few comments... Been to a few Japanese places and the other half is Japanese!

Edokko - Absolutely. Very authentic Japanese, feels like you're in Japan. Not just sushi. Quite expensive though. Near Holborn

Wagamama - This is not Japanese! Although the name "Wagamama" means "spoiled", it's how you would describe a spoiled child...

Koya - The place in Soho? Again very tasty and authentic Japanese noodles... Definitely if you're just looking for a snack or quick meal

This place is also supposed to be good but I've never been....
http://www.tomoe-london.co.uk/

THe best sushi place in London was Sushi Hiro out in Ealing but it has closed down....

vermin

Someone sticky this thread. I shall mostly be spending the next month taking part in the Tour de Japdon.

bails87

Thanks team, we had a good day. Went to Tsuru and I had the tasty teriyaki salmon, Mrs B loved the sushi, so a success all round.

I'm back in London for work in a 5 or 6 weeks, so I might have to arrange some Morpeth/Boris Bike scalp action then...

rick_chasey

bails87 wrote:

Thanks team, we had a good day. Went to Tsuru and I had the tasty teriyaki salmon, Mrs B loved the sushi, so a success all round.

I'm back in London for work in a 5 or 6 weeks, so I might have to arrange some Morpeth/Boris Bike scalp action then...

veronese68

Rick Chasey wrote:

bails87 wrote:

Thanks team, we had a good day. Went to Tsuru and I had the tasty teriyaki salmon, Mrs B loved the sushi, so a success all round.

I'm back in London for work in a 5 or 6 weeks, so I might have to arrange some Morpeth/Boris Bike scalp action then...

Blimey Rick. The pressure of being a mod has aged you.

itboffin

All i read was some northern bloke is coming to London to buy us all beer at the Morpeth.

WIN