MURAKAMI - Sushi, Sake and Skewers

The Eatery: 63-66 Saint Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4JS
The Site: http://www.murakami-london.co.uk
The Companion: A dinner date
The Dolla: A little on the pricey side..around £100 for a meal for two with a bottle of wine
MCM Rating: 3.5/5

Murakami is a modern Japanese restaurant on St Martin's Lane in Covent Garden. If you peer through the window the buzzing atmosphere and the playful decor makes you want a piece of the action.

A good list of cocktails and good fun picking out your plates with your pals. They also have pre-selected menus for groups if you don't fancy arguing over salmon vs tuna.

The menu's made up of sushi, sashimi, grilled skewers and tempura. Loved the presentation but the food was probably a little more impressive on the eye than it was on the palate. 

Everything was beautifully made and perfectly good sushi but the menu and flavours were lacking a little bit of inventiveness and oomph in comparison to the price.

Bottom line; their logo probably sums it up ' live, life, love...oh and there's some sushi too'! Not the new Nobu but you could try it out if you're looking for somewhere with some good atmosphere and satisfactory sushi!

Flesh & Buns - a tasty combination

The Eatery: Flesh & Buns, 41 Earlham St, London WC2H 9LX
The Site: www.fleshandbuns.com
The Companion: Dinner with a SMALL group of friends or a casual dinner date (this is no place for a DMC or a romantic meal)
The Dolla: Meal for two including 2 cocktails, one small plate, two flesh and a dessert to share was £77 including service - not too shabby

You're not too sure what to expect when you descend the steep stairs into the basement of 41 Earlham Street, but with the music blaring and with the knowledge that this eatery comes from the same team as Bone Daddies around the corner you can't help but be just a LITTLE bit excited.

I have to admit I wasn't too crazy about the layout, the whole room is dissected in half by one long, communal table, you hop onto a tall chair (always a challenge for me) and find yourself getting rather cosy with the people either side of you. But after a little bit of maneuvering and the acceptance that at several points during your meal you may be elbowed by the nervous guy on your right trying to salvage his Tinder date, you're ready to get stuck in.

Watermelon & Kaffir Lime Collins and Lychee & Pomegranate Martini

The drinks menu is definitely something to get excited about; with  a huge selection of both cold and warm sakes served by the masu (cup) or by the carafe, or if sake isn't your tipple of choice then there are a variety of cocktails that won't disappoint. This time we went for the sweeter options served ice cold with fresh fruit; the Lychee and Pomegranate Martini (vodka, lychee juice, pomegranate syrup & orange extract) and the Watermelon and Kaffir Lime Collins (vodka, watermelon, kaffir lime syrup, soda). If you're a fan of tequila be sure to try the Frozen Yuzu Margarita (tequila, yuzu & lime juice, agave syrup, orange liqueur) - delicious.

Softshell Crab  - Jalapeno Mayo

Now onto the small dishes, you can go for the cold dishes such as the sushi rolls, sashimi or tataki or opt for one of the hot options, for me the crispy, juicy, softshell crab served with a spicy, tangy jalapeno mayo wins every time. I was also really surprised by how much I enjoyed the grilled corn - served on the cob with delicious lime spice butter.

Crispy Piglet Belly - Mustard Miso and Pickled Apple

At this point you probably will have realised that Flesh & Buns isn't the most authentic of Japanese restaurants, there's a bit of a fusion going on and they're definitely catering to customers who are drawn in by the latest ‘food trends'. However, I happen to be a sucker for a gimmick and in this case their gimmick has definitely payed off. For your main course, F&B serve homemade, soft and fluffy Hirata buns filled with your choice of 'flesh'. Each dish is served with lettuce, cucumber, pickle and two buns per person but you can always order more if you feel the need. Definitely, pick different fillings amongst you so you can try as much as possible!

Crispy Duck Leg - sour plum soy (beetroot pickle)

 The crispy piglet belly is their signature dish, incredibly tasty and perfectly paired with a spicy miso and tart pickled apple. Another popular dish is the crispy duck leg with sour plum soy and beetroot pickle - for me this wasn't too different from the crispy duck you would get at a fairly decent Chinese restaurant - nice but nothing special.

 Grilled Seabass - coriander, miso (kimchi pickle)

My absolute favourite 'flesh' is the grilled seabass, I've had it a few times and it's always cooked perfectly with the skin salty and crispy and the fish tender and tasty. I also love the little bowl of kimchee you get on the side.

Kinako Doughnuts - black sugar custard

Final bit of advice, this is a place where you should always leave room for dessert because F&B offers up a few which are pretty unique. I'm yet to try the S'more which I must say really intrigues me (marshmallow, chocolate and green tea in a biscuit) but I have absolutely devoured the Kinako (soybean flour) doughnuts which are oozing with warm black sugar custard; light and delicious. The sorbets (these tend to change depending on the day) are also a great option. I got three scoops of mango and kiwi, lychee and raspberry and tangerine - incredible.

Sorbet - 1.Raspberry and Tangerine, 2. Lychee 3. Mango and Kiwi

So the verdict? Yes, it is a bit gimmicky and yes, the noisy, busy basement venue might not be everyone's cup of tea but Flesh & Buns is always a lot of fun and boy are those buns TASTY! Jump on the band wagon....

A Homeslice Is A Heavenly Slice

The Eatery: Homeslice, 13 Neal's Yard, Seven Dials, London, WC2H 9DP
The Site: http://www.homeslicepizza.co.uk
The Companion: Great for lunch or dinner with your best homies
The Dolla: £4 for a big slice or £20 for 20 inches of heaven - careful with the wine though (read on to find out why)

Homeslice has been the best kept secret in Covent Garden for the last few months. Now, sadly for those of us who have been loyal fans sneaking there on our lunch breaks, THE SECRET IS OUT. Bloggers and pizza enthusiasts have discovered this little gem so I SUPPOSE I too should be willing to share...reluctantly.

Homeslice is tucked away in the colourful little world that is Neal's Yard. The atmosphere is low-key and relaxed at lunch time - a great break away from the office if you work near by. At night, when the wine is flowing, this little venue is buzzing with shiny, happy friends tackling huge slices of pizza whilst trying to avoid being totally covered in tomato sauce.

The size of the glorious, 20 - inch wood-fire pizzas is definitely one of my favourite things about Homeslice. They're the perfect size to share with two of your best homies and the variety of toppings on the menu have your mouth watering as soon as you step in. If you're not brave enough to go for a  whole pizza a few of the pizzas are always available by the slice. The menu changes slightly from day to day but be sure to look out for 1) Lamb shoulder, watercress and red wine soaked goat's cheese 2) Salami and Rocket (a Homeslice classic - the salami is delicate and tasty) 3) any of their pizzas with a butternut squash base! Absolutely delicious - take my advice and go for two different varieties on your pizza, going half and half is always the best way forward and helps to avoid food-envy!

Naturally, on a night out with friends you will need to wash down this delightful food with a suitable beverage. Luckily, prosecco and draught beer are available by the glass, unluckily for your wallet - you pay for wine by the centimeter (the waiter will measure up how much you've drunk at the end of your meal) so the bill might come as a little more than you expected if you've got a little carried away on a Friday night. However, it's tried and tested that friendly and efficient service, wine by the centimeter, tasty toppings and 20-inch pizzas result in some happy homies (see below for proof). Try it out with yours soon please!