“It is said that the sudden freshness of Japanese cuisine captures the attention like a whisper in the midst of shouts.” 

The sound of a shoji screen scrolling open; the grassy smell of tatami mats, of freshly-made miso, of warm rice and pickles; the patter of rain in a cedar wood, heard from within the silence of a temple…

These were the things that Natsume Soseki, Japan’s favourite novelist, missed as he trudged through the dank streets of the city of London over a hundred years ago. For the two years he was in England, he yearned for a refuge, a place where he could give sanctuary to his nostalgia.

If he were still alive today, he’d be glad that sanctuary now exists, and that it bears his name. ‘Soseki’ is everything he could have wished for: a calm, discreet place serving some of the best Japanese cuisine London has to offer.

Soseki is situated in a busy plaza beneath the Gherkin tower, and yet positioned in such a way that if you do not know where to look, you might miss it. It is a place for the discerning.

Fitted with 1920's antiques imported from Kyoto, Soseki is an evocation of a Taisho-period tea house. It features partitioned areas, some of which have tatami mats, where diners can enjoy their food in peaceful surroundings.  There is also a small sushi counter, and a drinks bar with a view onto the Gherkin.

The menu at Soseki is inspired by the Japanese concept of kaiseki kappo: diners will not find a list of itemised dishes on the menus, but will rather entrust our Japanese chefs to create a menu according to the classic principles of Japanese cooking. This is a traditional way of eating which makes use of the best seasonal ingredients available to the chef each day. It has the added benefit of being the most sustainable way of eating, especially with regards to fish: the chefs will simply cook whatever wonderful fish our fishermen on the South Coast have sent us that day.

We have received a number of awards for our work with fishermen to encourage more sustainable methods of fishing, including the RSPCA Award for Animal Welfare, and the prestigious Green Apple Award for the Environment. We are leading the way in encouraging British growers to produce Japanese ingredients locally so as to avoid flying produce over from Asia.

Our wines, sakes and Japanese beers are selected to compliment the food, and include some interesting craft rice beers. The wines, many of them from organic and biodynamic vineyards, were selected for their individual character and authentic expression of place and varietal. Being true food wines, they provide a subtle counterpoint to the delicate yet deep kaiseki flavours without overpowering them.

To finish the meal, our customers may want to enjoy one of our macha shots, or choose from a range of specialist fine green teas. We will also serve chocolates from William Curley, a renowned chocolatier whose Japanese wife has inspired him to use hints of Japanese flavours.

Welcome to Soseki.

 

30 St Mary Axe 1F, London EC3A 5AA   T: 020 7621 9211 F: 020 7621 9210