Endo at the Rotunda — Restaurant in London

TLDR; food is good, but service is appalling and definitely not what you would expect at a one Michelin star restaurant paying £360 per person.

It has been a week since I ate there, but the service was so terrible I keep thinking back to how rude the waiter was, which has unequivocally ruined my experience eating there. It's unfortunately now a restaurant I will never recommend to my friends or family (or anyone I know for that matter).

Starting with the good, the food was excellent. I enjoyed every dish, and it was nice to hear all the attention to detail which went into every dish, and the effort it took to procure each ingredient. I would rate the food to be among some of the best omakase available in London, and an above average compared to eating omakase in Japan. I can't say it's perfect because I didn't feel like I was completely satisfied, potentially because the delay between each course was too long. A major contributing factor to the deduction from five to four stars (for the food rating) is that no matter how good the food is, the service can really ruin the entire night.

Now moving to the bad: the service. It's really quite fascinating how a single bad encounter can ruin the entire experience. It happened around halfway through the dinner, up to which my partner has been taking photos of each dish (this was done discreetly and only took a few seconds). Since this meal was to celebrate a certain occasion, we wanted to take a selfie of ourselves holding a piece of sushi. When we were about to take the photo, only about 5 seconds passed (this is important). A waiter then rudely interjected from behind us and pretentiously started talking down to us. He went on about how you need to eat it immediately or the taste will change after a few seconds because it is in its perfect state when the chef hands it to you. His tone implied that if you had taken more than 4 or 5 seconds to put it in your mouth, it would be ruined.

To the waiter: who do you think you are? My mom? what gives you the right to interrupt a personal moment, to tell me how to behave, or to tell me what's right? I'm not going to argue whether the taste will change if you eat the sushi 5 seconds after the chef hands it to you or if it was eaten after 10 seconds. As eating here is supposed to be "an experience" which was literally in your opening speech, is it not normal to be able to able to take a photo to record the memory when you’ve been enjoying this experience?

We were already told in the beginning of the evening that you should eat it immediately for it to “taste the best”. Knowing that, we still wanted a photo to commemorate the occasion. We don’t need to be treated as toddlers and be reminded about it repeatedly, much less in such a patronising way. We just wanted to take a single photo of a single course to immortalise the moment.

After this incident with the rude waiter, it was just downhill from here. My partner then became fearful of taking photos in case she would get rudely told off again. We finished our food and immediately left because we didn’t want stay in such a hostile environment with that waiter around.

To Endo: You should be training your staff better. My negative interaction with that waiter was not necessary if he had just kept quiet. For being coerced into paying 90 pounds for service, I don’t think that is acceptable and feels horrible knowing that I paid the 90 pounds (even after a week after eating there). If I could get a refund I would, so every time I walk past and see the Endo plaque outside the Helios reception, I don’t need to remember that I paid so much money, and especially 90 pounds of service charge, just to get mistreated.

To potential customers: Go somewhere else where you money, time, and dignity will be valued. There are many other omakase restaurants in London, and this certainly is not going to be one I will want to return to or...

Sensational dinner on all fronts. This is hands down the best dining experience I have ever had.

Food - each bite is introduced in theatrical but accessible style. Endo san and the sous chefs take you on a journey and it feels like they are speaking to you instead of at you (which other elite restaurants sometimes feel like). He invites a little dialogue between you and him, inviting questions and recommending how best to enjoy each bite. There is variety of sashimi, soups, noodles before the main section of sushi bites. It is all well balanced. We opted for the sake pairing which is a lot of fun as they give you a new cup for each new sake. I was worried that each portion wouldn't be much to enjoy or enough time to enjoy it but it's timed really well. Goes without saying that it's sublime.

Service - you eat from Endo san's hand, which is a unique experience and makes for an unforgettable dinner. He's so casual and relaxed it really complements the atmosphere. It also means everyone else is in a similar spirit too.

Atmosphere - huge table surrounds the centre kitchen area with a bar to the right where you can enjoy a cocktail ahead of dinner and one of the final dessert pieces at the end. The ceiling is adorned with clouds and paper.

As you can see from the other reviews, you can take photos even though it is not recommended. I took my film camera and took a few shots. Endo san commented it was an interesting way to get around the policy so that was funny... he also said that it must be an expensive habit which was hilarious because I thought a bit rich coming from you mate charging £200+ for...

I had the pleasure of dining at this restaurant a couple of times, and I wanted to express my sincere appreciation for the exceptional experience. This restaurant truly stands out in terms of its food, service, and overall atmosphere: Culinary Excellence: The quality and presentation of the dishes were absolutely outstanding. Each course showcased the skill and artistry of Endo san. The selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients was evident in every bite, and the flavors were incredibly balanced and harmonious. It was a true culinary journey that delighted my taste buds. Impeccable Service: The level of service provided by this restaurant was exceptional. From the moment I entered the building until the end of the meal, the attention to detail and genuine hospitality were evident. The lovely servers were knowledgeable about the dishes and ingredients, and their passion for the cuisine was palpable. The pacing of the meal was perfect, allowing me to savor each dish and enjoy the overall dining experience. Cozy and Elegant Atmosphere: The ambiance of this restaurant was both inviting and sophisticated. The intimate setting, with 10-12 seats, created a sense of exclusivity and made the dining experience feel personalized. The attention given to the interior design, the traditional elements, and the attention to detail in table settings added to the overall enjoyment of...