There are often two main schools of thought when it comes to the subject of sushi. At one extreme are the diehard sushi lovers, who gush about how wonderful it is and flaunt their chopstick skills at any opportune moment—just because they can. The other camp have an altogether suspicious attitude to it, believing that sushi amounts to laxatives encased with rice on a plate. Furthermore they believe that fish—of all things—should not be eaten raw. I perhaps lie somewhere ambiguously between the two. For although I will most certainly pray for mercy that the raw fish I am about to consume does not put the smack down on my digestive system, I still quite enjoy it. For this reason, I was quite looking forward to sampling the delights at the new branch of Feng Sushi in the leafy part of West Hampstead—since my exposure to sushi had been, at best in Itsu and at worst, in Tesco.
Feng Sushi, West Hampstead
My arrival in the early evening set a nice tone to what would be a relaxed experience with great mood lighting, music and the rather obvious positioning of a fish tank above the bar area.
Served by the amiable waitress Andreza for most of the evening, she recommended the best dishes that Feng Sushi had to offer to two novices in the sushi game. The Miso Soup, delicious Chilli Edamame and (slightly underwhelming) seaweed salad paved the way for a number of very tasty fish dishes. The Yellowtail Upside Down served with salad of wakume, pickled jalapeno and cucumber had a slightly chewy consistency but a light, fresh taste that did not overwhelm the palette. In addition, the Organic Tiger Prawn Tempura was delightful and a sure favourite that broadened my expectations to accommodate all that sushi could be. The Rock Shrimp Tempura with a creamy, spicy sauce was equally mouth-watering and well-complemented by the side of sticky rice.
Chilli Edamame and Miso Soup
Tempura Prawns and Sticky Rice
Yellowtail Upside Down
I can’t fault my visit to Feng Sushi; if you are a fan of sushi, you will certainly get what you come for here. Moreover, there were a number of lovely flavour combinations that entertained the taste buds in the dishes sampled. The only unfortunate encounter I had was with the Sea Bass Sashimi; it may sound trite to say, but it tasted like the raw fish that it was and was discretely placed into an unsuspecting napkin.
Sea Bass Sashimi
While I can’t say that I am fully converted into an obsessive sushi-consumer, Feng Sushi and its friendly staff ensured that even a relative newbie to the sushi world could enjoy the best of its delights. Whilst it is all a matter of taste and one may find some dishes more appealing than others, it was a good dining experience. What is more, I pat myself on the back, as I ate my sushi with chopsticks like a pro—at least, this is how I will choose to remember the day.
Food: 7.5| 10
Ambience: 8| 10
Words by Kazstarlet
Pictures courtesy of Kazstarlet & RMediaCircle