Kurobuta might be Tony Blair’s local Japanese being in close proximity to Connaught Square. Luckily for Mr Blair, he has one of the tastiest Japanese restaurant near his residence. Kurobuta is the brainchild of Scott Hallsworth, who is the ex-head chef of Nobu and has had many years of experience in the Japanese cuisine field across the globe from Australia to Dubai.
He hasn’t set out to create another Nobu, but a venue with a chilled out ambience. It’s airy and spacious with casual canteen style tables and benches. The restaurant is based on the izakayas of Japan, where inexpensive tapas-style sharing plates are eaten along with a chilled glass of beer or sake.
We tried a whole range of small plates and there were no disappointments in the line-up. The vegetarian options are some of the most mouth-watering vegetables you will find in London. The pumpkin tempura was wonderfully crispy with a very tasty creamy spicy shiso dressing. Whilst the nasu dengaku was melt-in-your-mouth grilled aubergine with a sticky miso sauce.
My favourite of the vegetarian dishes was the Japanese mushrooms which was grilled on a hoba leaf. It was a mixture of premium grade mushrooms cooked with moreish tasting gorgonzola, miso and pinenuts.
The every popular beef sliders and pork belly buns are present in the Kurobuta menu. They use top quality wagyu beef in their sliders along with umami mayo. Although my preference was for the fluffy soft steamed buns with the dreamy pork belly; it comes with a very strong-tasting spicy peanut soy.
Under the section, Junk Food Japan, they offer a delicious tasting tuna sashimi pizza. However, I very much doubt you would need to worry about the calories compared to a traditional pizza. The fresh tuna is flavoured with truffle ponzu, red onions and green chillies. This is the type of pizza I can live off on every day of the week.
If you want more substantial items, I would recommend their kombu roasted Chilean seabass. The fish has just a hint of smokiness and a hit of spiciness from the shiso ponzu. Yes, they do love their shiso ponzu at Kurobuta.
They have a great weekend brunch which is only £35 from their live buffet table along with unlimited beer and wine as well as a cocktail on arrival. They have musicians playing live music as well over the weekends, making for a great meal out with friends or family.
baldwin@townfish.com