The Araki

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Reviews

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  A. Wölf

  What an experience!!!

  13-05-2023
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  Victoria Green

  27-04-2023
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  Matt Bunting

  The food and sake are faultless, definitely 5 star but it loses a star because of the clientele. Some guy was on FaceTime half the time, one person was shouting about how they were vegetarian (I can only assume they paid the full amount for just a seat at the table), the others were nice enough but barely looked up from their conversation to engage with the chef. The idea being that if they are paying this crazy price they can do whatever they want. The price gets you quality but it also gets you next to people who are there, not to experience something special, but just for a dinner on a Tuesday night and that brings down the whole vibe as a result. When you pay this sort of price - we paid a bit over £400 a head - you want everything to be perfect. Unfortunately there is potential won’t find that here if you get unlucky with whoever books the other 8 places at the counter. Again, chef, food, service, sake were incredible and if you’re only concerned with excellent food, go for it, but if you want to eat with people who are into the food and into the experience, maybe look elsewhere.

  27-04-2023
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  Erik Godard

  27-04-2023
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  neco

  (Translated by Google) (This is a past visit. There is a time difference with word of mouth) I visited in September 2018 when Mr. Araki was still here. All of Mr. Araki's movements attracted attention, and the nervousness of his apprentices and the excitement of the customers created a unique atmosphere in the store. He does not have Japanese apprentices and does not use ingredients from Japan. Mr. Araki's earnestness was transmitted through the sushi, and it was sushi that I had never eaten before. The ingredients used are of the highest quality, so much so that you may never eat them again. Delicious and natural. It feels like Mr. Araki's show that thoroughly pursues the surprises and impressions that follow. I hope to see you again someday somewhere. (Original) （過去の訪問です。口コミと時差があります） 荒木さんがまだいらっしゃる2018年の9月に訪問しました。 荒木さんの全ての所作に注目が集まり、お弟子さん達の緊張のようなものとお客様のドキドキ感が店内を独特な雰囲気にしていました。 日本人の弟子を持たずに、日本からの食材も使わない。荒木さんの本気がお鮨を通して伝わる、今まで食べたことのないお鮨でした。 使われている食材もこの先食べることはないのじゃないかというくらいの、超一流品質ばかり。 美味しくて当たり前。 その先の驚きや感動を徹底的に追求した荒木さんのショーという感じ。 またいつかどこかでお目にかかれることを願っています。

  27-04-2023
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  X Wu

  Food : 4/5 | Service : 5/5 | Atmosphere : 5/5 … More

  27-04-2023
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  Shirin David

  I arrived 15 minutes earlier to the Araki for my first Omakase ever because I was really excited about this experience. I was the first guest waiting in front of the door. I’d prepared myself with Do’s and Dont’s for this traditional dining to make sure I can fully enjoy this evening. I even got to meet the very kind and welcoming daughter of Mr. Araki. The Sushi was absolutely 12/10 and left me speechless. But the other half of this whole experience is the intimacy of it and it is very important to feel welcomed in an intimate environment with only a few people. I was very disappointed by the treatment I received by the American/Chinese Chef Marty Lau. He completely ignored me for the first 10 minutes after chit chatting excitingly with the two nice American guests right next to me -we where only three people in total- and refused to welcome or introduce me to The Araki. It felt really odd because that was a very clear choice of him. He then finally welcomed me but his energy towards me made me understand that he disliked something about me. After him and his (very friendly) team where finished with serving the starters and moved on to the first piece of sushi, he taught me how to eat the delicates properly: Upside down to taste the exquisite fish first. Then the comments on my nails started. I wore my very long and shiny music video nails because I traveled straight out of Berlin to London after a two day shoot. He asked me if I could manage to eat with “these nails” - I clearly do because I obviously wear them. I laughed it off because I hoped it was the only comment for the night - but no: The whole restaurant including the dining team, the staff and the two other guests watched me putting my first sushi piece into my mouth for entertainment and if I could manage to do it with my long, acrylic nails. I do not find it in any way appropriate to entertain a whole restaurant on how a 27 year old single woman -which is visiting The Araki with the most respect- is eating her sushi. This was clearly misogynistic and made me feel deeply uncomfortable. The comments didn’t stop there, even the two guests next to me now felt the allowance to comment on my nails. It went on for the next three sushi pieces and about 10 more minutes after everyone finally calmed down. I somehow ended up in having a very American, loud experience - not a Japanese one. What I love about the Japanese culture is the respect, kindness, the distant politeness and the clear boundaries. For me all of these aspects where missing on this evening. When I travel and visit alone as a single woman I always make sure to choose places to visit where I can feel safe and none-judged. I felt like a weirdo on this evening and like I wouldn’t belong there - mostly because of Mr. Marty Lau because he as the chef is in the responsible position to set the tone. I still found a way to enjoy the amazing food but to be very honest, I couldn’t wait to leave and got up immediately after I finished my last meal. I payed my bill, thanked for the great food and went right out of the door. I deeply would love to visit this place again and invite all my family and friends for an experience like this but I’ll never have a 100% good feeling about this Restaurant because the whole team were not able to hold clear boundaries and good, classic etiquette which is absolutely a basic requirement for a big name like The Araki.

  27-03-2023
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  Pally Shum

  27-03-2023
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  Rich Wilson

  Recommended dishes Sushi … More

  27-03-2023
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  Roxana Fotouhi

  We had booked the restaurant for tonight Friday March 10th. It is our anniversary. We were supposed to fly to London from Larnaca last night and be in London for 3 days and then fly to Toronto. Last night at the airport, We found out there was a mixed up between BA and American Airlines so they didn't let us fly and booked us for flight of March 11th so obviously we wouldn't be able to go to restaurant on March 10th and losing 2 nights of our hotel. While I called four seasons and they right away agreed to reimburse us for 2 nights that we are not going to be there, the restaurant denied any reimbursement or accommodating us for Saturday night or even reimburse partially (their reason was we already bought the food for you) even though I emailed them our original tickets and the tickets for March 11th, they basically had no sympathy. They took almost $1100 just like that. Yes, I understand the 48 hours policy for cancellation but it was totally an unforeseen circumstances and I believe stars of the restaurant are not just for the food, they are for having empathy with people, for being fair and understanding and not just greedy.

  27-03-2023