ZIMA Soho Restaurant — Restaurant in London

TL;DR: A vibrant Eastern European restaurant offering authentic dishes in a beautifully decorated space with great service.

Quick Ratings: Food: 4.5/5 - Well-executed classics with modern presentation Atmosphere: 5/5 - Warm, inviting space with character Service: 4.5/5 - Knowledgeable and welcoming staff Overall: 4.5/5 - A great spot for both casual meals and special occasions

Full Review: Modern Soul at Zima

Walking into the space, you're immediately struck by the thoughtful design. White-clothed tables contrast nicely with comfortable leather chairs, while the walls feature an impressive collection of ornate frames and artwork that really sets the mood. The upbeat music adds to the welcoming vibe, making you want to settle in for a good meal.

The virgin Moscow Mule is refreshing and well-balanced - a perfect start to the meal.

The Salo shows off what the kitchen can do. Thin slices of cured pork belly are rolled and arranged alongside dark rye bread. The accompanying beetroot horseradish and mustard sauces add a nice kick, while microgreens bring freshness to the plate.

The Khachapuri comes served on a wooden board, looking rustic and inviting. The bread is pillowy-soft with a beef filling that's seasoned just right. Fresh cilantro and sweet drops peppers brighten up both the look and taste of the dish, the peppers adding little bursts of sweet acidity.

The honey cake is a showstopper - layer after layer of honey-infused cake and cream, topped with fresh raspberries. The plate is prettied up with mixed berries and a light dusting of honey powder that adds a subtle sweetness to each bite.

What makes this place special is how it balances traditional dishes with modern presentation. The decor, atmosphere, and food all work together to create a really enjoyable dining experience. Whether you're familiar with the cuisine or trying it for the first time, there's something here for everyone.

If you're looking for a restaurant that does classic dishes well while keeping things interesting, this is definitely worth a visit. It's the kind of place that works just as well for a casual dinner as it does for a...

RUSSIA IN SOHO - DOESN'T QUITE WORK....

I dropped into this establishment for a quick pre-theatre bite.

I only wanted to spend a £10 and hadn't spotted the Set Menu (£11.50) so picked 3 Russian Tapas dishes (Cold starter & two sides) to hit my budget.

Never forget Pix (Spanish Tapas on Bateman Street a few minutes walk away) offers £10 for all you can eat until 6pm.

This severely limited my choices as most dishes on the menu here came in at £5 - £8.

So I ordered Cold Starter, Lemon & Rosemary Cured Pork Belly (£4.50) & sides, Sautéed New Poatatoes with Dill (£3.50) & Cabbage, Cucumber & Radish Salad (£3.50) total bill £11.50 + tip.

As I said, set menu would have probably been a better option.

As it was, the food was fine. Though has to be said the the Cured Pork Belly wasn't quite what was I expecting, but that was my fault. But I was surprised that when the waitress collected the plate she didn't enquire why I'd left nearly all of it on the plate.

The live music was entertaining, although slightly odd, covers of Elton John & Suzanne Vega didn't seem particularly Russian?

The barman (Roman) in the downstairs Vodka Bar was definitely the highlight. Inviting me for a tasting after I finished my food. HIs Vodka infusions (the cherry was good, the Raspberry excellent) would definitely encourage a return visit.

So overall, it's fine, though definitely a little overpriced, the service ok, the food reasonable, the atmosphere interesting and the decor acceptable.

If you want to try it out, would suggest you simply head down to the downstairs Vodka bar and enjoy the one thing we all know is...

The food was genuinely excellent but I would never come back. This is why:

The tipping/service charge policy is illogical and confusing. If service charge is added onto the bill by default, there is no reason for the card machine to ask for an additional 'tip'. I gave a tip on the card machine as I assumed that being asked for one meant there was no service charge on the bill. I would not have thought that the restaurant would instead attempt to charge me twice for the same thing (as they in fact did). I do not believe this is common practice amongst restaurants in London - I regularly eat at similar restaurants and I have never seen it before.

When I politely queried this with the waiter/manager, they immediately got defensive and blamed me for not properly reading the bill/not knowing how restaurants work. This completely soured the experience and ensured that I would never come back. This was especially perplexing given that I made it clear from the outset that I was not seeking to get my money back - I simply wanted to provide the restaurant with constructive feedback to ensure that other guests did not feel scammed/ripped off/confused in the future - i.e. to help the restaurant provide better service. Even if they disagreed with me, they could have simply acknowledged my point and apologized for any inconvenience. Instead, the arrogant and condescending reactions of the waiter/manager shows that they do not care about service or customers at...