Following the success of Keelung – the Taiwanese tapas restaurant we visited last month – the Leong family is getting ready for another new opening on July 20th. The latest addition to their impressive portfolio will be the seventh branch of the Hi Sushi chain in Covent Garden. With a location you can’t help but describe as ‘in the heart of Theatreland’, the Catherine Street site is opposite the Theatre Royal and just a few doors down from the recently opened fourth branch of Sagar.
In an attempt to distance itself from the carbon-copy chains in the area, Hi Sushi Izakaya’s décor will be unique to this branch and was inspired by traditional Japanese Zen Gardens. Set over three floors, the venue will be a moody mix of dark oak and bamboo and will feature a floor-to-ceiling waterfall. Window-side sushi bar seating will offer solo diners the chance to snack on sushi and sashimi whilst doing a bit of people watching.
While the tatami-style sunken seating sounds nice enough, one of main draw will be the bar where West End drinkers can watch the sun go down and sip Champagne cocktails, sake and Martinis. On the lower ground floor, a second yaki bar with chefs dishing up freshly grilled meat and seafood will appeal to teppanyaki fans.
The head chef will be Eric Fu (ex-Roka) and the menu promises traditional crowd-pleasers like black cod with miso; duck tataki with plum salsa; wasabi prawns; tempura; and noodle dishes. At lunchtime, locals might be seduced by the teppanyaki meal served with soup, salad, rice and green tea for £6.80, or a steaming bowel of ramen for £5.80.
The press release is ambitious, assuring us that Hi Sushi Izakaya will capture ‘the intimacy of traditional Japanese drinking and eating houses, allowing contemporary patrons to re-discover the lost ‘sixth sense’ in food – unami.’ That’s all well and good, but in Covent Garden all they need to do is be fast and affordable and they’ll soon corner the pre and post theatre crowd.
From 20th July to 31st August, the restaurant will be running a special ‘Opera Meal’ deal. Priced at £19 per person (normally £60), it includes an Opera roll (salmon, avocado and tobiko); a mixed sashimi platter; prawn tempura; chicken teriyaki; and a glass of Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut Champagne.
Stay tuned for photos and our review next week.
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