Victory Parade cuts through the perfectly manicured landscape of one of London’s shiniest and newest neighbourhoods, East Village. Along the walkway overlooked by high rise apartments, the sharp lines and symmetrical glass windows, give way to a host of new and exciting eateries. The unassuming concrete frames, draw your eye to the exciting interiors beyond the glass, and Bamboo Mat – positioned as one of London’s best new Japanese fusion restaurants is no exception.

The restaurant’s window reveals a large open kitchen to the back where sushi chefs can be seen expertly preparing dishes for their eager onlookers. We step inside, eager to try the limited edition Choya cocktails and the food. The interior designed by Peruvian designer Sebastian Salas, is largely dark, understated and contemporary, yet accented with bursts of colour. Dried foliage and neon string installations hang down from the ceiling, above wooden tables and deep blue seating. Sleek table lamps give each table an intimate glow.

Bamboo Mat’s menu has all the hallmarks of Japanese cuisine, with Peruvian twists to the story, where teriyaki meets ox-cheek, and nigiri sits quite comfortably alongside artichoke tostadas. To pair with the innovative menu, the restaurant has partnered up with luxury Japanese spirits brand Choya, offering delicious limited edition cocktails.

The Choya Cocktails

We begin our evening sipping on two of the expertly crafted classic cocktails, the twist being a fruit liqueur made from the Japanese Ume fruit. This not so secret ingredient breathes a fascinating new life into some of our favourite classics. The natural liqueur brings a rich fruityness to soften the boozy blow of a boozy Choya Old Fashioned making it one of our faves.

Dialling up the fruitiness, the Choya Bees Knees combines gin, orange and lemon juice with Choya Royal Honey, it’s tart yet sweet and smooth at the same time. Another classic on the menu is the Negroni featuring Choya Extra Years, Campari and Vieille Prune Louis Roque, another absolute delight!

The Food

For dinner, we kick off with two fascinating dishes, the Seabass Ceviche swims in a zesty, bright orange pool of Passion Fruit & Mango Tiger’s Milk, alongside soft Sweet Potato and topped with Red Onion, Chancha Corn. This dish has so many layers of flavour. Next up the Hamachi Tiradito, an array of super thin Yellowtail Kingfish, submerged in an earthy Yuzu Truffle Soy and accented with dots of Aji Amarillo which brings the heat. Both dishes are spectacularly presented and our intrigue is peaked.

Our main courses did not disappoint, an eye-rollingly tender Ox Cheek sitting on a creamy bed of Yuzu Potato Puree, and rich, sweet Teriyaki draws audible sounds of contentment. The Chicken Antiucho features moist thigh meat, with an Antichuo sauce that gives it a real depth of flavour. Finally, no Japanese menu is complete without sushi rolls, so we tuck into a plate of Tuna Maki, delicately spiced with Shichimi Chilli, and an unusual Crispy Mozzarella Maki, much less delicate but intriguing all the same. The sushi is well cooked and the little twists don’t go unnoticed

Bamboo Mat, gifts its diners with its unique and creative fusion of Peruvian and Japanese flavours. Now featuring three delightful limited edition Choya cocktails, you have more of a reason to visit Bamboo May. The new cocktails are on offer until the end of March, so you’ll need to be quick.

Book a table at www.bamboo-mat.co.uk
Address: 21-24 Victory Parade, East Village, London, E20 1FS

Written by Rick Hartley

Photos courtesy of Choya