It was the second time I went to Nobu last night and it was just as good as the first time I went, if not better. The staff are extremely friendly and the service was spot on. Expect to pay high prices, but you get what you pay for. Great buzzing environment and if your lucky you might even spot a celeb or two ;)

Wow, what a disappointment Nobu is. How on earth it has the reputation it has is beyond comprehension. Upstairs the decor is nothing more plush than a fancy hotel, the service was efficient and friendly, but where Nobu completely comes apart is the quality of the food and the ridiculous prices they charge. Twinned with the low class way Nobu tries to eek every last penny from your meal £6 each for bottles of tap water that you think are complimentary, with waiters topping you up relentlessly. We ordered 7 plates of food and we were told the food would arrive in stages, this is hugely irritating as the last plate of food to arrive was our rice, our salads came 3rd and 5th, meaning it was impossible to combine some meals. Each plate of food was stonkingly over priced and each plate of food tasted OK. Yes, that's right you are paying over £200 for food that tastes OK, not magnificent or delicious simply nice... The feel of the place was nothing special, like all these places with a rep most of the staff trot around with a look of contented smugness. I felt a little robbed and cheated as i had wanted to treat my partner to a special meal. So my advice is if money is no object and spending £300 is like spending £30 then go to Nobu, if like me you work hard for your money and for £300 you would like to have an amazing dining experience then do not go to Nobu.

I was here a few weeks ago and plan to go back many times. With Nobu, you know before that it is going to be ridiculously expensive so if you are going be prepared to spend and not look at prices when you order. Sharing is caring and that is the way here - order a bunch of dishes. Have to try the Black Cod as well.

The quality of the food was simply amazing. Beautiful and the best ingredients/sources of meat. The main dishes are just cook to perfection and are literally melt in your mouth.

However, I do not think this is a place for a first date or a romantic location. The downstairs bar however is nice to sit and relax, however the interior upstairs is rather simple with clean lines - that's the way I would want it to be for Japanese though as the surroundings complement the food.

Bring your credit card!

This place was just terrible. I wanted to treat my wife to something special as it was her birthday and our 2nd anniversary combined so I thought I'd take her to Nobu Berkeley as I'd heard it had a good rep.

The welcome was friendly enough but unfortunately that's where the fun ended.

Sitting at the bar for a pre-dinner drink, we had to find a waiter who took his job seriously enough to stop joking around or having a lengthy chat with his colleagues.

When we found one that wasn't obnoxious or full-of-himself the drinks tasted great (especially the mojito) ... the problem was that there was a real arrogance about the place and you just didn't feel remotely comfortable...

it makes you start thinking "Is this the kind of service I'm paying through the nose for? I'm supposed to be enjoying myself."

Anyway, to cut a long story short we then had to talk to the hostess as 15 minutes had passed and we still hadn't been seated upstairs.

She didn't come back so we spoke to one of the waiters (really strange as there were about 7-8 staff members walking around and they didn't appear to be doing anything!)

Anyway he didn't know what to do so he went to his supervisor who in turn went to get the hostess.

As she came back to us we could hear her say "OK, I'll deal with them later" and swiftly moved on to hugs and kisses with 4 guys sitting next to us who came well after.

Again... "Is this the kind of service I'm paying through the nose for?" Anyway, the last straw came and went after she'd finished her 5 minute catch-up with old friends and nearly walked past us again before realising that we actually existed.

An absolute joke... needless to say we saved our night elsewhere and for MUCH less money! AVOID!

On leaving the restaurant, the doormen attempted to almost shame us into taking a minicab.

When we tell them that we will take a black cab, as we have done for the past 10 years in London, we get the feeling that they are not at all impressed.

On exiting the venue, we were greeted by an almost apocalyptic sight. There were minicabs double parked all the way down the street, blocking much of the traffic coming through. We had to walk 50 yards up the street to find the nearest black cab.

The driver then explained to us that the minicab drivers were double parked to stop him getting near to the venue.

This is outrageous, if we wanted a minicab we would have booked one before we came out.

They should not be attempting to force customers into any vehicle, especially not a minicab, which we consider to be less safe that a black cab for a number of reasons.

Ruined my night, will not be returning.

I went to Nobu in Old Park Lane many years ago and was a great great experience, (it was very bad in Milan-Italy ), and I wanted to repeat the experience taking 2 friends with me to try at Nobu Berkeley.

The hostess in the reception were very helpful and nice, We went in to the bar downstairs, for an aperitif: the bar staff couldn't have been more horrible, very laud, impolite, and not professional at all:

we couldn’t speak between us and even order our drinks till after they finish speak about their business, and play, laughing … Starring at us without say anything, to take our order..)

Fortunately our drinks were not so bad, but we didn’t want to have dinner there because our enthusiasm was chill down…from the disappointing welcome.

I’m not pretending to be served like Queen Elisabeth.. but I like to feel comfortable, especially when you pay lots for a good quality service. (by the way, tip for service was included in the bill…who cares to be nice with the customer if you get it anyway?)

(sorry for my bad English, hope does it make sense)

I read your reviews before going to the Berkeley last night and I have to say you couldn't be further from the truth!

The food was fantastic the atmosphere was electric and buzzing, the staff couldn't have been more helpful and friendly, and the cocktail bar downstairs?

well just go and try the Japanese mojitos, who cares if there £12 its worth it.

Yes its expensive but really what did you expect? its NOBU?

If you like sitting in silence go to the Ritz, its just down the road and i'm sure you will all be happy sitting there talking about the good old days.

if you want cheap, Mc Donalds is just round the corner. however if you want an experience and amazing food go to Nobu. I'll definatly be going back!.

I agree that the food was disappointing for the price, but the general expereince was really pleasant. We found the service to be fine (although we did get asked if we'd like to order some drinks when we'd already ordered them which you don't really expect in a top London restaurant). Some of the courses were lovely, the salads beautifully dressed, and the chocolate bomb pudding sensational. But after eating at Ramsay's Maze a few weeks before for the same priced bill, it just didn't compare. Afterward we had some cocktails at the bar downstairs - it was a really nice atmosphere and the cocktails were works of art. Although the bar staff seemed annoyed with us for wanting to pay when we ordered instead of setting up a tab ?! Would go back again, but probably just for drinks (but at up to £15 a cocktail maybe just one!)

i cannot believe this has won AWARDS! ahhaahah this is hilarious. becuase it is so awful. the atmosphere is of snobby foreigners. The food was late and horribly done. very small portions.
The dining area was so poorly done it up, why we paid so much i dont konw why.
i think the orrange juice was from a carton, i saw it in the bin behind the bae as i got up to go to the toliet.

Beyond a doubt the worst service I have seen in any establishment in London. Quite shocking for such an upmarket location / price point. When I politely pointed out to the manager, that things could have gone better, he turned and walked away without saying a word. Needless to say, will never give them business again. Perhaps View should reconsider it's rating as independent reviewers have a quite different opinion of this place.

I visited Nobu last week to check it out for my husband's birthday, so although I did not eat there I went to the bar with a couple of friends. The below is part of a complaint letter I sent Nobu. I have had no response from them.

We sat at one of the empty tables without reserved notices and ordered a drink from a passing waiter. A few moments later another waiter who appeared very agitated came over and leaned across the table at us. He told us we couldn't sit there. We then mentioned we had ordered our drinks and could we wait for them to arrive before leaving the table. The waiter told us we wouldn't have been able to order the drinks at the table (which was clearly not correct, as we had). We replied that we definately did and could we just wait for his return. The waiter became even more agitated and and stormed off. He came back a few moments later informing us there were not any drinks ordered for us and needed to leave the table immediately. If we wanted a drink we must go to the bar.

We were appalled by the way we were treated and decided to take our leave. As we walked through the crowd at the bar towards the exit, a waiter and waitress were stood in our way having an argument which continued as we attempted to get past. When we finally did, my female companion was shoved out of the way by yet another waiter. Unbelievable! Drink there at your peril!

I recently dined and at Nobu Berkerley and was very disappointed. The food is of the standard you would expect of your local surburban Japanese restaurant but at three times the price for half the quantity. I shan't be dining there again.


The Nobu Berekley bar though is good, save for their insistance, in common with other Japanese establishments, of only stocking undrinkable Japanese beers.

Nobu Berkeley sums up all that is wrong with dining in London. It is extremely noisy, they have totally obnoxious service, mediocre food (I recently dined at the original New York Nobu where the food was absolutely exquisite), and absurd prices.

If you want a great meal go to Nobu - but Nobu New York rather than Nobu Berkeley.

We went to Nobu Berkeley recently, and the staff had a serious attitude problem. The service was appalling and for £11.00 per cocktail I would expect at least to get friendly service.


A waiter took our order and went off and did not return, so we called another waiter about 25 minutes later. He got the original waiter to come back, who was not even apologetic about misplacing our order! I would never ever go to Nobu Berkeley again even if I was paid.

I went to Nobu barkeley for my 30th and I was expecting a fantastic dining experience with impecable sercvice. They have some of the rudest staff I have every encountered in my life, and it baffles me to think that such individuals are being recruited into such a renowned establishment! I wont be going back to Nobu Berkeley.

Nobu Berkeley was so disappointing! We requested a bottle of chilled champagne and some sashimi. The yellowtail was great and the first bottle of champagne was just about okay. But it all went downhill after that. The second bottle was hardly chilled, and the service (when you could secure attention - on a very quiet Monday night!) was unhelpful.


The final straw was the size of the tuna sashimi - one piece was about the size of a one pound coin and it cost £5 or so per piece. We pointed this out and did receive a replacement, but this was left on our table with no apology. Our friends have been to Nobu Berkeley before and say this experience was atypical.

Very disappointed and will not return. I suggest Londoners find somewhere else to spend their money - Nobu Berkeley is very expensive and despite the fabulous food, is simply not worth it as the eating experience is overall average.


Three of us were squashed onto a tiny table, the tables and decor were just like a cheap cafe, we were rushed way too fast and made to eat one course immediately after another. When I asked to slow down a bit the waiter was rude and dismissive, our own waiter did not understand English very well and did not know what was in the set menu.



The ambiance at Nobu Berkeley was average. At 10.30pm it was clear that there were lots of vacant tables which were not going to be filled and we were still rushed to leave after only two hours.

The Nobu Berkeley bar is not so much the reason that people go to Nobu Berkeley as the reason they stay there. They have fantastic service and some cool drinks on offer, well worth a visit.