Akatuki Muswell Hill — Restaurant in London

We had a late dinner at Akatuki on 6th April. We both enjoy Japanese food and the dishes we ordered were very good, served on beautiful and distinctive tableware. Unfortunately, the service and lack of ambience are letting them down. Maybe it was due to lack of training and our server seemed quite young and a bit disinterested - but we felt we were rushed to order (it was 8.45pm and they close at 11pm - so nobody would need our table after us). She clearly wasn't too familiar with the menu - we had to repeat our orders and point! She also forgot to bring the water we asked for with our drinks order. We specifically asked for the Rainbow Roll to be served first and our other orders afterwards. But they brought the 2nd orders while we were still eating the Rainbow Roll. There isn't enough room on a table for two for all those dishes which made eating awkward. My mentioning this was greeted with indifference. The restaurant is quite noisy and it doesn't help that every few minutes you could hear the sound of crockery being loaded into a hatch - it sounded like breaking plates every time! So, given the poor service and lack of atmosphere I doubt we'll re-visit Akatuki. The food is good and the plates are pretty but they have plenty of competition in Muswell Hill and Crouch End. I'd also add that there seem to be a lot of glowing 5-star reviews about this restaurant - I suspect some of...

Booked a table for 8pm midweek for myself and a friend. Atmosphere was non existent however you can’t blame them for that as it was midweek. What was upsetting was that even though we had ordered well, including an £80 bottle of saki, by 9:30pm the restaurant was empty and the waitress informed us that the kitchen was closing. We were not planning to eat more however we were immediately aware that the staff wanted to go home. I ordered another small bottle of saki and the waitress initially told us that as they were closing she could not serve us more drinks. My friend, who is a restaurant owner himself, had a word with her and the bottle promptly turned up. Whilst we were finishing our drinks we noticed the staff turn away another two customers! I’m sure the restaurant owner would not be happy if he was aware of this as the staff are probably paid to work a proper shift and not to pack up when it suits them. Food wise the omakasi platter was uninspiring and their signature hot plate sirloin steak was a bit of a gimmick. I want to support local restaurants and it bugs me to see them close early when staff are surely paid by the shift, not by the hour. They are therefore compounding the issue of lack of business and customers and they are not helping...

Discovering Akatuki in North London was an absolute gem! The ambiance was inviting, and the culinary journey that followed was simply spectacular. The food—oh, where do I begin? Every dish was an exquisite work of art. Freshness, precision, and creativity defined every bite. We savored the Homura experience—a delightful selection of meticulously handcrafted nigiri, each a masterpiece in itself. The Premium Sushi Rolls, especially the Akatuki Roll and the Golden Dragon Roll, were exceptional; we just had to order the latter twice! And the Teriyaki Chicken, seared to perfection on the burning stone, was nothing short of wonderful. What truly elevated our dining experience was the talent and professionalism of the chefs. They cooked with an artistry that was as mesmerizing as it was delicious. And Rosie, our fantastic waitress, made our experience even more memorable. Her genuine warmth, kindness, and professionalism were exemplary. Her approach should be the standard in the hospitality industry. Akatuki isn't just a restaurant; it's an experience you don't want to miss. For anyone seeking true Japanese flavors, this is THE...