We are delighted to announce that Sosharu has been named London Restaurant of the Year at the 2016 AA Awards, as well as awarded three AA Rosettes. “Next, some of the best deep-fried chicken you’ll ever eat. The karaage appears as half a dozen little balls (boned-out wings?) of unbelievably sweet and juicy chicken (value at £6.50), on a saucer with half a lemon. Another plastic squirter is provided, this time of chilli sauce. After one mouthful, I yodelled for the wasabi mayonnaise again and slashed both relishes all over the plate and wiped my chicken liberally in them. “One of the most delicious meals I’ve had of late […] A classy – but not stuffy – affair.’ “The cooking is so precise and poised that it deserves your full attention […] Precision verging on nerdiness, which elsewhere can be exhausting, becomes a virtue.” “With no reservations necessary, this underground bar catches the hazy, debauched glamour of Tokyo after dark: a little bit seedy, a little bit sexy.

With flavours leaning beyond the usual at a London bar – think rice-washed gin, sake, infusions of sesame, snacks like tempura – it has all the hallmarks of an authentic Japanese hideaway, while somehow staying very London.” “For all the swish happening upstairs, 7 Tales manages to retain some of the spirit of the legendary late-night club that used to occupy the Turnmills site. It’s this sexy, buzzy vibe that makes it not just an outstanding restaurant bar for an after-dinner nightcap, but a destination for London’s cool kids in itself.” “Pull back the slitted curtain – or ‘noren’ to Japanophiles – in the basement of Jason Atherton’s Sosharu restaurant and you’ll find 7 Tales: an achingly cool cocktail bar that’s a homage to Tokyo.” “Every plate is a thing of beauty, its flavours as intriguing […] “There’s a theory that Jason Atherton is expanding his dining empire so quickly that standards must drop and creativity wane. That’s a load of rubbish.

Sosharu, the chef’s new London restaurant, is the most exciting since his first, Pollen Street Social, which opened in 2011.” “Sosharu is all about the little details, an aggregation of tiny factors that lifts it from a decent Japanese restaurant to a place that you really shouldn’t miss. That Jason Atherton is going to make a million, I tell you.”It's a happy event when, during a meal, you hear yourself repeating, ‘how do they do it... at this price?’ Great food for a cost that beggars belief is a most felicitous combination; you leave with a full belly and a smile on your face, unburdened by consumer’s angst. Kyotoya, a little family run Japanese outlet in Withington is exactly the type of place that brings a smile to the budget-conscious epicurean. The dish that inspired my observation: a plate of the best chicken gyoza I’ve eaten in Manchester. Tender around the crimped joints, crispy underneath and laced by the punch of spring onion. And that’s six for £4.

Kyotoya is often branded as a ‘cheap eats’ joint but it shares nothing in common with a shawarma café or a greasy spoon. It’s the sort of place that scores well on Tripadvisor with rare dissenters: ‘Amazing food!’ or ‘Dirty from the display to the toilet!’ I’ve resolved to eat there many times but never stepped through the door until this week. You can hardly miss it when passing – the incongruity is almost startling; a little Japanese culinary oasis, lanterns shining brightly, alongside another wise rather mundane high street tributary. dunelm black velvet curtainsOnce through the noren, or doorway curtains, you find yourself transported into a welcoming space that exudes homely charm without a trace of the aforementioned ‘uncleanliness’. eclipse curtains at kmartIt’s apparently run by an older gentlemen, the chef, and his wife, with help from some youngsters. curtain fabric redditch

The ‘how do they do this?’ question is repeated over the 16-piece sushi platter (£13) presented in a wooden boat. Okay the boat may have the sushi connoisseurs raising their eyes, as might the food. The nigiri and maki weren’t perfectly formed and the sashimi wasn’t particularly artful, but such obsessional attention to detail is not necessary at this price. What was important about this platter was the delicious and very fresh fish of which there was plenty. The salmon, probably farmed, was as good as you’ll find at any fishmonger’s locally and the deep-red tuna came in satisfying, chunky pieces. john deere brown plaid curtainsMains at Kyotoya run through the panoply of traditional Japanese dishes from ramen to teriyaki to katsu. dunelm blue striped curtainsWe choose the shichimi beef (£9) for which the chef used a quality piece of ribeye steak. black daisy embroidery lined eyelet curtains

It came a little overcooked but not offensively so. Suffused in the warm glow of a shichimi spice mixture and some peanuts, it would have earned a perfect 10 had it not been for the unnecessary firmness. I wanted eel donburi, unadon, but was discouraged by a dining partner who’d fallen foul of eels in the East End. So we had katsudon – pork and duck cutlets coated in breadcrumbs over rice and dressed with what tasted like pickled and sliced green beans ‘Tsukemono’ style. The meat and rice needed a little light relief to cut across the fatty juices and the waiters donated us a salad of crisp leaves and peppers. curtain pole rings 45mmThe veg had been shown the wok and dressed in mirin to lip-smacking effect. swish curtain track valanceDrinks are limited but a rustic pot of warmed sake is £6 and Japanese beers come in at £3.50 to £4. curtain outlet in bensalem pa