Chotto Matte - Peru meets Japan

Hey guys,

So I've been back from London not too long ago and I've been settling down. I still have some London posts to write here, but they will probably keep coming with other posts about other non-London related stuff. I think this restaurant is one of my top restaurants that I enjoyed.

Chotto matte. If you want to go out and have a good time, this is the place to be. The restaurant is located in Soho, the busy district. The district is very hard to get around since there is so much traffic, lights everywhere and people walking around. It feels like your're in Chinatown with a hint of Broadway, New York. Get the feeling? Well this is Soho. There are countless bars, nightclubs, pubs. Like any place in London, it has a historical side to it, Soho was home to all those cool people we know: Mozart, Karl Marx and the Sex Pistols.

In this little street where construction is taking place, I went with a group of people. I came into the restaurant and the first thing I saw from outside is this huge graffiti on one of the walls outside. You can see its a very different restaurant...there is a park on one part of the street and all these confusing chinese-pub like lights on all these other restaurants around it. As you enter, you see modern tables and a very nice and full bar at the back. I have a feeling people stay here for hours. We were greeted by 2 recepcionists who take us upstairs to another area where customers can see more graffiti decorating the walls, open windows to the outside and of course, another big bar. Everything is very lively, modern and decorative. The music is very happening and the waiters know everything from the menu.

Its a Peruvian-Japanese fusion (Nikkei) so I cannot even begin to express my excitement while ordering. One of the people that was with me was also very keen on seeing what the buzz of this place was about. This friend wanted to go to Coya, the super extravagant famous restaurant set in Mayfair. Since I already went there, I knew reservations were needed a week in advance. Coya is super cool and all but I find you have to really work the outfit since its a place to see and be seen. Going back to Chotto Matte...the waiter explained to us many dishes. I already knew some that I wanted since a friend gave me some tips, but the other tips given to us during dinner was just as good. The menu highlights its best sellers so its cool to keep an eye on that! Here is what we ordered: to drink I had a jasmine pisco, as you may know, pisco is made with egg and the jasmine gave a hint of flower essence to it. We also ordered a Nikkei sashimi which is composed of seabass, cherry tomatoes, jalapeno, coriander, yuzu tuffle soy. Then we had seabass ceviche, which is: seabass, sweet potatoe, peruvian corn, coriander, chive oil, citrus sauce. The tuna pizza is a tostadito with corn crisp, jalapeno, coriander and wasabi. Amazing! We had a hot dish which was black cod with yellow chili miso and rice. To end the salty dishes we had california rolls with sea bass and salmon on top. The dessert was a chef's choice, I do not remember everything inside it but I must say it is a must!!! I know it had icecream, coconut and the presentation was one of a kind!

Everything was very well prepared and presented. We went during a time that it wasn't very full so it wasn't loud or busy. Overall our experience was great! Soho and Chotto matte are for those who like different experiences and places to see, that enjoy loud music and aren't a culinary traditionalist. The restaurant is a buzz, and glitzy but more affordable than Nobu and a nice change to a international chain of restaurants.

I will leave you with pictures. This restaurant is a must.

Stay tuned for more! Xx

Address: 11 - 13 Frith St, London W1D 4RB, United Kingdom

http://www.chotto-matte.com