Novikov

Name: Novikov
Address: Novikov Restaurant & Bar, 50 Berkeley Street, London, Mayfair, W1J 8HA, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7399 4330
Rating: 7

Restaurant in Mayfair

7 / 10 from 1 review

Address
Novikov Restaurant & Bar
50 Berkeley Street
Mayfair
London
W1J 8HA

Map

Telephone
020 7399 4330

Cuisine
Other

Region
Mayfair

Nearest Station

Opening Times

Monday	Open 07:30 - Closes 01:00
Tuesday	Open 07:30 - Closes 01:00
Wednesday	Open 07:30 - Closes 01:00
Thursday	Open 07:30 - Closes 01:00
Friday	Open 07:30 - Closes 01:00
Saturday	Open 07:30 - Closes 01:00
Sunday	Open 07:30 - Closes 01:00

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Novikov Restaurant & Bar is the first restaurant outside Russia for the Novikov Restaurant Group. This phenomenally successful company is headed by Arkady Novikov,the restaurant guru who has changed the face of dining in Moscow.

The venue comprises two restaurants – the Asian Restaurant and the Italian Restaurant (the latter under the command of Head Chef Stefano Stecca) - together with a standalone Lounge Bar.

Novikov Picture Gallery

All In London Review

Dinner at Novikov is great, but be prepared to splash out

Arkady Novikov is something of a celebrity. At least he is in Russia, where he owns over 50 restaurants and a chain of supermarkets; he’s also appeared on the Russian version of The Apprentice. His empire includes fast food eateries serving Russian cuisine, but mostly, he caters to Moscow’s super-elite – Vladimir Putin & Wife are close friends. His first London establishment, unsurprisingly, is not done by halves; he’s opened a multi-dining venue serving (somewhat predictably) Pan-Asian on the ground floor and Italian upstairs. The location is Mayfair and most of the staff could be part time models, sound familiar?

It cost a very large sum of money indeed to create Novikov, but it’s not particularly ostentatious, in fact the de rigeur atmospheric lighting and wood panelling on the walls and ceiling seem austere given its aspirations. The best bit is the colourful display of seafood and vegetables in front of the exposed kitchen, from which items can be selected and cooked to order by diners.

Although there are meat dishes on the menu, the seafood and fish beckon, particularly after seeing them exposed so provocatively. The tuna tartare is glammed up with dollops of Russian caviar on top, salty and delicious. A platter of sashimi has beautifully presented chunks of tuna, mackerel, salmon and sea bass, paired with a sea urchin, which is silky in texture and milder than expected. Thinly sliced tuna sashimi is excellent when doused in the very citrusy yuzu dressing.

The vegetable dim sum, labelled “honey buns”, are as sweet and fluffy as they sound, and a refreshing green tea noodle salad arrives with slices of raw tuna and an orangey dressing, by which point I’m ready to admit that the food here is good, even great, and we haven’t even got to the mains yet. The miso black cod, with sweet, delicate flesh has hints of yuzu; if only black cod was served in indulgent T-bone style proportions (especially at £35 a pop). The robata-grilled king crab is succulent and buttery, then the fiery wasabi mayonnaise kicks in, cranking the flavour up considerably.

The desserts may be standard fare for a Pan-Asian restaurant: green tea brûlée with guava sorbet, cold coconut custard with chunks of peach, but really, we’re nit-picking. Novikov delivers far more than a glamorous dining room but be prepared to splash out, as dinner will set you back around £100 a head.

Reviewed by Leila
Published on Jan 17, 2012