Dinings in City of London, Westminster

Been here a few times - and I’m constantly impressed by the fresh ingredients, friendly staff and outstanding customer services here. Highly recommended for anyone who’s interested in authentic Japanese cuisine in London.

Literally perfect in every way. Photos make it look cramped, but it’s super cosy and comforting inside. Servers were literally the best compared to other high end restaurants, really cheerful and nice to be around, with them telling stories when it isn’t full. I really recommend their “tacos”.

(Review written about Dinings branch in South ken as I couldn't find it) Me and my family had a previously fond memory of Dinings when we went prior to Covid. However upon going again I have to say that I am very disappointed. As someone who loves to indulge in Sushi regularly having been to Japan and many esteemed Omakase's my experience was not so fond this time around. The quality of the fish was below par as well as the rice used. The starters were all poor and didn't taste fresh either including the chicken wings and salmon tacos. I have to say that I didn't feel too well after the meal . Only the mains including the wagyu steak and black cod were the only things half decent. Not my expectation for a restaurant as well established as Dinings in South Kensington.

We recently visited this restaurant and was pleasantly surprised by the overall experience. The atmosphere was lovely, with pleasant music creating a relaxed vibe. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. But the highlight for me was the food—especially the aubergine. I’m usually not a fan, but this time I ate every bite. It was so delicious and perfectly prepared!

Better than I expected. Amazing atmosphere and lovely staff. Thank you

My point of view: Arrived at 8pm to a warm greeting, attentive manager/owner. No forced dress code. Very comfortable bar seating. There’s a reliance on the menu to guide you. First pick on the drinks menu very, very good. As was the Omakase. If you’re still interested / hungry. Chef recommendation the way forward. Relatively, excellent value for money, in my opinion. Look forward to my next visit.

This is a must-visit restaurant when you come to London. We had Seabass Carpaccio. O-Toro Zuke Spoons. Chili Garlic Black Cod. Unagi Uzaku Sushi. Wagyu Beef Classic Sushi. Negi Toro Hand Roll. Everything on the menu was so delicious that I wanted to try out many other items on the menu. We also had a variety of desserts. All are really delicious. The wonderful food and warm atmosphere of the staff is something you will never experience at any other restaurant in London. It was an unforgettable time. I am very grateful to each and every one of you, Fuku-san and Po-san. thank you very much.

また必ず訪れたいレストランです。 私は友人と行きました。頼みたいものがたくさんあり、とても迷いました。どの料理も格別で、デザートも色々な種類をいただきましたが全て本当に美味しかったです。 雰囲気もとても温かいので、私は強くおすすめします！！

Fantastic Food and Service！ One of the best sushi restaurants in London I would say. Fuku San and Nick San are amazing sushi chef and gave me and my parents great family time! Reallly enjoyed!!

One of my absolute favourites of all time. The quality of the fish is second to none. Toro shimofuri, wagyu foie gras are my goto’s to name a few. Personally, I very much so prefer this site to the Chelsea one as the feel is more cosy and homely. That kind of reflects in the menu differences, which I find more to my liking. Service is as good as you’d get in London so no complaint here. One small tip is that visiting weekdays does have its perk as menu items are abundant, whereas things can run out over the weekend especially when I visited later into the evening.

Best Japanese food I had in London. The omakase experience was excellent 👍amazing quality, strongly recommend.

Best sushi that i have tried in london . I miss the flavour of Black Cod fish mixed with chilli and garlic . I highly recommend to go with the omakase😃😃😃😃

Really loved the foods and hospitality

Best Japanese restaurant in London. With no exception. Marc C

Amazing traditional Japanese food their wagyu tataki is my favorite

Pricey but most amazing Japanese in London! Truly amazing!

This place is a hidden gem. I always come here every time I’m in London. Honestly, it’s the best sushi in town. Do order the omakase if you’re feeling adventurous. The chef’s selection is simply the best. 10/10 would recommend.

Dinings is easily my favourite Sushi restaurant in London. It can be quite pricey but that's always the compromise for quality and it servers only quality food! Everyone who works here is incredibly knowledgeable in the menu and the preparation of the food and are always egar to share what they know. You can tell that this restaurant is built of a love for what each individual does. Could not recommend this place higher

Had the omakase which was excellent. Would highly recommend as an experience

If you like Japanese food (and I do but I wouldn't necessarily seek it out) this has an excellent kitchen. But it doesn't quite have the atmosphere of a buzzing London restaurant. A bit clinical, perhaps needs more warmth in the decor. But sashimi was genuinely excellent.

What a fabulous experience! A real Japanese restaurant, fresh products of excellent quality. We were perfectly advised by the waitress despite our dietary restrictions. I recommend this restaurant 200%

One of my favourite Japanese in London

One of my favourites in London, the dining downstairs is a bit cosy. To get the best experience, sit at the counter, take a chef's tasting menu and enjoy the incredible dishes that Dinings make.

One rule in the restaurant business is customer satisfaction and Dinings doesn’t have that. We have tried to cancel our reservations and they won’t let us cancel unless we pay 30 £ per person. I understand it’s way to make sure the customer attends their reservation but we have called prior of our reservation time 4 hours to cancel due to some personal reasons and still they weren’t understanding.

I'm here to share my recent experience at Dinings, and, truth be told, it was a bit of a letdown. Even though the food was fantastic, the overall treatment and service were far from satisfactory. So, we had a reservation for 9:15. Things took a nosedive when the last order was called just 30 minutes in, before we even got all our food. Then, to top it off, the bill was handed to us without asking, and we felt like we were on a time crunch, hustled out the door by 10:45. For a substantial payment of £300 for two people, the rushed service was undeniably unacceptable. We had anticipated a significantly higher level of service at this price point. The food might have been a highlight, jet the overall experience fell short of our expectations. I'm sharing this review in the hopes that Dinings takes it as constructive feedback and works on improving the overall dining experience for future guests.

dined here 3 times in the span of the past year , Staff has changed multiple times I suppose, as I don’t really recognise anyone. used to come here pre- pandemic, and I had the fondest memories. Well, not anymore, past few times I have not managed to ever leave particularly happy or satisfied. This last time we were served o-toro sashimi with a very visible line of fat that made it impossible to swallow. Same for a lobster nigiri which made me run to spit it out. Our table was also cleared before we were served our last order; so they had to bring back everything after they brought the last dish. I suppose they just wanted us gone? The time before last, we were also given the bill as we were having dessert ( we didn’t asked for it ). Overall just disappointed, I was hoping to have a special night… I just end up feeling unwelcome most of the time

I can see other reviews here commenting on how rude and arrogant some of the staff are. Glad and sad to know that I am not the only one with that experience. Overpriced and mediocre sushi. There are much better places in the area Defune being one of them.

The best Japanese in the area . Very low key , small and simple interior,but you ignore and concentrate on food, it’s fantastic . So fresh , so delicious. Service was great too, very friendly staff. Must try place 👍

It is very expensive, but you do get what you pay for. A boutique restaurant.

Best japanese restaurant I’ve been! Mind blowing food

Awesome food. So tasty. Best Japanese in london As it’s fair value - not cheap but excellent food.

Reservation mal prise donc assise non pas au bar mais dans la salle du bas Ont refuse de nous appeler un taxi alors qu’il’pleuvait Ont servi la table arrivee avant nous alors que j’avais deja demande que l’on vienne prendre notre commande Le sake demande chaud n’etait plus disponible et ils ont servi du froid alors que nous avions dit chaud Je vais systematiquement dans ce restaurant quand je suis à Londres et grande deception hier notamment au niveau d el’accueil Bref loin de la perfection japonaise

The best Sushi we have had in the UK, one lover and one not so… you blew both of us away and converted one to a sushi lover too! Amazing flavours, sensations and quality.. the team serving were impeccable and the restaurant is intimate but atmosphere was calm and great for different occasions, more suited smaller parties, however you need to know good sushi to come here and get the best out of it! .. well done team!

Excellent food and service. Too bad it's not usually open for indoor serving.

My favorite place in London Every thing is fresh The best Japanese restaurant

Lovely experience, the staff were very friendly. Food was exceptional, fresh and beautifully presented. Can’t wait to come back again.

Simply the best. One of the best, one of my favorite meals ever. Delicate, bold, surprising & unexpected flavors & textures, and an ever so lovely staff. Merci, Dinings!

Honestly my favourite Japanese in London. Everything is fresh, delicious and to the point. Thank you for being so good through out the years!

We had heard rave reviews about this place so wanted to check it out. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype. Things started off promising: some crispy mini fish tacos which were…nothing crazy but ok to kick off a meal. They were fresh if nothing else. This was followed by a delectable spicy salmon soup, bold and balanced with flavour; would definitely recommend. Things continued well with a yellowtail ceviche. Again, fresh and lively with flavour. “Cool” I think “this has been tasty af, started off promising - I’ll write that in my review. I’m excited for the sushi that is to come. I hope it doesn’t start dropping off” But then it started dropping off. Not only did the service slow, but the sushi that followed was simply not good. I’d even go as far as saying it was bad. We thought we’d order some of their special open sushi. The dishes arrived confused. Drowning in heavy molten of mixed mayos and sprinkles. Too much ponzu miso glaze truffle riff raff. The art of the fish, rice and seaweed was lost, gasping for air. And I could barely breathe either as I suffocated on some overbearingly rich green sauce that had melted on my yellowtail. The salmon, on the other hand, had little flavour whatsoever, only some sweet yuzu which, again overpowered the rest of the roll. The spicy tuna - hardly spicy. And again, mayo was just unnecessary. Flavours aside, and unlike their compatriot starters, these sushi did not taste fresh. I’ll leave it there. But we left disappointed, with heavy stomachs, and very light wallets after the giant hole of cash it burned in the bank balance. Sorry folks, there are better places to eat sushi London. Go to them. Not this.

Overall a wonderful experience. Amazing flavours and attention to detail. Can't wait to go back next time I am in London.

Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Value: 4/5 (it's not cheap but the food is worth it) Atmosphere: 2/5 - it's dead and that's not even a bad thing. It's a gourmet restaurant. It's about the food. Just don't go on a first date, for example.

Extremely high quality sushi and Japanese fusion dishes, some less authentic than others. My favorites are the sea bass carpaccio, yellowtail carpaccio, popcorn shrimp roll and toro sashimi. They always have different specials that are worth trying out. Prices are high, but worth the splurge when you’re craving sushi.

Delicious and inventive Japanese food. The truffle miso aubergine was so good, we ordered seconds! Everything we had was fantastic. We were there celebrating with friends and brought a bottle of champagne. Unfortunately the server didn’t seem very experienced in serving champagne and quite a bit was wasted due to bubbling over and spilling. The service was otherwise good and friendly. The desserts were a bit of a let-down. I love truffles as much as the next person but don’t think they need to be in everything!

Everything I ordered was mouthwatering!

Definitely worth spending an evening here, though not sure it quite lives up to the hype. The truffle miso aubergine and the truffle mochi desert were both very special. The tartare tacos were great. The sushi rolls were very good as well.

My preferred Japanese restaurant in London. I’ve been several times over the years, the team has changed a few times but the high quality is consistent

Total joke of a booking policy. I booked a week in advance, and they managed to mess my dates & times twice, with 48 hours to go. I've been there 3 times in the past, and booking has always been the most unnecessarily adversarial (see their T&Cs page!) & convoluted I've ever come across in London. I'm done with the place

The sushi is delictable and the space small and cozy. The truffle mochi was surprisingly good and I loved the tuna

Small , nice , good staff Need reservation Check the bill Expensive Daily dishes beside the menu

A little amazing Japanese restaurant. We sat at the Chef's table and tried the tasting menu with two different brand of Sake. The food was delicious. It was a festive night for us.

Let me start by saying the food is absolutely delicious and we actually drank well too . Unfortunately the experience was completely ruined by the most embarrassing service and limited menu at 9 pm on a Saturday . On the top of that our table and all the tables were presented the bill while still eating . No help or understanding , only someone concerned to close the till and go home fast . Disappointing and absolutely lacking class

Excellent sushi and top service - highly recommend the yellowtail roll, the salmon with yuzu roll, the popcorn shrimp roll, the black cod and the matcha ice cream

The food is good, however I believe you cannot charge premium prices for such a terrible location and environment.

Amazing! probably one of the best I have eaten. We let the chef inspire us in a seven dish menu Every dish was nicely presented and tasteful The only minus was the price which I thought was exaggerated and could have at least include the desert

One of my favorite restaurants and some of the best Japanese food I have eaten!

Perfect Spot for (Neo) Japanese food. Had Dinner at zuma, roka, Nobu Same days. Dinings Best them all. They Focus Quality! You love food and hospitality - Go there.

best sushi we have ever had in London! we loved the sashimi literally the most fresh fish and best cuts I have seen in the UK

Amazing sushi but I am not a fan of the seating areas nor the atmosphere i feel like they could do much better

Awful customer service, they made an error with the numbers on the booking and said couldn’t accommodate and then threatened to charge me £30 per head.

Oh my days! What a superb restaurant, possibly one of the best sushi places in London. Booking essential as you either have the counter upstairs or a small dining room downstairs. The specials on the board are amazing and I couldn’t choose what our favourite dish was as they were all excellent. Service attentive but not intrusive, five stars all round!

We were highly recommended. Food was good, ambience terrible really, staff upselling aggressively. London has many alternatives offer much better value , and pleasant places to be-,this isn’t one if them. Give it a miss!

Had heard a lot about dinings and then I was finally lucky enough to try it: what an experience. This is a 5 but it could easily be a 10 star. Food was at the next level higher. A pure pleasure for the senses. Increadible. If you are lucky enough to get there you will understand what I mean

One of the definite best sushi places I know! Unpretentious, innovative, and always deliver on produce, taste, service, and atmosphere!

Qui il sushi è tutta un altra cosa , noi siamo stati a quello più vecchio locale essenziale ma qualità strepitosa!!!!

Absolutely loved the food and even the cosy minimalistic setting. Also really lovely that when the waiter found out the reason for our visit was a birthday, he gave a scoop of ice cream on the house. We were however still left with a bitter after taste as the waiter was clearly pushing for us to order more (expensive) dishes, presumably motivated by the 15% discretionary service charge. The worst is when we were debating on which sake to order, and he insisted he chose for us without giving us the chance to have a look at the menu. At the end we had a £63 charge added to the bill for 300ml of kind of sweet sake even though we requested dry. Also check your bill before you pay, we had an extra item added that didn't come to the table. In summary, lovely food but not worth the price.

Great meal here the other night. I loved the sea bass carpaccio, tuna tartare, lamb cutlets, and the popcorn shrimp tempura rolls. Small, intimate and a friendly team. -1 star as someone in our party had an egg allergy… and although the team was accommodating and helpful - the options were extremely limited in contrast to other London Japanese restaurants. Overall, excellent!

Ero stato in questo ristorante poco dopo l'aperura, nel 2008, spinto dalle recensioni e da qualche commento di amici. Ne ero rimasto modestamente impressionato. Questa volta invece, nell'ambiente semplice, bisogna dirlo, in un basement, con sedie e tavoli di bassa fattura, con l'acqua minerale che era finita, ho/abbiamo avuto una esperienza eccezionale. Servizio ottimo, dopo i primi tentennamenti, ma cucina da stella Michelin per quanto mi riguarda. Lista dei vini ristretta, ma anche in questo caso buona. Insomma una serata all'insegna della migliore cucina giapponese moderna, o fusion. Bravi, ci tornero'. Dimenticavo, prezzi in linea con la qualita' del cibo. Con una bottiglia di vino da 50£ circa abbiamo speso 220£ in due.

Give the ‘tar-tar chips’ items a miss unless you are a fan of hard tacos shells. They are tiny and not worth the prices. Go for the tapas items - they are excellent. The Grilled Black Cod was delicious and fresh with right amount of chilli garlic. The sushi items were great too - fresh sweet fish, and open rolls were just as great.

Imo this is the best sushi in London. It is starting to look a little tired decoration wise but it is quaint inside and feels family run. Expensive but all Good sushi seems to be

Perfect! Food amazing, staff amazing, and the sommelier is the best! Very cozy and elegant. I do recommend!

مكان صغير جدا والطاولات في غرفة تحت الأرض الطعم متوسط والسعر مرتفع والخدمة ممتازة الحجز عن طريق الموقع الالكتروني معقد جدا

its on a quiet side street close to work and very easy to walk straight place. We were welcomed by cheery shouts from the smiley staff and went down the narrow spiral staircase to the cramped basement which rapidly filled up with diners (always a good sign). We tried the "tar-tar chips" were taco shells filled with sweet crab meat and avocado (even smaller than the Nobu portions but much better), an aubergine grilled with miso sauce, sushi and sashimi. The portions are small but you rapidly fill up. The food is delicious and the quality of the fish is top-notch. The waiting staff were friendly and helpful, answering all our questions.

Upmarket sushi and sashimi served with a dash of panache.

Excellent service and delicious food! We showed up without a reservation, and they were full for the night (highly recommended making one!). We got lucky that someone cancelled as we were walking out… the hostess came running out to get let us know — we were SO happy to find a table. Incredible food all around!

First time trying sushi and the waitress was very helpful recommending what to try etc and was very patient. Like other reviews have said it’s in a basement and from the outside you’d think twice about going in but don’t let that put you off the food is out of this world amazing. Loved every bite and the staff were fantastic.

The food was good. Enjoyable. I LOVED the fact that the miso soup was a good HOT temperature. Nothing better than hot soup to get the blood and appetite going. I would give three and a half stars(7/10) if I could on this review, but unsure I would give four. The dishes were interesting in terms of presentation. Flavour and texture-wise it was not wow-elevated compared to other good Japanese restaurants. Service-wise…Staff were accommodating and pleasant, as we were a group of 6 plus a baby. There was a disjointed-ness with the serving of the food though. Sushi coming out without soy sauce/wasabi until the issue was raised some time later…(in a middle/higher end Japanese restaurant??) and I am sure it would not have come otherwise. The mixed seaweed salad came at the end of the meal, when we were nearly finished. It is usually served first. Décor wise… previous reviews have mentioned that it needs an uplift. Modernising is a term I would Use. Air con would also be good in the basement.

Small and intimate place, sushi was amazing! It is a bit expensive for how small portions are, but aside from that, really good.

Delicious food, expensive and the portions are tiny but absolutely exquisite and worth a splurge. You must call ahead to book as its busy and tiny. I recommend sitting at the chef’s bar to watch the magic happen.

Overrated. Given the prices they charge, I was disappointed in the quality.

Amazing japanese food.black sesame creme brulee is just superb. Well done .

Was lucky to catch Dinings on a slow Jubilee lunch - sat at the bar in front of co-owner Fuku San. A real treat! Loved the sushi Omakase & the specials of the day. Had one of the Sake's from their new selection: Junmai 2020 - a keeper!

Food is ridiculously tasty, but don't come here expecting a cheap meal!! Also the service felt slightly rushed/not that friendly but it was busy. I would come again when I feel like splashing out

An all time favourite. Great service, superb quality.

Always come here for sushi when visiting London. Good quality of tuna and daily special sashimi. Love the sesame crème brulee too. Selection of sake is also good. Less choices when it’s not fishing season. Bit pricey (because of the location I guess). Easy to book is a big advantage.

We came here for our first anniversary dinner with my girlfriend. Every single thing was amazing. Absolute feast of taste! According to other fancy Japanese restaurants price was really ok as well. However, atmosphere was a bit catastrophic. If you like Japanese food you should definitely try this place. You will not regret!

The wagyu beef and tuna tar-tar chips, the wagyu cha-siu buns, the chilli garlic black cod, the lambs chops, and the sushi and sashimi.

Spectacular.....Spectacular Food was fabulous, staff were very attentive, what more can you say......10 out of 10. Would definitely recommend and will visit again xx

The food was amazing, and we enjoyed perfect wait service from Anastasia

Delicious, elegant and set in an intimate setting. Fantastic service too. This tops any other Japanese restaurant in London that I have been to. The ingredients are fresh, and the mix of flavours particularly in the sauces pairs very well with the actual ingredients. The highlight for me was the unagi sushi with truffle & sweet soy, although it was also delicious without the truffle & sweet soy (we had to order more). For the quality of food, the price isn’t too unreasonable. It’s definitely perfect for a special occasion!! Highly recommend trying it out!

Delicious but the value for money is not amazing

Sure it's expensive but the quality is as good as ever. No glitz or glamour but simple layout and fantastic sushi. They always have some interesting specials (which were delicious) but even the basic nigiri/sashimi/uramaki were outstanding. A cut above.

The food was mind blowing and the staff were lovely.

Carpaccio was too acidic. We ordered omakase and the bulk of it was hot dishes which all came at once. We requested the Sake pairing which was basically two different sake carafes which doesn’t really qualify as pairing, the sake should be paired with a dish not a group of dishes that are actually quite different. £300 bill at the end.

One if my favorite sushi places in London.. a hidden gem indeed!

My favourite restaurant in London. I have reviewed it so many times, I really have little to add. Nevertheless, the more I go, the better it is. I am loyal to the original Harcourt branch and will remain to be their staunch supporter. The service at this establishment are pros, we done on this excellence.

Tout est dans le titre ! Décoration minimaliste, qui a beaucoup de charme, très intime et reposante. Cuisine japonaise revisitée et raffinée, servie avec le sourire et les conseils destinés à vous faire une expérience incroyable. Sushis, sashimis préparés à la minute avec du poisson top frais et savoureux. Tout est délicieux notamment les aubergines!

Amazing food. Great staff. But...owners keep the service charge and don't share with their staff!

Inventive, spicy, tasty Japanese based revisited recipe.

Had an exceptional dinner at Dinings with a Friday evening 7pm booking prior to a bank holiday weekend. Staff were welcoming into the cosy and intimate Marylebone basement restaurant. Inside I found a very international set of diners… it’s clear to see this restaurant caters to a jet set elite. After not visiting for over 3 years, it is great that high standards have been maintained in regards to freshness and quality. Highly recommend the Tar Tar, Black Cod, Toro Sushi, and Spicy Open Tuna. Black Sesame Cheesecake with truffle ice cream was quite the dessert to end the evening. Will certainly visit again !

The disgusting scene outside Dinings in the attached photo. Why go in?