Review: Sushi Sambaaaaa!

Sushi Samba, Heron Tower, Floor 38/39, where the giant orange ambiguous sea animal hangs...we decided that it would be a robotic tadpole. 

Sushi Samba is exactly what it is - Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian fusion mixed with London glamour. Don't be put off with the 'sushi' in the title, they do hot, sizzling plates too with cooked meats if you're into that sort of thing, but I would definitely give the raw fish a try. There is so much choice and everything looks so delicious.

The menu is quite extensive so prepare yourselves, but luckily the friendly waiters are all on hand to talk you through each section and recommendations. It basically works tapas/dim sum style, so each person picks 2 or 3 dishes each depending on your numbers and you share. But don't share your dessert, because they are divine, but more about that later.

Pork Belly (left) was also another highlight

The highlight for the table was the DUCK BREAST which had many different flavours. We all had our different sushi picks, so I thought I would just tell it to you through pictures. But each individual sushi is full of different ingredients and flavours that don't overpower each other, so in the end you get an individual explosion of the different elements. My personal highlight was the IBODAI TAMARI - the caramelised brown sugar is unexpected but surprisingly goes well with the foies gras.

Sushi came together on a slate

Foies gras

I decided to pick a different dessert to the rest of the table and went for something I have tried in the past and didn't like. The RED CHOCOLATE CHILLI PEPPERS is probably one of the best desserts I have ever tasted. It's different and I was a bit worried beforehand, but once I had that first bite I did not regret it. The chilli is not overpowering, in fact there is just a tangy hint of it in the mousse, and as we all know chocolate and chilli really does go together (said Rydell High). The raspberry sorbet compliments the chilli chocolate mousse oh-so-well and I could have eaten it by the bucket loads.

There's always room for dessert

It's quite a pricey eat out, but let's be honest you pay for the beautiful view of London (when it's sunny of course) and for the whole experience. The food is almost a secondary option. The cocktails are also very good.

I don't have much to fault, except that we had to wait a bit for our sushi after our warm plates but once it arrived all was forgotten. And not too sure on the 'smart casual' dress code they have - I mean, what does that even mean? Service was great, friendly and helpful, plus we had a funny waiter which was a bonus. The dinner experience was a delight.

RATING: 4 out of 5

Orange Tree in the patio area

Review: Hache Burger (Shoreditch)

Pronunciation: Hash-ay

Having raved on about Hache Burger since last year, it came to me that I've never actually reviewed the place. It must have been that good because I can't think of any other reason why. 

Camden is the original branch but I'm so glad they opened one in Shoreditch because that means I can pop in whenever I am having burger withdrawal symptoms. 

I've been 3 times previously and I'm making it my mission to try a different burger each time. I definitely recommend the Steak Milano with the sun-dried tomatoes and the Steak Catalan (it's quite meaty though). I took my cousin here once, and having travelled along America a few months before, his exact words were "probably the best burger I've ever had". Now that's saying something. 

Steak Canadian.
Picture courtesy of Hache Burger.

Always go brioche with the burger, once you go brioche you won't go back, the sweet and meat is a match made in heaven. The burgers are meaty, soft, crumbly but well made. The choice on the menu is not too much for your eyes but enough to carefully pick which one you will try this time round. You even get some 'salad' on the side (a chicory leaf and bits of tomato). I have to mention the wedges and garlic mayo. It's the best garlic mayo I've ever tasted - how do I know? Because I was still tasting and smelling of it the next day. Even though I was full, I was still reaching out for them, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving them. 

To be honest if you can have a burger and a whole side to yourself, you're a machine. It was only on my fourth visit that I had learnt my lesson and ordered sensibly (burger each and a side to share between 2 of us), so that I was able to order a dessert. Admittedly, I went for a hard shake (an alcoholic milkshake, folks), but it was just what was needed - Oreos, Baileys and Tia Maria a perfect combination I think! 

Prices are at a reasonable price, good choice of burgers as well as extra toppings. Drinks are also a bonus as my favourite Belgium beer, Hoegaarden is available and my fave Argentinean Malbec red wine. 

I'd recommend booking if you're more than 3 people but seats are available by the bar if needs must. 

I definitely recommend this place. Come here.

RATING: 4.5 out of 5 (not quite the 5 just because of the slight non attentiveness of service).

Sunday Roast Review: Hawksmoor Spitalfields

Probably some of the best beef you can have.

There's only one choice of meat on offer but that's no biggie because the variety of beef that is available is enough. I've made a visit to the Spitalfields branch before for dinner. It was very good, with the exception of the triple cooked chips - they were nothing special but to be honest you don't really come to Hawskmoor to taste the chips.

A Sunday roast however is a different ball game entirely. The tradition that is the roast dinner, you expect not just a good portion of meat, it's equally important counterpart is the roast potatoes, equalled out with the gravy and the amount of gravy available, equalled with that all important Yorkshire pudding, and some may argue, equalled with the type of vegetables and its crunchiness.

Well, I can say for one thing, that there was no complaint with the Yorkshire Pudding (see picture). I think it's the biggest one yet, it wasn't soggy (one of my dislikes - nothing worse than an oily and 'soggy bottom').

A Yorkshire Pudding with a side of Roast...and horse radish.

For the price of £19.50 a pop it's pricey, but I could probably go again for a quarterly treat. I asked for my meat medium and it came perfectly medium, sliced not too thin but not too thick so it allowed for a good meat/yorkshire/bit of potato sized bite.

The vegetables were not too soft - which was to my liking, although I wasn't too keen on the whole roast garlic (don't even think about eating it if you're out on a date...or going to a work meeting the next morning - you'll still be sweating it out) and the cabbage leaves but that's only due to a bad childhood memory.

I've had better goose-fat potatoes I must admit, but they weren't too shabby and they fitted perfectly into my humongous Yorkshire. They weren't cut too big either and there was a good portion on my plate.

I could have done with a little bit more gravy, but liked the fact I was given our own gravy pot to pour on when and how I wanted.

I was totally stuffed by the end of it but still went for the peanut butter shortbread dessert - seriously, you need this in your life. It was more like a crunchy, soft cookie with some yummy ice cream on top.

Service was fairly quick seeing how busy it was, the bar area was also full. Being seated inside the dining area is better for a more intimate setting, tables were a tad too close for my liking (I was seated in between 2 couples) and my seat may have stuck out a bit as my chair getting knocked into as people walked past but once my food had arrived it was not important in the grand scheme of things.

Sunday Roast rating: 4.5 out of 5