Solo Dining in London

Modern Japanese Cuisine centred around a Robatayaki grill

As you walk through the heavy wooden doors of Roka Mayfair, you cannot help but marvel at the robata grill in the centre of the dimly lit restaurant with two chefs busy on the lunchtime service. The waft of rich aromas, sizzling meats and seafood are enough to activate your hunger. Is your mouth watering yet?

The word Roka is made from the words ‘ro’ meaning a meeting place where friends can enjoy food and drink together, and ‘ka’ meaning warmth and surrounding energy. The international contemporary restaurant first opened in 2004 on Charlotte Street, and now has five locations in London, and restaurants in Spain Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkey and Germany.

Roka Mayfair, situated on North Audley Street near the luxurious shopping hub on Bond Street, is the perfect place for those looking to try Japanese food with a modern twist. The service was flawless, and the menu and water glass were brought briskly to the table as soon as I was seated. The plates were promptly brought to the table, and empty plates removed swiftly as the dishes were rapidly devoured.

The menu is extensive with sushi, sashimi, and robata grill dishes, and there are even two tasting menus at different price points. The drinks menu is just as exciting with a comprehensive sake list, a broad range of spirits and cocktails, and a wine cabinet that would make Jancis Robinson proud!

I had to put great restraint to stop myself from over ordering as everything on the menu looked delicious. The o-toro sashimi is to die for, and simply melted in your mouth. Perhaps one of the best fatty tuna I have tasted outside of Japan – and I have tasted a lot of o-toro sashimi as its my favourite cut! The soft shell crab maki comes with an unusual pairing of spicy Korean cabbage and chilli mayo, but the spiciness and sour notes combined with the crispy battered crab makes this a worthy dish to try.

Next, I moved onto the grill. The scallop skewer is simply divine, the spicy tang of the wasabi and the freshness of the shiso is a match made in heaven. The beef skewer with padron peppers is both tender and flavoursome. The asparagus should not be underestimated, the sweet soy and sesame dressing rounds off the dish making it a perfect accomplishment with the grilled meat.

Dining solo at Roka Mayfair did not feel uncomfortable as there were plenty of seats at the robata grill bar, and watching the chefs cook provided delightful entertainment. Lunch at Roka did not come cheap, but the experience was worthwhile.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Average Spend: £80 – £100

Address: 30 N Audley St, London W1K 6ZF

Opening Times: 12 – 11pm, 7 days a week