Based on the Izakaya inns of Japan, Kurobuta, under the helm of ex-Nobu chef Scott Hallsworth, brings fantastic tapas-style Japanese dishes to Harvey Nichols' fifth floor, including new signature creations.The restaurant is laid-back and promises good fun and great food.
Kurobuta
Japanese Restaurant in Knightsbridge
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All In London Review
Kurobuta is excellent
The small plates menu is divided into sections that include an eye-grabbing “junk food Japan” heading. One of these dishes is a fantastic tuna sashimi pizza that forsakes traditional dough in favour of a fried tortilla base. The fresh, gleaming fish is topped with rich truffle ponzu, green chillies and a sprinkling of roe.
Slices of beef fillet carpaccio tataki with onion ponzu dressing and garlic crisps are delicious, as is a large dish of grilled shiitake, enoki and oyster mushrooms, served with gorgonzola cheese and miso sauce, and coated in pine nuts.
Even better is the octopus,vacuum sealed and cooked for eight hours, making it incredibly tender. Green olives, yuzu, dried miso and chilli are a brilliantly umami addition. Soft steamed buns are filled with BBQ pork belly, with a pot of soy sauce and crushed peanuts on the side. Two plump, meaty roasted scallops are as triumphantly cooked as the octopus, with yuzu truffle egg sauce and roe.
The picture perfect pistachio cake reminds us of marzipan, with honey ice cream and Suntory jelly. There’s a great drinks menu with sakes available by the glass or bottle – the jovial staff help us pair sake to the food. Also worthy of note are the Japanese whiskies and beers, which include Kirin with a frozen top.
Another thing to love about the place is the music – on the night we visit there’s plenty of 90s grunge, an unashamed, bold choice given the location. We’re told this is entirely down to Hallsworth, who was a musician before he becames a chef.
It’s easy to rack up a hefty bill as dishes are mostly between £10 - £13, but they’re generously portioned. Kurobuta is excellent. In fact the only thing that stops us from giving it a 10 is that it’s in a shopping centre (even if it is a luxury one), aside from that, it’s top marks all round.
Reviewed by Leila
anonymously
on Feb 16, 2016
Published on Feb 16, 2016
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Kanpai!
As well as the show-stopping food courtesy of ex-Nobu chef Scott Hallsworth, the extensive menu of sakes is well-priced, available by the bottle or the glass. The menu is all small plates, and on our visit every member of staff knew their stuff and could recommend the best sake for each dish.
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