Following the success of the Michelin-star (from Nobu) Australian chef Scott Hallsworth’s contemporary Japanese tapas-style eateries in Marble Arch and Chelsea, a branch has opened at Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge.
Representing All In London at the launch party last night, I took along Billy McGranaghan, founder of the single dads’ charity dadshouse.org.uk, who also happens to be a bit of a West London expert.
First we admired the amazing Christmas sequins that cover the entire exterior of the store. Then we took the lift up to the entrance on the fifth floor – just around the corner to the famous champagne bar.
Kurobuta occupies a surprisingly large space with a darker, woody and natural décor which is in stark contrast to the shiny, white brightness of the rest of the store.
There’s a large central wooden block which would be perfect if you were grabbing a quick bite alone whilst shopping or for chatting to your friends informally over drinks. And all around there are more intimate booths where you take a bit more time over a more relaxed dining experience. The bar is at the far end.
As well as sampling some sparkling sake (an interesting experience), there were cocktails and champagne and a selection of regional sakes on offer. All of which, as you would expect, were fabulous. There are more varieties of sake available here than at the other Kurobutas – I learned this from Olly who explained the five glass and five bottle varieties that his organisation Tengu Sake imports.
But the star of the show was undoubtedly the food. There were numerous canape versions of the menu highlights – tuna sashimi pizza bites with a wasabi kick, BBQ port belly in fluffy steamed buns, moist and melty wagyu beef sliders, crispy pork ribs with a honey-soy-ginger glaze and even some vegetarian crunchy bites. Following my time in Japan where the smell permeates everywhere from the bustle of downtown Tokyo to the green foothills of Mount Fuji, I still cannot face smoked eel (unagi). However, those that tried it said that it was cooked to perfection.
I also learned an interesting little story about how Kurobuta came to be at Harvey Nichols. Some time ago, Marion (who’s now director of food and hospitality at Harvey Nichols) used to work for Art Sagiryan – one of the founders of the Ping Pong food chain. Art put Marion in touch with Scott and the rest, as they say, is history.
So will it become the new “go to” place for West London’s residents, tourists, shoppers and celebrities? Watch that space…
Further information at: kurobuta-london.com and scotthallsworth.com
