Review on Roka
The fourth restaurant from Rainer Becker and Arjun Waney under their Roka brand opened in Aldwych, celebrating the 10th anniversary of its sibling on Charlotte Street, the new offspring is located a short stroll from the Strand and Covent Garden. It is the biggest enterprise so far, and like the other branches the central robata grill takes centre stage.
The interior décor was the result of a collaboration between Becker and acclaimed Italian designer, Claudio Silvestrin, who also worked on the group's high profile restaurant Oblix at the Shard. The result is a sleek restaurant with a sophisticated ambience using porphyry stone, natural tanned leathers, dried green oak and stained grey timber. The best seats in the house where you can watch all the action of the chefs at work, are set around the open kitchen.
Specialising in contemporary Japanese cuisine, ideal for sharing, the kitchen uses first-class ingredients, with the majority cooked on the robato grill. Signature dishes include langoustine and cod cheek skewers, shiso and ume boshi, as well as pure Japanese Wagyu beef tartar, smoked soya sauce, wasabi and Nori crackers. When it comes to desserts there's okkaido no yawaraka cheesecake, cotton soft cheesecake with robata grilled pear, cream cheese ice cream or tsubo iri chocolate to vanilla no peanut sundae, peanut, vanilla and chocolate sundae with sesame poki sticks.
The wine list offers a good selection from both the Old World and New, as well as an impressive sake selection with options available by the glass or carafe. There's an extensive choice of shochu, housed in smart custom-made display walls and cocktails take inspiration from the Pacific islands off the bottom of Japan.
Roka is also featured in: Hardens, AA Guide
Rate this RestaurantCuisine
Japanese
Chef
Hamish Brown
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.00 - 3.30pm Mon-Fri (11.30am - 4.00pm Sat) (11.30am - 8.30pm Sun Brunch)
Dinner: 5.00 - 1.00pm Mon-Sat
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express