Roka Canary Wharf in Tower Hamlets

Amazing food, great service will return.. Very impressed

Visited Roka in Canary Wharf for Sunday brunch with my fianceé. Starters were good with the fried chicken and the sesame salad being the best. Unfortunately, the tartare and sashimi platter were not as good as we were expecting, same for the sushi. For mains we chose the pork ribs which were soft and flavourful and the lamb cutlets which were tender(perfectly cooked) with a discreet heat from the spices on them. We were not expecting much from dessert but we were pleasantly surprised as the dessert platter was amazing(mochi, chocolate bar with toasted peanuts, asian style panna cotta).

Had an amazing experience here, specifically with the Chefs table package. We were completely looked after during our time there with a series of curated dishes that were visually stunning and full of flavour

So far booking the reservation has been straight forward. Got a call to re confirming the table for two birthday they took into account fasting and able to make reasonable adjustments. So far very impressed with customer service and looking for to our reservation this weekend . Wow what an excellent experience Mattia was attentive to details and breaking fast there was amazing experience and celebration of my friend birthday was on point the dessert bowl was out of this world all flavours worked well together ❤️ definitely a place to go for any celebrations 🍾 thank you mattia and team

Roka Canary warf is a highly recommended restaurant for anyone looking for a good meal with exceptional service.

Mi novia y yo fuimos aquí para cenar y el servicio al cliente era bueno, nos trasladaron a una mesa mejor de lo que reservamos y todo el mundo era amable excepto la mujer en el guardarropa. La música estaba tan alta que pensé que estábamos en un club, que no podíamos hablar. Las sillas no podían esconderse debajo de la mesa porque las patas de la mesa eran demasiado estrechas. La comida que pedimos era fraccionalmente más barato de lo que habríamos pagado en Nobu, pero considerablemente peor por el dinero. No sirven cerveza en borrador, las botellas eran extremadamente caras, así que tuvimos vino y cócteles (los cócteles son decentes por el dinero) Al final de la comida agregaron una tarifa de caridad a la que no acordamos. También nos cobraron 14. 5% de cargo por servicio (la propina estándar en el Reino Unido era del 10% en el Reino Unido hasta que comenzaron a ponerlo en la factura, ahora es de 12. 5 %) , de nuevo esto no fue mencionado en el menú ni por el personal. Tácticas turbias como esta de un restaurante que se mantiene como premium es un gran no - no para mí, así que no voy a volver.

The staff were very friendly and polite. But my husband's dinner was cold. The Yorkshire pudding was rock solid. My duck salad was tasty. But the pudding, the apple crumble wasn't cooked. For the prices being charged below sub standard. Nicely decorated. But music way too loud for enjoying company and chatting.

Lovely atmosphere and the food is 10/10

The food was amazing with exquisite flavours, incredible presentation and a lively atmosphere. The food was prepared very quickly .

Overpriced and overrated. This is not authentic Japanese food—it’s just another “fusion” spot that lacks real depth in flavor. As an Asian, I’m honestly tired of these places charging a premium for dishes that don’t deliver. The seating isn’t even that comfortable, making the whole experience not worth it. Avoid if you’re looking for real Japanese cuisine.

We always have the best experience at Roka in Canary Wharf, our team dinners are memorable because of the amazing food and outstanding service. Mariuz, Tamara, Matteo and Emanuel are so professional and attentive managing the floor. Shoutout to Niko the chef the food is 10/10

Lovely place and staff is great 😊

Visité aquí de nuevo, ya que es mi restaurante favorito y el brunch es increíble. Es excelente relación calidad-precio y el servicio y la comida siempre es fantástico. Nos ofrecieron entrantes adicionales 3 veces y reordenamos las más deliciosas albóndigas de pollo, patata y gambas. Estábamos tan llenos que apenas podíamos comer nuestro plato principal de carne, y mucho menos los increíbles postres. El vino estaba fluyendo libremente y tuvimos una excelente comida agradable, sin duda recomendaría este restaurante.

Lovely food and attentive staff

Went in for the brunch and from the moment we walked in, the warm and welcoming interior made us feel right at home. The ambiance was perfect for a cozy evening out. Our server, Chris, truly made the night special. He was attentive and friendly, ensuring that our glasses were never empty with non-stop wine refills. It was such a nice touch, and he always checked in on us to make sure we were doing well. His service really added to the overall experience, making it feel personal and enjoyable.

We visited on a Wednesday evening and was surprised at how busy the place was, we were booked on for 20.15 and it was absolutely rammed when we arrived which is always a good sign. The range of wines and drinks to choose from at the bar was vast and despite the sheer amount of people, staff still managed to find us somewhere to sit whilst we waited for our table. The food is a tad on the pricey side but at the same time very, very tasty. We opted for beef dumpling and the crab dumplings along with tempura prawns, we then followed with Black cod and beef fillet with sticky rice. My only gripe with the starters and mains was all of it could have been hotter,l and I can only put it down to how busy they were. Whilst we waited in the setting area by the bar we did notice peoples cocktails sitting for 10 minutes before waiters took to them tables, I would imagine it’s the same with the food as some of our dishes were borderline warm at best. I finished with the crème brûlée with matcha which was without doubt the best dessert I have ever had and would visit again for this alone but be aware of the service charge as this left a bad taste in our mouths. I have no issue with leaving the service charge but was caught on the spot when the waiter asked if we would like to contribute more on top of the restaurants charge just for him ? To be fair he was run off his feet and really friendly so we kind of felt obligated to give a little extra “just for him” but as the service charge was already £45 when I gave another 10% the total service charge ended up just shy of £100 (for the two of us). Yes I should have declined but we had had a few drinks and we were caught off guard, be aware.

Huge thanks to Roka for delicious food and amazing service from Jackson! Really made my best friends 40th special! Lots of love to you all!

Thank you! The whole team made this evening memorable.

If you go there expecting good food, you will be disappointed. Wasabi level food at Michelin prices. This is a place for drinks and the atmosphere. If you know what you are getting into, Roka is fine.

Excellent, great food and atmosphere and our waiter, Andreas was very helpful.

It was our third time dining here. I had decided not to return because of the loud music, but since Mayfair was fully booked, I came back with two friends for an 8 PM dinner. The music was still too loud, making it hard to talk. We were very hungry and had to shout to order many dishes, but the food was slow. The broccoli was undercooked. The only thing that came quickly was the drinks, so we kept ordering more while waiting for the food. In the end, we spent 3.5 hours on the meal, which made our evening exhausting.

Amazing service, drinks and overall. Amazing experience even if I was late 40 minutes they accommodate to make the best experience possible. Will be back.

Great spot for lunch, staff and service very good.

Maravillosa experiencia y buena comida! He visitado diferentes lugares, pero este era mi favorito el ambiente era genial

Italian waiter Andrea looked after us with his colleagues. Set menu and £20 inclusive drinks was just superb. Thanks Andrea and all the staff. Highly recommend. We'll return 😃

Fuimos a Roka para una comida con mi familia y todos disfrutamos de un gran tiempo. La comida era excelente y el servicio por parte del personal fue el mejor que he tenido durante mucho tiempo Volveré a este restaurante con mis compañeros de trabajo muy pronto Mike Fitzgerald Director Grey Pound Ltd.

I had a dinner at this restaurant during Christmas holidays. Superb quality food and service. Very fresh fish, divine cocktails and, to conclude the meal, desserts served with exotic fruits beyond compare. I recommend it. Thanks to all the staff. Hope see you soon

Went for brunch and had a great time, food was delicious and the service was great very attentive and friendly.

Hmm Sushi - Eerlijk er kan weinig op tegen zo'n heerlijke sushi roll om maar te zwijgen over de talrijke bijgerechten. Deze verrukkelijke Japanse keuken is de moeite waard, oké het is wat prijzig maar laat je zeker verrassen door alle gerechten die hier à la minute worden bereid in de open keuken. Vergeet Niet zeker tijdig te reserveren want dit restaurant heeft felbegeerte plaatsjes :-)

Place was very busy. Staff were very helpful. Food was very nice.

Pros Lovely staff. Very considerate. Cons. Small and really overpriced plates but great food. Cavernous space and without atmosphere when low on numbers.

Restaurant has very nice atmosphere and it was a busy night for them - NYE. Door host and the host waiting our table were great and attentive. Not so much to the guy in charge of the coats in white suit and bow tie when we leave. I was queuing and waited for him at the front desk to return coats to another couple prior to giving my tag but well he chose to ignore and serve the couple after us instead. Food and drink wise, all was great except the beef fillet. For its price point, meat could have been better and more flavourful on its own. It was blend and taste bit chalky at the end. To me, the accompanied sauce was ok, more Korean style gochuchang sauce instead of yakiniku but personal preference I did not think it goes as well with the beef. Thumbs up for the pistachio creme brûlée. It was a pleasant surprise.

Love ROKA Brunch!! Great value for money and always delicious food

Food quality is good. But there are really not much choices. The fusion of food style is quite special too.

We had the premium set menu with wagyu option and were disappointed, especially with the wagyu. It cost £40 extra and was grey with a circle of pink about 5mm across. I've had wagyu in Japan but my partner hasn't so I thought this would be a great place for him to try it, unfortunately it was a costly mistake. Thinking about it I should have told them we weren't happy with it but we were in a bit of a rush and didn't. I think they would have made it right but it shouldn't have been wrong in the first place. Plus I found the fried food (prawn tempura in a sushi roll) tasted predominantly of oil, I suspect the oil needed changing.

The food was good though with quite small portions and a high price tag. The music was at an inconsistent volume and sometimes too loud. The service was good but sometimes took a while for things to happen. The wagyu was disappointing. Overall glad I went but would not go again

What a vibe! This place has it all—amazing people, a stunning and boujee clientele, an incredible atmosphere, and food that feels like heaven on a plate. The menu is packed with so many great options, it’s hard to choose just one x The staff? Absolutely lovely x Our waitress was an absolute gem, and the chef went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and truly looked after or advise us. You can tell the team genuinely loves what they do—it’s infectious and makes the experience even better. I’m already planning to come back every month and for every celebration. Plus, there’s convenient parking nearby, which is a big bonus. Since I live close, this is officially my go-to spot for dressing up, enjoying great music, and indulging in incredible food xx next i want too try the bar 10/10—highly recommend! Charley 23/12/24 xx

Great restaurant, top notch cuisine

A couple of faults, big service charge being one of them and just make sure you check your bill properly, as we were charged twice for things we had only had once.

Great ambience, friendly customer service and delicious food. We were there for lunch and shared a combination of the Classic & Premium menus. What's not to love.

We came on a Wednesday evening as a group of 8. Originally booked as a group of 6, but 2 friends came along at the last minute. Special thanks to Alex, one of our waiters, for being able to sort a larger table for our group! We all chose to have the set menu, and I added a black cod as it's my favourite! Enjoyed every dish that was brought out. Really appreciated the waiters telling us how many of each item to have each, as the food came out all together on platters. Desert platter was absolutely incredible. I look forward to returning!

Tuvimos un increíble almuerzo en equipo en Roka, y puedo decir con confianza que fue la mejor experiencia gastronómica privada que he tenido en 2024! El servicio fue excepcional, y cada detalle fue impecable gracias al increíble equipo. El comedor privado estaba perfectamente configurado, la comida era absolutamente deliciosa y abundante, y las bebidas eran impecables (incluso tomé una foto del vino blanco porque estaba muy bueno! ). Muchas gracias a Christiana por su increíble apoyo en la conducción del evento. Ella fue tan paciente y minuciosa, regresando a todos mis correos electrónicos, trabajando en la logística y asegurando que cada pregunta fuera respondida, incluso cuando hicimos varios cambios en el camino. Su organización y atención al detalle hicieron que todo funcionara tan bien en el día. La terraza era una opción perfecta para nosotros, y no podría haberlo hecho sin ella! Agradecimiento especial también a Mattea (el gerente del bar, creo) , Mariusz, Manuela, Tayeeza y Jackson – todos fueron fenomenales. Mariusz, en particular, fue más allá llamándome a última hora para confirmar todo y abordar las necesidades dietéticas, asegurando que todos se sintieran incluidos en el banquete. El cuidado y la atención al detalle del chef realmente destacaron. Desde la perfecta organización hasta la excelente ejecución del día, quedó claro cuánto esfuerzo se dedicó a hacer de esta una celebración perfecta de fin de año para nuestro equipo. Gracias a todos en Roka – recomiendo encarecidamente este lugar para cualquier ocasión especial.

I went there for a business lunch at around 14:00 hrs The restaurant was very quiet. The staff were very friendly and helpful.

We spent just over £400 for the three of us on 14 December 2024. We had a great waiter who was excellent throughout. Food was amazing, especially hotpot, ribs, tempura prawns, tuna and lamb cutlets. We had a huge array of dishes including desserts. My only complaint was we asked for coffee at the end of our meal and they declined saying they wanted the table back even though we were kept waiting for the dessert. They said we could go to the bar area and have coffee but when we went and selected one of about four empty tables we were told we couldn’t sit there and even after explaining we just wanted a coffee after our meal we were met with negativity so we left and went to a different venue for coffees. Bearing in mind the amount of money we spent in just over two hours this spoilt the evening slightly hence three stars rather than five.

The food was outstanding. The peppermint tea was weak and we were never offered a refill or even if we wanted something else to drink. The service was not as attentive as we would have liked. It was a crowded lunch hour and we were the first to be seated. The restaurant was too loud to conduct a conversation. Perhaps if we had been seated against the back wall we would have been able to hear each other. That will not deter me though. The food is worth going back for.

Amazing service & amazing food. Probably the best restaurant so far , I’ll definitely be back!

A Michelin priced restaurant with Nando’s quality service. The staff were rude and the atmosphere was non existent.

Great restaurant, but super high prices for the quality offered. There is a bar where you can have a drink before dining. Neat toilet that is well maintained. There are plenty of opportunities in the area to have a drink before or after.

Had a wonderful brunch at the weekend for 3. We were looked after from start to finish, food was beautiful - we will be back

One of the best experiences I have had. From food to service nothing was more satisfying than being able to enjoy my day . Thanks again for the great memories. I will back soon

😊 Just wanted to share my absolute favourite restaurant with you. They have a fantastic selection of wine 🍷 and the variety of food is simply amazing 🍲🥘. This is literally my go-to place and it never fails to please me. 👌 The staff are incredibly attentive and always ready to assist with anything you need. It's a place that never disappoints and I love coming back here. Can't recommend it enough! 🤗👍 Highly suggest checking this place out! 🍽️

Lovely experience as always! We were late so didn’t get extra starters. Naomi was amazing such polite and great service really appreciated that. She gave us the best experience possible! Will be back for her amazing service and lovely demeanour

Simply fantastic. Food was insane, our waiter went out of his way to help us. We can not wait to go again.

Had two sharing platters between 4 people unfortunately there was only enough for 3 people not a equal amount, eg we cant share pork chops we raised this issue and they understood they paid for a round of drinks food was lovely and a nice vibe

Excellent bottomless brunch! The delicious hot and cold starters are unlimited so you can ask for more (not that we needed to, Quong looked after us very well and was truly attentive). The main course and dessert were both top quality too. Highly recommend.

Lowkey best restaurant ever. If you think it’s too fancy it’s not. The food might be the greatest I have ever had and the service was really quick. The starters are heavenly 100% recommend they taste divine (in case you wonder you get all the starters and they are all great. The main meal was brilliant as well and the desert was a piece of art.

Food was amazing, but the visit was really made by the most amazing server Oliwia who was friendly and super helpful when picking out mains!

Exceptional service from Oliwia. She was friendly, helpful and gave us some fantastic recommendations. She really made our visit special. Thank you Oliwia 💕 💋 delicious food from start to finish, we went for the premium option. Premium was great value for money. Wine was topped up throughout which I really appreciated

Food was fantastic but experience was heavily dampened after being told our booking “wasn’t on the system” despite clear confirmation on booking via email and a call with a manager earlier in the week. We did manage to find a table, however very out the way and not in the ‘main’ restaurant. Great food but in no rush to go back

Regular customer how this time was sadly very busy, service was slow and food was cold

Fantastic for celebrating something special.

Fantastic food and service, can't believe how good it was

Sadly, the great food was ruined by inattentive staff and an reallly loud room. We were sat by the service console and despite this, on multiple occasions, we sat with empty glasses. Furthermore, when one of our party went to pour themselves some wine (after sitting for 20 mins empty), the waiter aggressively asked if it was ours. I'm glad I got the hotpot, perfect for an icy cold night but I wouldn't eat here again.

Food was great and Service was brilliant at the table but really slow and missing in action when not directly dealing with the table. The noise level in the restaurant was unbelievably loud. I think it was the hard floors, furnishings and walls. It was just people talking and chatting at the tables.

Amazing food and service. Brunch is an absolute must have experience and you really get your moneys worth and then some. The service with Quang was amazing. He was so helpful and really made our visit that bit more special. All in all, I highly recommend and I will be making another visit in the near future. Thank you Quang!!!

Loved the food and service! Our waiter Quang was so attentive and amazing! Will definitely come back !

When I arrived at 1300 for a 1330 reservation I asked the receptionist if it was okay to sit at the bar (waiting for my guest) until our reservation time. My guest arrived shortly after myself. 1350 I called over one of the staff working in the bar area and asked if he would remind the lady on reception who had clearly forgotten us that we were still waiting to be seated (bear in mind the restaurant and bar was only 25% full) imagine how long we might have had to wait if they were busy with this particular receptionist Shortly after my speaking to the member of staff the receptionist collected us from the bar and took us into the restaurant Our problems continued though, as when booking I had requested a certain table (which of course I fully appreciate and understand that this can only be accommodated if available) the receptionist took us to an alternate table (so not aware of my request for a particular table - not bothered to check) when rather insulting the table i requested was empty. Obviously I asked if we could sit at the table I had asked for - in summary the front of house was very poor indeed and would get a "0" if this was an option. How can you forget clients and not check any notes on the booking system when this should be your main primary role. The person serving at our table was very polite indeed but sadly not very attentive as we had to continually look around to get service and it appeared there was limited or little attention to customers and it was more important to talk to their own colleagues. Thankfully the food itself was exceptional which overall made the lunch seem more reasonable and accepting of the poor service After lunch we went back to the bar and again the bar staff spent more time behind their grey cloth screen chatting to each other than paying attention to any customer in the bar and perhaps this is borne from their own manager sitting at the bar on his laptop talking loudly on his mobile phone When you consider there is a very high price to pay the least they could do (the staff) is make you feel welcome and available to assist with any requests you may have. Why are staff who are being paid a lot of money (well at least we are being charged a lot of money) for serving customers not customer focused This entire experience cost in excess of £500 which when you evaluate after the event is really poor considering what we were subjected to We did have another booking for Monday 25th but to be honest considering how poor the overall experience was (other than the food) we are going to cancel this event.

Had a meal here for a friend's birthday celebration. Such a good experience from start to finish. We chose from one of their set menus and there was no disappointment across a group of wide dietary preferences. It was a really nice atmosphere with groups of friends, some family, some couples. Staff were exceptionally attentive without being overbearing. I would definitely dine here again.

The Lunch was pleasant but when I got the card machine (I had been talking with my client) the server asked if I would like to add service to the relevant percentage button on the machine. I added 10%. It was only when I got back to the office I realised that they had already added 14.5% for service. Really underhand, deliberate customer gouging. I'll be voting with my feet, and not returning

Roka brunch is always a treat, I genuinely always enjoy it and never have anything bad to say!

It’s certainly not the cheapest place to eat but it is by far one of the best places to eat. Taste sensation.

Great experience! Andrea the best waiter!

Andrea was absolutely amazing and made our meal so much better. He really knew the menu inside and out, and his recommendations were spot on. On top of that, he was super friendly and warm, which made us feel really welcome. It’s not every day you get a waiter who’s both so professional and genuinely nice. Thanks, Andrea, for making our night awesome—we’ll definitely be back!

He estado para el brunch y puedo recomendar. Nuestro camarero Chris era tan atento! ¡Nunca vi el fondo de mi vaso! ¡Y la comida nunca se detuvo! He estado en muchos brunchs pero esto es fácilmente el mejor hasta ahora! X

Lovely restaurant setting with a great vibe however the quality of the food did not match the expense. I’ve had much nicer sushi for a more reasonable price. Staff were very attentive and helpful in selecting options.

Classic and good. Service could be better, but overall a good experience

Unfortunately all main course options have Alcohol; that was very disappointing. They should have informed us in advance

I am never a sea food lover but the presentation and howbits cooked , not forgetting the taste can change how I feel about it. I reserved a table with a friend of mine and I was ushered in to the corner table on the main hall near the reception. We were served by Andrew/ andrea- a male tall staff( cannot remember the name very well just to make it clear it was a male) hes the most proffessional’ caring and attentive staff i have met . I dont know how to use the chopstick and he noted I was struggling and he offered chop stick holders and showed me how to use it. Its the keenness in making sure that his customers were satisfied that caught my attention. We were wery pleased and we will definately be back because of him. Thank you.

Went for brunch with my girls. The food was amazing as always. Our waiter was very attentive and kept our glassed refilled. We sat in the terrace which i prefer to the main restaurant downstairs .

Quick service for lunch menu, good value and portion

Too stuffy and takes itself a bit too seriously. The food is excellent. Fire alarm from a smoking kitchen spoiled the evening and roka took no measure to acknowledge disruption where clients were outside in the cold

Found interesting place for lunch

The food and overall atmosphere were lovely. Our waiter, Quang, was very attentive and quick.

Great vibes, my mrs approves so if you want to impress your date this is the place to be Thank me later ;)

came here to celebrate my 21st, we did the brunch, it was amazing, the service was unreal, my glass was never empty and the food was insane our server was Quang and he was amazing so lovely and made sure we were happy with everything i would definitely recommend

Having dined at Roka elsewhere, the only diffetence is that the Canary Wharf restaurant tends to be noisier.

we ordered the premium tasting menu, taste of food was very good, service was very good. however everyone at the table got awful food poisoning and i couldn’t eat for three days after, eat at your own risk

Amazing experience all around! The food, service, and atmosphere were all fantastic. The sushi varieties in particular were spectacular. This spot is perfect for anything—from a casual outing or brunch with friends to a glamorous birthday celebration or date night. Highly recommend!

Food was a bit disappointing, small portion sizes for the price. But we also ordered starters and maybe the wrong things.

I have been to this restusnt several times over the years - We had invited some friends and was aware that we had a 2 hour table slot - however from the moment we arrived at reception - we were told that our table needed to be vacated within 2 the hours as it is rebooked - we understood, however throughout the meal we were rushed with the food drink, to be told we were not to drink any more, not that we are big drinkers and before we even had chance to say more they had brought the bill. The whole atmostphere around the experience felt rushed and cheap depsite me payiing over £400 for 4 of us . The food was as good as usual but the experience was the worst I have had and to invite a friend left us feeling that this is not a place we would return to - such a shame as i have never felt like this before in any of the other Roka's. I understand the time alloted but the way this was handled was faster thsn Mcdonalds drive through - as we were constantly being reminded. Shame

Once you get over the extortionate charge for water, the food was delicious and there was so much of it. The starters just kept coming and the sushi tasted really fresh. I was grateful my main was simple and not too big and the beef fillet was cooked and tasted so good. We had the brunch with wine. It was nice to have a choice between sparkling, white, rose and red. They were much better at topping up the white and rose as these were the most popular for our table whereas we found we were asking for the other colours where only one person was drinking it. It's very expensive but very enjoyable for a special occasion which is what our party was there for.

Excellent food and wine. Had a lovely time.

Always excellent. Every time. The service, the ambience, the cocktails. Just everything.

Upon entering Roka, I immediately noticed that none of the four chefs on duty appeared to be Japanese, which raised questions about the authenticity of the cuisine. The sake we ordered wasn't served hot enough, and when we inquired about Japanese tea, specifically genmaicha, the waiter seemed unfamiliar with it. We were told they only offer one type of Japanese green tea and even suggested Earl Grey as an alternative. This further cemented my doubts about the restaurant's authenticity. While I understand the appeal of the restaurant's high-end design, though not entirely to my taste, the pricing felt excessive. We spent £270 for three of us, and while the sushi and sashimi were of standard quality, I didn't feel the cost was justified. A more reasonable sum of around £100 for three would have better reflected the dining experience provided. It's essential that while ambience and location play a role, the value proposition should also align with the culinary authenticity and quality.

Simply amazing! I celebrated my birthday here and we had the pleasure to try their tasting menus! It indeed was such a nice journey!

Mattia and his team are rocking. Well done!

Most disappointing food experience of the past few years! I've been to 2 of the other ROKA branches quite a few times and once would have recommend the Mayfair branch. That's was a lovely experience and good food last time I went. I'm going to be honest in this review for Canary Wharf though because the rest of these reviews are deceiving or something has changed since. This branch was dreadful and only has these rating and popularity because of the name, not the food. I was here for a birthday and all 7 of us regretted our decision to choose ROKA and wouldn't go back even if threatened. This place does a disservice to Japanese food! The food: Expensive, bland and basic. Don't be deceived by pictures, the portion sizes look smaller in person!! The chicken wings were tiny and underseasoned. The squid, again lacked flavour. The portion sizes were ridiculous! If it was fine dining then absolutely, but this was 100% not fine dining. When a restaurant feels the need to put a lime slice on almost every starter plate we had, we know they know the flavour isn't where it should be without it. The lettuce dish was nice, but nothing special. The salmon maki rice was overcooked and stodgy, and again bland... They would be banned from Japan sushi restaurants for those rolls. The black cod gyōza were okay, but you get more flavourful frozen ones in complete honesty. The chicken and rice dish was basically a mushroom or chicken stock cube with no extra seasoning mixed into undercooked rice with very little chicken for around £22. We all tasted it and all agreed it tasted separated, very salty but lacked any favour. The ridiculous part as well is that when the waiter mixed it at the table, he brought 3 plates.... 3 plates for what? There wasn't enough chicken or protein in that dish for 1 person let alone 3. The friend who ordered it didn't want to complain, so we didn't bring it up but a good few of us really really wanted to. Service: not up to standard. The service was slow once we all had ordered and the food took a while and we ended up waiting for a long time for one dish. There wasn't enough drinks menus between us and even when we asked for another one, we only got another 1 wine menu instead of a cocktail one like we asked for. We were then told that they needed the table back... Fine, but someone explain why we then had trouble getting someone to come over so we could pay? It was after they told us we needed to leave that someone remembered it was my friends birthday... And they brought over this tinyyy one scoop of vanilla ice cream... on a lotttt of ice... with a leaf. Why waste so much ice? Even worse, it wasn't nice vanilla ice cream. So... Why bother? It was sad and a bit offensive that you can spend hundreds at a restaurant and they do that. It would have been better not to get anything and just have had better service. Ironically on that note, when we decide not to pay all of the service charge, our waiter seemed to agree with our decision that the service hadn't been great... Your staff know. Atmosphere: I was going to give it 2 stars but then there was a point where someone turned the lights down like just improve your presentation if you're self conscious about it. Even the women at the table next to us were complaining they couldn't read the menu fully because of the bad lighting... And we're all in our 20s, 0 eyesight issues but it was dark with 0 atmosphere. Ambience does not equal dark... Overall: This experience has changed my opinion of ROKA. ROKA is a restaurant chain doing so well, but they don't celebrate their customers. They are cheap and stingy with their flavours, their portions, their lighting, and their service. I've never been so upset after a meal or had to eat again so quickly. Hundreds of pounds down the drain. All 7 of us are still upset and disappointed about it the next day, we wish we hadn't chosen ROKA especially for a birthday. Never again.

Took the tasting menu Very noisy place - unable to have a quiet conversation Service impersonal and still having the guts to ask for a 5% tip ON TOP OF the 14.5% already added to the bill This place is trying hard to pretend to be something high end - and miserably failing. To be avoided - unless you are looking to pay for regrets as well as overpriced food.

I was hoping for one last great meal before I leave London, and Roka did not disappoint. The California maki and dumplings were excellent, the black cod had the perfect buttery texture and the crème brûlée was to die for.

Great Japanese restaurant, excellent cuisine and warm welcome. I highly recommend this place to enjoy good food