I’m sure there are many Italians that would be aghast of a place that cherry-picks their beloved cuisine with the exotic textures and flavours of the Japanese. London is a city where this would occur, and it certainly has on Sloane Avenue at Sumosan Twiga. To be found within a former embassy building and a city swimming with the world’s most creatively daring chefs, this fearless fusion restaurant offers us, if nothing else, something wonderfully new to try.
An overarching opulent experience goes hand in hand with the food. The simplicity of Japanese design would not fit in with Sumosan Twiga’s extravagant persona – this is why when it comes to their interiors, they’ve left it to renowned Italian designer Michele Bönan whose prestigious and elegant creations represent a luxe Italian theme across three floors. Think plush fabrics, polished bar tops and white tablecloths dressed with glamourous women.
You may wonder where the restaurant’s unique name has derived. Japanese restaurant favourite ‘Sumosan’ by German restauranteur Alexander Wolkow is combined with the influences from his daughter Janina and the iconic Italian ‘Twiga’ by Flavio Briatore, all under the expert eye its newly appointed executive chef Alessandro Scala.
With 15 years under his belt, he knows how the London dining scene has evolved and what his customers expect having worked at COYA. Before this, he originally forged his career in Italy where he worked across multiple five-star hotels in both Sardinia and northern Italy before making the move to London where he joined the Michelin-starred restaurant Zafferano.
They say the menu comprises of ‘only the freshest produce that is seasonally sourced’. This is a given in London’s high-flying dining market, with the restaurant’s point of difference more so apparent with its interesting cultural fusion, with each dish created with extravagant ingredients to live up to Sumosan Twiga’s luxurious ethos.
Think veal, carpaccio and lobster peppered with Asian anecdotes including duck gyoza, seared salmon, with lime soy and mustard miso and the ever-popular miso black cod. This is offered alongside a hearty selection of excellent sushi, sashimi and maki rolls – served on large platters in an unbashful manner.
Sumosan Twiga’s menu is overwhelming even for seasoned diners. If you’re more interested in socialising over scouring the menu, then the ‘Chef’s Menu’ available until 8pm each evening is the ticket. For a taste of Japan for two at £90 is the ‘Taste of Sumosan’ showcasing a variety of ten dishes that include tuna and salmon sashimi, to wasabi prawns with mango salsa and the black cod miso.
On the flip and also at £90, is the ‘Taste of Twiga’ which shines a light on the restaurant’s standout Italian dishes – from the Monte Carlo salad to deep-fried calamari and homemade gnocchi with a tomato sauce. For a selection of the two at £120, dive in with the ‘Best of Both’ featuring burrata with datterino tomatoes, tuna tartar and tagliatelle alla Bolognese.
It seems the clientele who visit Sumosan Twiga are there for the drinks as much as they are for the food – (if not more so). With its very own nightclub on the lower floor, Sumosan Twiga positions itself as a drinking destination that has been designed to evolve from a fine-dining restaurant to a place for drinking and dancing into the early hours.
A ‘World Class’ Global finalist, Claudiu Mnerau has been assigned bar manager – serving strong, seductive cocktails that capture the eyes of those both at the bar and on Instagram, featuring contemporary and time-honoured cocktails alongside an extensive sake offering.
Factbox
Address: 165 Sloane Street, London, SW1X 9QB
Phone: +44 (0) 203 096 0222
Website: sumosantwigalondon.com
