Nobu Park Lane

The hype has died down, the never-ending stream of celebs has become a trickling stream, but London’s first branch of Nobu (there’s another at Nobu Hotel Shoreditch and one planned for the upcoming Nobu Hotel Portman Square) is still a heavyweight on the Japanese dining scene. Imitations of the restaurant’s signature dishes – black cod with miso, or rock shrimp tempura, for example – can be found on many a menu in the capital these days, but if you want to try the original Nobu Matsuhisa version, then head to Old Park Lane.

Crisp tacos topped with sweet-fleshed crab and piquant tomato salsa make an enjoyable prelude to a meal. Then it’s time to explore the rest of the restaurant’s much-lauded range of Japanese/Peruvian fusion dishes. A vegetarian dish of tofu anticuchos came bar-marked with a spicy red-pepper sauce. Though perfectly tasty, it wouldn’t get pulses racing. Sushi here is excellent, however; our well-shaped temaki was filled with diced scallop and smelt eggs in a rich, creamy chilli sauce.

A meal at Nobu might not come cheap, but a few things are guaranteed: impeccable service, great views (the restaurant overlooks Hyde Park) and perfectly fresh fish. Another likelihood is a dining room packed with moneyed tourists and smartly-dressed Kensington families, but the vibe has become more laid back during the week, so don't feel obliged to wear your Sunday best.