Juno Omakase — Restaurant in London

Hmmm, this one is really difficult to write a review on, I could have easily gone with 5,* or 3* and still think it would be a fair review. I'm writing this to hopefully give some useful feedback because I do think the team has the potential for something truly spectacular, but it just fell a little short in a couple of ways for me.

First of all the positives: the food for the most part is very, very good. Over the 15 courses there were several memorable items - particularly the crab, hamachi and flounder. Some courses were the best representation of fusion food - clearly identifiable mexican and japanese flavours working really well together. I did think however the otoro was completely overpowered by the spicy green sauce which was a bit of a shame.

Secondly the sake selection was excellent - it really paired beautifully with the dishes, and the service as you'd expect from such an intimate restaurant was very good and friendly from both the front of house and the chef.

Things to improve: I felt the pacing was very fast, especially at the start. It was a bit of a conveyor belt. We were the only two in the restaurant so this might not have been such a factor if all 6 seats were taken - but I think they should probably account for that if there is a smaller crowd than normal.

Second, the storytelling was a little overdone. I know this is an omakase experience and that you should expect some of this - but it was extensive for every course, and I felt they could have been grouped together a little more e.g. explain the fish for nigiri all at once, rather than separately for each piece. This combined with the fast pacing meant over the course of the meal I didn't really share a word with my dining companion outside of brief comments about the food.

Finally, this is an expensive experience, and as such I didn't really like the prompt to tip when paying by card, given there's already a 15% service charge added on. Cheeky, really - and left things on a negative note.

Worthwhile experience just about for some really good dishes but there are a few tweaks for them to improve to really enter the...

Food If the quality of the fish is the heart of a great sushi experience, here the Mexican–Japanese fusion elements often overwhelmed the fish rather than letting it speak for itself. Some dishes had interesting and enjoyable flavors, and I appreciate the attempt at fusion, though it could have been pushed further to be truly memorable. The standout for me was the Wagyu — I don’t usually enjoy Wagyu, but this one, and the way it was cooked, was exceptional. My other highlight was the sake pairing, which I thought was the strongest point of the entire menu.

Service The service had moments of real quality. The chefs and sake server were insightful, sharing plenty of details about both the sushi and the sake, and clearly took pride in their craft. Unfortunately, other aspects didn’t reflect the price point. Before the booking, we received multiple voicemail and email reminders to arrive 30 minutes early for a “welcome cocktail.” This turned out to mean being seated in the bar area of the downstairs Mexican restaurant and asked to pay for our own drinks while waiting — a baffling start to an expensive omakase experience.

At the end of the meal, we were charged £15 for water despite having already prepaid nearly £700 for dinner. It’s not the amount itself, but the gesture; at this price point, water should be included. Finally, the end of the evening took an awkward turn when staff stood in front of us and directly asked what we’d rate them on Google and how they compared to other omakase restaurants — not something you’d expect from a venue aiming for a high-end, refined experience.

Atmosphere With only six seats, the space initially feels intimate, but the reality is that it sits above a casual Mexican restaurant, so the setting doesn’t fully match the “fine dining” presentation. A major downside during our visit was a very loud and rude couple seated next to us. While this isn’t the restaurant’s fault, I do think the staff should have intervened — especially given the small size of the space and the premium price of the experience. I eventually had to speak to them myself, which disrupted...

We’re quick to write reviews when things go wrong, but I don’t think people get into the finer details when something is truly exceptional.

We were incredibly lucky to snag a last-minute reservation here, especially since it's booked months in advance (unsurprising given the exclusivity—just six seats!).

From the moment we arrived, we felt like VIPs, whisked through a secret curtain into what felt like London’s best-kept culinary secret. It was intimate and special, without the pretentiousness you sometimes get at high-end spots.

The ambience immediately transported us to Japan, and the chef made us feel at ease. He introduced us to the evening’s 15 course menu with such passion, walking us through the incredible quality of the ingredients. One standout moment was hearing how his team traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico, to personally source rare, seasonal ingredients used to make their powders and sauces. This attention to detail made the experience feel even more exclusive.

I’ve been fortunate enough to dine at some of the best restaurants around the world, but this experience topped them all. I usually find that when chefs try to blend cuisines, it can feel forced, but here, the subtle infusion of Mexican elements was so seamlessly integrated into the traditional omakase experience. It never took away from the authenticity—it enhanced it.

One of my personal highlights was the “taco” served on a rice paper leaf, followed closely by the generous “caviar bump.” The sommelier’s wine pairings were equally impressive, especially one wine that had been finished underwater, complete with coral still attached to the bottle—an unforgettable touch.

And on top of all this, the restaurant offers the only omakase experience that’s entirely sustainable, nut-free, and gluten-free. It’s simply mind-blowing.

The wait to get in is well worth it, and it won’t be long before this place earns a Michelin star. If you can get a reservation, do it now. I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced it and can’t wait to return. Huge thanks to Akiko and the Juno Omakase team —what a...