Sushi Masa - London

It began, as these things often do, with a challenge. I had never had a sushi meal in London to match the places I'd visited in Boston or New York, and was doubtful there was anywhere that could impress for a reasonable amount of money (so that's Sake No Hana and Umu out, then). Suggestions came in, amongst them Sushi Say in Willesden Green, a long-time local favourite with some rave reviews, and I was optimistic. Optimistic enough, too, to battle from to on a bank holiday weekend where every other tube line was out and those dreaded words bus replacement featured heavily. I arrived after a minute journey, hoping to God it was worth it.Sushi Say does, admittedly, look the part. It's a small room, with a ten-seater sushi bar, a handful of tables and a cute corner section where it looks like you're expected to sit cross-legged and eat from a communal table. It looks like the perfect setting for a very authentic sushi experience, which is a shame because after ten minutes I was just on the verge of walking out. Let me explain.I arrived at to an empty restaurant, and not unreasonably sat down at the bar. Immediately a waitress rushed over and told me that they don't use the bar at lunchtimes, and moved me to one of the tables. Fine their place, their rules. But no sooner had I been shown the menu than a family turned up, sat down at the bar, and were served. I stared at them in disbelief for a little while, and then called the waitress over Excuse me, can I sit at the bar, please "Sorry, no we don't use the bar at lunchtimes I glanced over at the family sat at the bar, chatting happily to the chef. Then I turned back to my waitress. A few moments passed before the penny seemed to drop I will ask She scurried off. Many more minutes passed, punctuated by bursts of contented laughter from the bar and plates of hot food being passed between chef and grateful customers. Eventually, I tucked the menu under my arm and grabbed my glass of Kirin and went and sat down at the bar. I had barely been sat for ten seconds when the waitress reappeared to repeat her earlier assertion that the bar is not used at lunchtimes. You must sit back down at the table Again, I gestured towards the not insignificant number of people sat to my left who seemed in exception to this particular rule But.. "They want to talk to the chef "Well, so do I "They are special friends of the chef "Well, I'd like the chance to meet.. Another standoff. We held each other's gaze for a few significant seconds, but I got the impression the weight of opinion was against me. I looked towards the chef, who also met my gaze impassively. Fine.. It was no good. I shambled back to my table with my beer and menus.From that point on, if the food had been a Michelin-star tour-de-force of Japanese regional cookery it still would have tasted of defeat. To try and be objective for a second, it probably wasn't too bad. The soft-shelled crab tempura were moist and cooked with skill, the squid well seasoned and the Uni nigiri were, if not very fresh, then at least unusual enough to be noteworthy. My Maze Chirashi lunch bowl consisted of some very flavoursome tuna and a generous scattering of roe. It was all fine, but it wasn't worth either the trek up from South London or the emotional battering I received when I got there. As I left, leaving no tip, they were all smiles. Thank you! Come again . Maybe it happens a lot maybe they consider the discriminatory service something to be proud of. Or maybe you think I'm just a bitter jealous blogger who has ideas above his station. Maybe you're right.Tonight, to wash away the memory of Sushi Say forever, I am taking som

Probably one of the best sushi restaurants in town. You'd expect it to be somewhere more central as it's very unassuming and an unlikely find unless you know it's there. It's very popular though especially with Japanese people which is always a good sign of authentic Japanese food. Staff don't always speak perfect English so you might need to be patient. But they are generally polite and the food – which ranges from plainer sashimi dishes to ones in sauces and fried – is amazing. It's more pricey than chains like Yo! Sushi and you order from a menu rather than seeing your food first which makes it a bit more formal. There's a lovely seating area for groups of about five to ten people near the back where you take off your shoes and can all sit round a table together. Saki is a must.

I went here with my boyfriend for a birthday treat. I say treat because there are plenty of sushi places in London where you can pick up some half decent Japanese fair for less, however the sushi at Sushi-Say is in a class of its own. We inadvertently booked the best seat in the house where you can watch the co-owner (he runs the place with his wife) prepare all the fresh shushi. He was a joy to watch and the food, including all the non-sushi starters was a sensation to eat. If you love sushi you have to try this place, its well worth the tube ride to Willesden Green.

Sushi Say is an unassuming little restaurant in an unassuming part of London (Willesden Green on the Jubilee Line).However the food is excellent--some of the best Japanese in London. My wife is Japanese and I spent several years in Tokyo so we feel reasonably qualified to claim this!A little pricey but the food is worth it.An added bonus is that the sushi chef looks like he came straight out of a manga...excellent look!

My experience at Sushi Say in London began with a challenge. I had high expectations after dining at sushi restaurants in Boston and New York, and I was skeptical that London could impress me without spending a lot of money. After some suggestions, I decided to try Sushi Say in Willesden Green. The restaurant had a small, cozy atmosphere with a sushi bar, tables, and a communal seating area. However, my experience quickly turned sour as I was not allowed to sit at the bar, despite others being seated there. The waitress insisted that the bar was not used during the day, but eventually allowed me to sit there. The food was decent, with well-cooked tempura and tasty sushi. However, the overall experience was not worth the trek from South London. The service was disappointing and left a bad taste in my mouth. In the end, the staff remained friendly, but I left feeling unsatisfied. Perhaps I expected too much, but my visit to Sushi Say was not memorable.