Located in affluent Richmond, little Matsuba blends in well with its surroundings. Discreet, well turned out and serving up consistently high quality food, it’s not surprising that Matsuba attracts a steady stream of customers, despite the fact that prices are on the high side.

The Venue
The restaurant is tastefully decorated in dark wood yet still light and airy. Small touches such as the fresh flowers on each table and the beautiful collection of orchids in the windows combine to create a classy yet welcoming environment. The dining space is small, seating only 26 covers, with room for four to sit at the sushi bar towards the rear of the restaurant. The small space feels intimate rather than cramped although tall people might struggle with the lack of leg room.

The Atmosphere
On a weeknight Matsuba pulls in a reasonable crowd and at weekends booking ahead is strongly recommended, if not essential. The crowd is mostly Richmond locals and it’s not hard to believe the owners’ claim that many are dedicated regulars. A family run business, Matsuba has a sense of individuality that distinguishes it from some of its Central London competitors. Whilst the service is not always the fastest, the staff aim to please.

The Food
The menu is fairly comprehensive and includes both Japanese and Korean dishes. There are three set menu options to chose from at £38.90 to £45.90 per head, a wide range of a la carte options and a lunch menu of bento boxes. Food is served encased in heavy wooden covers that hint of good things to come.

Starters range from light bites such as edamame (£4) and soups through to butter grilled scallops. The gyoza (£7.50) are fine specimens and come highly recommended. The pork and vegetable filling is well balanced with garlic, ginger and chilli in all the right proportions and the outer shells are thin, soft, golden brown and not at all stodgy. The yakitori (£6.50), however, are more pedestrian, slightly overcooked and a little more bland than expected.

For main courses select from a good variety of hot dishes or an extensive sushi list. Mains include the usual staples including a number of teriyaki, udon and tempura dishes. There is also a selection of Korean mains that are probably less well known but well worth trying. The bibimbap (£12.90) comes recommended by the owner as one of Matsuba’s signature dishes. Presented to the table in a large hot stone bowl with vegetables, beef and an egg on top of a bed of rice, this dish is then mixed at the table with a spicy red paste (as much or as little as you like according to taste). The ingredients are simple but the dish has a wonderful taste and consistency, hearty and comforting.

Sushi comes in a number of different sets ranging in price from upwards of £11.50, although the smaller sets such as the Umo (£13.90) might be a little too small to satisfy alone as a main. Alternatively, sushi can be ordered by the piece, and there is a good selection of nigiri, sashimi and maki to choose from. The sushi is well presented and made to a high standard using a good quality of very fresh fish, salmon and squid being the standout choices in particular. The rice is also a perfect consistency, just sticky enough to hold its shape well. The dessert choice of fruit platter or ice cream is uninspiring, although there are a couple of more unusual options of the latter, including the Golden Waterchestnut.

The Drink
The wine menu is short but offers decent coverage of grape and country. The house white is a very palatable La Place Sauvignon Blanc (£15.70, also available by the glass) which is very light and makes a good accompaniment to the fish dishes. Prices range up to £45.50 at the top end. Soft drinks and a selection of Asian beers are also available.

The Last Word
Like its dishes, Matsuba is small but perfectly formed.

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