Sushi Samba

On Wednesday, I had an amazing meal and potentially-vertigo-inducing experience at Sushi Samba which recently opened at the top of the Heron Tower in London, making it one of the (if not the) highest restaurants in Europe. The food on offer takes inspiration from Brazil, Peru and Japan.

The view was absolutely breathtaking: the whole of London lay before my eyes like never before - from the Gherkin to Canary Warf to the Olympic Park and even Wembley Stadium!

The food was just as stunning, both visually and in terms of flavour. I particularly liked the 'Samba Roll' that I had. Inside the nori was scallop and masago (fish roe), making for an intensely orange and interestingly textured filling. Then, draped on the inside-out roll was an array of toppings: tuna, salmon, yellowtail, prawn and avocado. Finally, the truffle shavings brought out an incredible rich earthy flavour, which made the dish really exceptional.

I also enjoyed a taquito filled with yellowtail and avocado, which had an intriguing texture - a mix of crunchy tortilla and soft fish.

The dishes cooked over a robata, a traditional Japanese grill, were also great. Mackerel is often overlooked, but it tastes delicious, especially when a simple fillet is cooked so well. The wild mushrooms had a fantastic flavour, after being grilled with yuzu soya.

I quite liked the sashima ceviches, but I found there was too much chilli for my liking, which overpowered the somewhat more subtle flavour of the fish. I thought that the corn didn't really fit with the dish as it was too hard and crunchy. Other than that, the fish was lovely, especially the prawns with melon.

The calamares were pretty good, with a light but crispy batter, and served on a bed of peas and broad beans.

Another hit was their take on a moqueca - a traditional stew from Brazil. The wonderfully intense stock was made from coconut milk and lobster juice, which was absorbed by the rice and added a boost of flavour to the lovely seafood.

For dessert, I tried some mochi, Japanese rice cakes, which were filled with ice cream. I really liked the mango and the coconut flavours. The soft, slightly chewy texture of the rice cakes went very well with ice cream.

All in all, it was a fantastic meal and I hope to return to try more dishes, or perhaps visit their sister restaurant, Duck and Waffle.