UCHI REVIEW
I love the link between travel and food; one of the luxuries about the UK is the vast majority of cuisines and dining experiences to choose from. If you can’t afford a ticket to Japan it only makes sense to do the next closest thing and eat the cuisine! In Hackney, East London there is a Japanese restaurant by the name of
, I recently went there for the first time for a friend’s birthday. Not only was the food great but also I loved the décor. From the calm pastel colours and windows to the natural finishes.
The food took a little while to arrive, therefore when it did arrive, I wanted to do nothing more than eat. Yes, I completely forgot to take the food galore snaps by the time everything arrived. Not to worry there are many
. The service could have been faster but I will give them the benefit of the doubt, as it was extremely busy for a Sunday.
Food:
From the
I tried the following:
Robata
炉端
-
aubergine marinated in miso
(£5)
Sarada
サラダ
-
hijiki seaweed, carrot & deep fried tofu (£5)
Kara-age
唐揚げ
- marinated and deep fried chicken
(£6)
Tempura
天ぷら
– battered deep fried vegetables
(£6)
Ramune – Sparkling Soda (Lemon)
(£3)
TIP:
I would suggest going in a group so you can make the most out of the experience with sharing dishes.
Design:
I love how the menu graphic design is in sync with the interior, using pink similar to the interior. This tone of pink on the stonewashed walls gave a calm and cosy ambiance to the restaurant despite the fact we were sitting on stools. (I thought I would let you know, as I know some people are particular about having that back support whilst they dine). What makes the interior authentic are the mix and match finishes from the steel workshop styled tables in contrast to the wooden stools, the brickwork partition between the kitchen and dining area, AND not to forget the intricately crafted ceramic objects we were eating from. The LED lights surrounded the recess ceiling in the centre of the restaurant and were only lit as it got dark in the evening, the wall sized windows do a great job in terms of natural lighting. At the far end of the restaurant, you must open an oversized sliding door if you are heading to the bathroom, however to my surprise what else lay behind this door was an area I wish we were seated in! No one was sitting there but it did look a bit VIP to me, but I was here for it, with the slippers and draping cloth hanging from the rail.
Overall Score:
Despite the fact I’ve explained this place to a T, I would recommend going to experience it for yourself especially if you are a fan of Japanese food. All in all I will give UCHI a four out of five, hope you enjoyed the review. Let me know if you would like more posts like this!
