If you’re trying to eat healthily for Summer but don’t want to skimp on flavour, then you’ll love UNI Restaurant. Located within Tophams Hotel on swanky Ebury Street in Belgravia, it’s a few doors down from the house where Sir Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond lived.
Inside, the decor is a stylish mix of marble and wood with cool lights made from bottles. UNI has a great reputation for Japanese Peruvian food, and we couldn’t wait to try it.
Japanese Peruvian Restaurant
It’s a bit like a Tardis as it looks quite small from the outside but there are actually three floors. We were seated on the middle level and there are also a couple of cosy lower level booths that are perfect for groups. On the top floor there’s a marble bar area where you can sit and watch the chefs at work.
Head Chef Stalinberg Bergonia, formerly of Sushi Samba, has introduced a brand new selection of dishes, together with a caviar menu and a sake pairing menu. We chose the bento box lunch menu, although there are many different options including wagyu tataki beef and wild seabass with chilli shiso salsa.
At £40 a head, it includes miso soup, Japanese salad, maki sashimi, 2 pieces of prawn tempura, vegetable tempura, fried or steamed rice, wagyu skewers or black cod and a dessert of mochi, ice cream or sorbet. There are also a couple of very reasonably priced bento box at £15 per person.
Bento itself is a Japanese meal with vegetables, rice, fish or meat, packed in a box and available throughout Japan.
Paul had a delicious non-alcoholic Sunset smoothie to accompany his meat bento box. The combination of pineapple and orange juice with mango was a real injection of sunshine.
I loved the delicate two-tone colour and flavour of my Rose Bellini. With prosecco wine and rose liqueur, it was nicely decorated with a rose petal.
Our miso soup made a tasty start to our meal. It was well seasoned and opened our appetite for the main event…
My fish bento was beautifully presented in a red lacquer box. There was an appetizing array of dishes. We really enjoyed the fresh salad, which had a satisfying crunch and tasted so fresh.
The sashimi were also a real hit, with the avocado being my favourite. The crispy vegetable tempura was another success, with the batter being so light and fluffy that it didn’t overpower the vegetables. As for the miso cod, it was perfectly soft, with a delicious umami-flavoured sauce.
Paul’s meat bento had most of the same dishes as my fish bento box, with the cod being replaced by wagyu beef skewers. These were so tender that he’s still raving about them!
A choice of dessert was included with our meal and I opted for ice cream. Chocolate, raspberry and matcha green tea made for an attractive combination. The flavours all worked well together, with the matcha standing out for me.
Paul tried the mochi, a Japanese rice cake that is traditionally eaten for Japanese new year. It’s an interesting dessert with a gel-like consistency, that neither of us has sampled before. The dish is quite subtle with a hint of sweetness, and doesn’t leave you feeling overfull as some desserts can.
All in all, we had a really tasty meal at UNI Belgravia and it’s a lovely little neighbourhood find. I’d love it if they could introduce some Peruvian specialties into the lunch set menu, maybe even a mix of Japanese Peruvian food. Since then we’ve had the opportunity to try food in Tokyo and Oita, Japan so this was a great introduction to Japanese bento.
Are you a fan of bento and Japanese cuisine?
UNI Restaurant, The Tophams Hotel, 24-32 Ebury St, London SW1W 0LU
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We were guests of UNI Restaurant
Japanese and Peruvian fusion food sounds amazing! I love bento boxes and that glass of Rose Bellini looks so beautiful ♡
Isn’t it a beautiful bellini! It went really nicely with the bento box
One of my favourite locals (as you know) I’m so glad you like it. The flavours are really excellent.
I’d have liked to try the Peruvian food too but the Japanese bento was good
I love Japanese food! This looks so yummy. And the place looks so cozy.
It has a really cosy feel to it, especially the booths
Me too, it’s such a brilliant combination!
I try to eat healthier during summer, however after dinner having wine with snacks isn’t healthy at all. I am not really fan of Japanese cuisine, there are only a few things I enjoy eating. Finishing the lunch with ice cream is a good idea, I can’t say no to ice cream.
Ela BellaWorld
Yes I try to avoid snacks too, but am easily tempted by ice cream as well!
UNI Has been on my list for a while! I think I’d like to go for a full meal to get a real experience but the bento looks like a great lunch option.
Yes I agree, trying out a full meal would have been better – especially the Latin American dishes as they’re so topical now!
Yum that bento box looks amazing!! Sushi is my favorite meal to eat out on a date night!
http://thecourtneydiaries.com
Paul isn’t a sushi fan normally but this place won him over!
My mouth is watering. Yum!
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
It was pretty tasty, Amy Ann!
I love Japanese food and everything looks so deliciously good!
Ann-Marie | http://facetocurls.com
In that case you’d love it, Ann-Marie. Thanks for stopping by!
Very interesting combination: Japanese and Peruvian. I’ve never tried Peruvian food but I love the Japanese food. I bet everything was absolutely delicious. I can almost feel the flavor of those wagyu beef skewers, yummy! I also like mochi, but your raspberry and matcha green tea ice cream was most likely better.
You wouldn’t imagine the two types of food together but actually it can work really well. The beef was amazing
Holy delicious, the interior decoration of the restaurant is amazing and the food is mouth watering, I love how awesome the smoothie looks!The only Japanese meals I’ve had is the sushi and the Teriyaki chicken.
www.fashionstylemogul.com
Ooh I love Teriyaki chicken, so tasty! The smoothie was really good, I took a sip
Yummy this looks so good
xo
www.laurajaneatelier.com
Oh wow, this looks like everything I could possibly want, I love fusion restaurants 🙂
Rosy | Sparkles of Light Blog
It’s a fantastic combination, isn’t it, Rosy
SO yummy! It’s not even lunch time yet and I’m hungry for this!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Sorry Ashley, hope you have a nice lunch 😉
Well, Sir Ian Fleming certainly lived in a nice spot! This restaurant looks brilliant, and all the better for offering a slightly healthier alternative 🙂
Gabrielle | A Glass Of Ice x
He did choose well didn’t he! It was a nice surprise to come across that blue plaque. The restaurant is great too
It was a great portion, I think eating a little bit of everything is a nice way to do it!
This place looks amazing! I’m so hungry after this! Gemma x
www.jacquardflower.uk
Ha ha, sorry about that Gemma!
I like the idea of Japanese and Peruvian fusion because both cuisines are so unique and rich. The setting of Uni looks spectacular – just wow!
It’s a small but really nicely decorated restaurant and with great cuisine
Oh wow, I’ve eaten at many Japanese eateries but none served as delicious looking dishes as this place.
Shireen | Reflection of Sanity
I’m sure you’d enjoy this one, Shireen!
Pleased to see this hasn’t changed much since I was there last. The ceviche at UNI is to die for 🙂
Mmm a rose bellini sounds like the perfect start to any meal 😉 x
What an interesting looking restaurant! I love the fact that it’s set over 3 floors and your Rose Bellini looks devine – especially the blend of colours. I’ve never had a bento box before – it certainly looks appetizing!
The Modern Life is a Medley as This Restaurant ( The Books of Ian Fleming Are an Example of This Mix ) ; Have Nice Hours , Lots of Love !!!