For mesmerising Japanese food in a modern, stylish atmosphere, try a night out at Mayfair's Sumosan for a real foodie treat.

The Venue
Situated just moments from Green Park tube, this stylish Japanese restaurant is tucked up an unassuming Mayfair street. The biscuit decor and polished walnut tables give it a warm modern vibe, and the odd splash of purple breaks up the beige-ness of the dining room. Downstairs is home to Sumosan's exclusive bar which serve sakes and cocktails to the chosen few.

The Atmosphere
Sumosan has its place for the moneyed youngsters who come in for cocktails and a plate of sushi, and the large tables of feasting businessmen showing off their pay packets by tucking into the fine wine selection. But it's also popular with foodies who come to indulge their pleasure and widen their knowledge of fine Japanese cuisine. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and keen to recommend favourites or to describe a complicated dish.

The Food
For Japanese food virgins the menu could potentially be quite boggling, with soups, salads and sushi as well as a whole host of intricate dishes. There is a tasting menu, which would be advisable for a first foray into Japanese cuisine, as the decision is then taken out of your hand and you will taste the chef's best selection. The sushi is highly recommended, the creamy scallop and the crab are exquisitely executed sculptures of rice and fish. Sushi and sashimi aside there are a whole host of intriguing appetisers on offer: oysters with a punchy ponzu dressing are exactly how oysters should taste, like a day at the seaside, fresh and packed with flavour. Tempura prawns are excellent examples of this familiar Japanese dish, the spicy sauce is like a naughty Marie Rose, which works perfectly with the light crisp batter.

The lobster salad is a most visually appealing dish, a bowling ball of vivid green frisee lettuce appears on the table like an old ladies swimming cap with two coral pink claws attempting to climb out of the greenery. Dressed in a light piquant dressing with hints of wasabi and lemon juice, you need to dig through the ball of lettuce to find the treasure, and my, what treasure it is. Big, fleshy chunks of the pale sweet lobster meat are tender and divine and certainly worth the £16.00 price tag. The basket of Dover sole is again, an impressive looking dish. Bite-sized mouthfuls of this famously delicate fish are fried in a light tempura batter and piled high into the fried, skeletal basket. It's ideal as a sharer rather than one to feast on your own, as although delicious, it could have a tendency to get boring.

Other recommended dishes include the beef tartare with nashi pear and sesame, soft and surprisingly sweet. The yellowtail teriyaki came as two slabs of seared tuna with a drizzle of teriyaki sauce which is so delicious that each smoky mouthful evokes memories of exotic beach barbecues.

For the not-quite-full bellies, the green tea cheesecake is a stunning example. A soft, fragrant mousse served with a dab of raspberry couli, so light it just slips down. The white and dark chocolate fondant is a totally different matter. Served with white chocolate ice cream, this rich chocolate pudding is covered in a pale green white chocolate sauce, disguising its dark, melting heart.

The Drink
Sumosan has a varied yet well considered wine list with a fascinating selection of fine wines on offer. With a slip of the finger you could very easily order a thousand pound bottle of wine instead of the house vino, which at £18.00 is actually very good value for the quality. For sake lovers there is an exciting selection available offering different flavours, complexities and vintages, ranging from around £5.00 a glass to a smidge under a grand for a carafe of Inochi Crystal. And if that hasn't damaged your wallet enough, there is a good selection of fine whiskies including Johnnie Walker Blue Label at about £35.00 a hit.

The Last Word
Sumosan is the perfect place to take a shy blind date as the food is so mesmerising that you can't help but talk about it. If your budget can stretch to the tasting menu, then it’s well worth a try. You will completely abandon your culinary comfort zone and experience some really great Japanese cuisine. Recommended.

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