Yamazato

Yamazato made history when it became the first traditional kaiseki restaurant outside Japan to be awarded a MICHELIN star thanks to Masanori Tomikawa's subtle cuisine that is full of velvet-smooth flavours. The chef showcases his highly accomplished technique in dishes such as precisely cut tuna sashimi and a seemingly simple, yet impressive green bean soup. This place is all about the depth of the flavours. The menu always features owan (Japanese soup) with white fish. Start with the highly aromatic consommé, then tuck into the vegetables and perfectly cooked fish to fully enjoy the classic kaiseki experience. This is food that will stop you in your tracks. The intimate, pared-back decor will take you on a journey to the Land of the Rising Sun; the sight of the Japanese garden and staff dressed in kimonos create a sense of serenity. Yamazato is an ode to tradition.

A piece of Michelin history

• The first traditional kaiseki restaurant outside Japan to hold a MICHELIN star, the cooking leans subtle rather than showy.

Depth of flavour as the signature

• Technique shows up in things that look simple, a salad with layered nuance, sashimi cut to emphasise texture, a persimmon dish built like a small still life.

The setting is part of the point

• Minimalist wood tones, Japanese garden views, and staff in traditional dress, the room is designed to slow the meal down.

Ingredient stars, with Michelin dish anchors

• Sea bream, served as thin sliced sashimi.
• Japanese scallops and maitake mushroom, paired inside a hollowed persimmon.
• Egg, lotus root, and dashi, turned into a silky gratinated mousse topping.
• Seasonal Japanese ingredients flown in from Japan, showcased with minimal interference.

Format

• Traditional kaiseki, set menus that change with the seasons, served in a minimalist dining room overlooking a Japanese garden.

Ingredient approach

• Frequent air shipments from Japan, ingredients are kept close to their original character, technique is used to deepen flavour rather than mask it.

Practicalities

• Dinner entry window listed as 18:30 to 20:00, closed Tuesday and Wednesday.