The first time I ever went to a sushi place was in Hong Kong. They had colour-coded plates for the dishes (different colours for different prices) and everyone sat in a huge loop with a conveyor-belt at eye level displaying all the yummys for you to just pick up and gobble down. Or take your time and enjoy the delicacies. Whatever.
Anyway, I loved it. But I have to say that most of the sushi places I've been to in London have not been that at all. The sushi is small, overpriced, not-so-fresh and, most importantly, regarded as a starter and not as a meal.
Imagine my delight, then, when I went for lunch to Kurumaya. This place does sushi the right way, the same as in Hong Kong all those years ago. The food is made as you sit, but rather than having to wait for a waiter (no pun intended) to get to your table three times before you even ask for food, you can eat straight away. And it's really tasty.
You can order extras, and I did just that. I'm more a fan of maki rolls than hand rolls or sashimi, so I ordered the maki set. It had a great variety and was reasonable value at £10.50 for enough sushi to fill me up and some miso soup.
The waiters were efficient and friendly without being overbearing and, given that it is in the city, the service was quick and organised (you get the bill as you eat and then pay at the counter to avoid a wait at the end).
The only downer I'd say is that you pay slightly more than you would probably normally pay for a lunch. We paid £15 per head, which isn't too bad, and worth it for the food, but others may disagree.
That said, I'd definitely go back to Kurumaya, and recommend it to anyone who wants good, fresh, sushi as a meal, not just a starter. read more