The Arts Club — Restaurant in London

This review is for Kyubi (restaurant on the 3rd floor)

I visited the restaurant today during lunch, where I chose to dine from their set lunch menu - £40pp. I'm vegetarian and surprisingly there were a few dishes to choose from, considering it was a set menu and there were also vegan options too.

Although the presentation of the food was semi Michelin styled, if that can even be taken as a compliment, the food itself was rather lacklustre and the over all experience was rather underwhelming - considering you need to pay a membership fee of £2000 to even get through the door.

The dishes lacked any real depth, they didn't really explore flavour combinations or experiment with texture. I was expecting something that would be of a Michelin standard but was thoroughly disappointed.

For my starters I had the aubergine as my first starter and the grilled mushrooms as my second. The aubergine was really well cooked, as if it were butter melting in my mouth but again the overall dish lacked any distinctive or exciting flavour profiles. The same could be said about the grilled mushroom dish, served on a single skewer and nothing really added to make the dish exciting or enjoyable - especially at that price point.

For my main I went with the tofu option, which is served with rice and miso soup on the side. The tofu was lightly battered, which added a complimentary texture to the silkiness of the tofu. However the pieces were laced in this sweet, spicy tangy sauce which tasted like a very generic Chinese sweet and sour sauce made by blue dragon. It wasn't that the dish didn't taste nice but you could easily get the equivalent from your local Chinese take away for a fraction of the price, considering this main costs around £15 excluding service charge. I felt for a main, it was lacking any really pizzazz, they should have dressed it up more.

The rice and miso were your typical bog standard dishes you could just as easily find in an itsu, wagamamas or wasabi. I know there's not much you can do with rice and miso soup but I have been to other nice Japanese restaurants where the miso soup really has more depth.

Finally for desert I had two scoops of ice cream, lychee and black sesame, no complaints about desert - surprisingly. Both scoops were rich and bursting with flavour especially the black sesame, very moreish. It's a shame the rest of the meal didn't quite live up to my expectations. I find this seems to be the trouble with a lot of members clubs - their kitchen's tend to be rather lacklustre with the exception of Groucho's.

But the icing on the cake, certainly has to be abysmal customer service, the waiting staff just seemed to be rather unpleasant. It was the middle of the day, the restaurant was hardly busy. I just felt unwelcome as a customer, I noticed how other people were receiving polite small talk and I wasn't. After my main meal, the waitress just wiped my table clean with no warning with a damp cloth and I had to hurriedly get my phone out of the way. She then proceeded to put my dessert spoon, which was dirty and showing a lot of wear, on the damp table and not on a napkin, as one would expect. I found this rather odd as you're paying around £50pp after service charges and to top it of the restaurant chooses to make unexpected charitable donation of £3 on your behalf without any real explanation.

I was really looking forward to eating here, the arts club just oozes with luxury but I'm beginning to wonder if this is all just a facade with bells and whistles and an extortionate membership fee, masquerading what I fear might just be sub standard service and rather bland food with hyper inflated prices. I'm more than happy to pay a lot of money for a service but I expect to get what I paid for and nothing less.

As a vegetarian and a new member of the club, I'm really disappointed and rather happy I tried the restaurant first on my own before I brought guests over. My recommendation is to avoid Kyubi and to visit Dinings over in Marylebone - where the food and service is...

Picture this: I had the opportunity to dine at Kyubi, the restaurant located within the prestigious arts club in London. This club has a long-standing reputation and is well-known for its prominent members and rich history. It exudes an atmosphere of sophistication and elegance.

Upon entering Kyubi, I was greeted by an ambiance that radiated refined charm. The interior design was tastefully done, creating a serene and inviting environment. It felt like stepping into a sanctuary of art and culture, where creativity thrives.

The staff at Kyubi were professional and polite, treating guests with the utmost courtesy. They made every effort to ensure a memorable dining experience.

Now, let's delve into the menu. Oh, the menu! It offered a culinary journey that skillfully blended traditional Japanese cuisine with contemporary twists. The descriptions of the dishes were so inviting that one couldn't help but salivate while reading them. Each dish was crafted with meticulous attention to detail, appealing to both the eyes and the taste buds.

However, as with any experience, there were some notable drawbacks. The delays in serving the remaining two main courses were far more significant than anticipated, stretching to a frustrating 40 minutes. This interruption disrupted the flow of the meal and caused inconvenience to diners.

In addition, the sake served was scorching hot, causing discomfort and even burning the tongue. This oversight is regrettable, as a sommelier should have ensured the correct temperature for serving the sake.

These issues deserve acknowledgement, as they significantly impacted the overall dining experience. It is important to provide an accurate representation of your time at Kyubi.

Despite these shortcomings, it is essential to recognize the efforts of the chefs at Kyubi. Their culinary skills were evident in the flavors and quality of the ingredients used in the dishes. The passion and dedication they put into their craft were apparent in every bite.

In conclusion, dining at Kyubi within the esteemed arts club offered a glimpse into art, culture, and tantalizing flavors. The elegant ambiance and attentive staff added to the overall experience. However, it is crucial to note the delays in service and the discomfort caused by the excessively hot sake. These aspects should be taken into consideration when deciding to visit...

We were deeply disappointed by the experience. The staff were unexpectedly rude and dismissive, creating an atmosphere that felt outdated and detached—almost aristocratic in the worst sense. It was as if customer service was an afterthought.

We had visited for an exhibition that, frustratingly, had not been updated on their website, which led to confusion and misdirection. Hoping to salvage the visit, we asked a staff member if we could have lunch at the restaurant and were told yes. However, upon entering—despite many empty tables—we were met with awkward questions and cold, unwelcoming looks.

It was an uncomfortable and frankly embarrassing experience. In a contemporary setting, this kind of behavior is hard to justify. We chose to leave rather than wait around for them to “check” on something they clearly had no intention of following through on.

A real shame, especially in a place that should represent culture...