Can Sumosan Twiga, an Italian and Japanese fusion restaurant, live up to its stylish location?
My partner and I are invited to visit Sumosan Twiga, which is situated in Sloane Street just a few yards south of some of Knightsbridge’s finest designer stores, such as Harvey Nichols and Gucci. We are keen to see if this restaurant with its intriguing, and bold, mix of Italian and Japanese menus lives up to its stylish location. I will not beat around the bush here. I am pleased to say, it does indeed. The food on offer at Sumosan Twiga is every bit as fine as the threads for sale literally just up the road.
Sumosan Twiga is the coming together of two brands. Japanese restaurant Sumosan founded in 1997 in Moscow by the Wolkow family and of course, Twiga the swish Monaco restaurant owned by Flavio Briatore of Formula One fame. Set over three floors it’s a glamorous restaurant, bar and club with regular live music events and bottomless brunches.
We are greeted on the night by smart friendly staff who lead us to the classically chic dining room with white linen table cloths, apt racing green leather dining chairs and walls generously decorated with eye-catching black and white photography. One might easily struggle to choose from the two cuisines on offer here as both a la carte menus are every bit as enticing. On this occasion however, and quite frankly thankfully, the chefs (for there are two of them, as befits the dual menus) have specially chosen our evening’s dishes for us. We are in for a treat!
We sample dishes from both menus (it would have been remiss not to really) and we start our culinary journey with a selection of maki rolls. Spicy tuna with wasabi tobiko, salmon and avocado, and albemarle, salmon, avocado and orange tobiko. They are all divine, and the Albariño wine pairing is perfect. Next up, much to my delight, is popcorn prawns and burrata with ‘datterino’ tomatoes. Sadly (ahem) my partner doesn’t ‘do’ shellfish, so I am left to soldier through the entirety of the mouth-watering prawns in their perfectly delicate crispy tempura coating all by myself. Oh the things I must selflessly endure in the name of professionalism.
The burrata has been brought for my partner, due to her not trying the prawns, but I do, of course, ‘force’ myself to try this dish, which is sublime, creamy excellence itself. We are already replete in our contentment and sit remarking on that to each other as we take in the deep disco and house tracks that are seamlessly mixed by the DJ, the entertainment for the well heeled, trendy clientele this evening.
We are then brought two more dishes, which we, this time, more than happily share again. The home-made burrata and winter truffle ravioli in butter sauce and sage, and the sea bass with aubergine. The ravioli is sublimely al dente, and the lustrous butter sauce velvety on the tongue – the truffle shavings, the perfect accompaniment. The sea bass is every bit as good and again transports us further east, for a melt in the mouth, fragrant experience we are delighted to partake of. Oh and I forgot to mention the truffle fries we are given to accompany the sea bass. It’s all just heavenly, and these mains are washed down with another perfect pairing of Pinot Noir.
What more could we ask for? Well nothing to be honest, but we are given a refreshing selection of mochi nonetheless with which we cleanse our palettes before sending our compliments to the chefs and wending our way home after a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
165 Sloane Street, SW1X 9QB | sumosantwigalondon.com