Matsuri

Matsuri High Holborn brings the skill and prestige of Matsuri St. James's, one of London's oldest and most respected Japanese restaurants, to an all-together cooler setting bordering the City. Huge glass windows, clean lines and lots of wood make for a contemporary, comfortable and inviting

atmosphere, offering healthy authentic Japanese dishes from sushi (their

speciality) to tepanyaki (food grilled on a hot plate) served by friendly and knowledgeable Oriental staff dressed in rustic grey and black uniforms. You enter next to the funky bar area (tip: order a Kikkoman Royal. Plum wine with champagne, it is the Japanese version of Kir Royale), to the right of which is a sushi counter, while behind is the main restaurant area from

which you can peer at the team of enthusiastic and highly skilled chefs hard

at work. Many of the 30+ -year-old local business people who come here often do so twice a week, the experience is that good. Best seat in the house? Ask for a bench at the far end from the entrance.