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✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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Address and Contact Information
Address: 432-434 Kingsland Rd, London E8 4AA, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7209 4187
Website: http://www.mu-ldn.com/
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Reviews
Niccy Lin
If you’ve got money to slam down this a place to treat yourself at. Atmosphere is like that of a dimly lit bistro. Food is designed for a more tapas, sharing experience with slightly larger mains. They have a sommelier if you’re a big wino and enjoy pairings but if not cocktails are strong and decent (if you are interested in the wine I would check if they charge for the sommelier). Despite the small portions will happily say that the flavours of the food are stunning. The menu however isn’t something wildly innovative, and they did add a £40 fee on the bill for live music which we asked to be removed. All in all nice but feels like a place that overcharges at any given opportunity.
… moreVictoria Hayes
Dear Mu Restaurant Management,
I recently had the pleasure of dining at your establishment on Saturday evening, and I wanted to share some thoughts on my experience. From the moment I stepped in, I was captivated by the truly stunning ambiance – the layout, the lighting, all contributed to a wonderfully inviting atmosphere. It’s clear that a great deal of thought went into creating such a beautiful space.
However, as the evening progressed, a few elements emerged that, while not entirely detracting from the overall good feelings, did add a certain… unexpected charm to our culinary journey.
Upon being seated, we opted for tap water, which arrived swiftly. While we appreciated the promptness, a small detail like a pour from the staff would have elevated the initial impression, especially considering the price point of an entrée.
Moving onto the starters, we sampled the beef gyoza, a shrimp “dumpling,” and the aubergine. The aubergine was a generous and delicious portion, a definite highlight! The beef gyoza, however, tasted rather like a frozen, pre-packaged variety one might find in a local oriental supermarket. The dish described as a “dumpling” proved to be a rather adventurous interpretation, presenting more as a fish cake. Having spent two decades in Asia, I must confess it was a novel take on the concept of a shrimp dumpling.
Throughout our meal, we noticed a certain… independent spirit in the table service. There were no table wipes between courses, nor were fresh plates offered. My partner, having finished his cocktail, was left to ponder the mysteries of an empty glass without a gentle prompt for a refill. Speaking of cocktails, my Tommy’s Margarita arrived in a minimalistic fashion – ice in a glass, sans lime or salt. While certainly a unique presentation, it did leave me wondering if I’d inadvertently ordered a glass of iced water.
As for the main courses, we were informed during ordering that our top choice was unavailable, a perfectly understandable occurrence. A mid-meal interlude saw my partner attempt to discreetly pre-order a birthday dessert while I was momentarily away from the table.
The main courses arrived, again, without the accompanying flourish of a freshly wiped table. The salmon, while cooked well, was accompanied by parsnip crisps that bore a striking resemblance to a well-known supermarket snack – a surprisingly whimsical pairing. The nori fries, however, were a true delight, perfectly crispy and served with a lovely sauce. The chicken thigh, regrettably, was a rather unadorned affair, lacking in seasoning or sauce, reminiscent of something one might find at a more casual establishment.
The grand finale of our meal, after finishing our mains, was the revelation that no desserts were available. And, in keeping with the evening’s theme, no table wipe accompanied this news either!
In conclusion, while the cooking itself was not inherently flawed, the menu sometimes felt a little uninspired, occasionally clashing with the truly wonderful setting. The ambiance of Mu is genuinely exceptional, creating a fantastic backdrop for an evening out. However, a touch more attentiveness in the front-of-house service, perhaps a few more table wipes, and a reconsideration of the dessert offering, could truly elevate the dining experience to match the beauty of the surroundings. And, on a slightly playful note, for a restaurant offering £14 cocktails and £50 bottles of wine, perhaps the introduction of actual chopsticks would be a charming touch!
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
A curious diner.
… moreI recently had the pleasure of dining at your establishment on Saturday evening, and I wanted to share some thoughts on my experience. From the moment I stepped in, I was captivated by the truly stunning ambiance – the layout, the lighting, all contributed to a wonderfully inviting atmosphere. It’s clear that a great deal of thought went into creating such a beautiful space.
However, as the evening progressed, a few elements emerged that, while not entirely detracting from the overall good feelings, did add a certain… unexpected charm to our culinary journey.
Upon being seated, we opted for tap water, which arrived swiftly. While we appreciated the promptness, a small detail like a pour from the staff would have elevated the initial impression, especially considering the price point of an entrée.
Moving onto the starters, we sampled the beef gyoza, a shrimp “dumpling,” and the aubergine. The aubergine was a generous and delicious portion, a definite highlight! The beef gyoza, however, tasted rather like a frozen, pre-packaged variety one might find in a local oriental supermarket. The dish described as a “dumpling” proved to be a rather adventurous interpretation, presenting more as a fish cake. Having spent two decades in Asia, I must confess it was a novel take on the concept of a shrimp dumpling.
Throughout our meal, we noticed a certain… independent spirit in the table service. There were no table wipes between courses, nor were fresh plates offered. My partner, having finished his cocktail, was left to ponder the mysteries of an empty glass without a gentle prompt for a refill. Speaking of cocktails, my Tommy’s Margarita arrived in a minimalistic fashion – ice in a glass, sans lime or salt. While certainly a unique presentation, it did leave me wondering if I’d inadvertently ordered a glass of iced water.
As for the main courses, we were informed during ordering that our top choice was unavailable, a perfectly understandable occurrence. A mid-meal interlude saw my partner attempt to discreetly pre-order a birthday dessert while I was momentarily away from the table.
The main courses arrived, again, without the accompanying flourish of a freshly wiped table. The salmon, while cooked well, was accompanied by parsnip crisps that bore a striking resemblance to a well-known supermarket snack – a surprisingly whimsical pairing. The nori fries, however, were a true delight, perfectly crispy and served with a lovely sauce. The chicken thigh, regrettably, was a rather unadorned affair, lacking in seasoning or sauce, reminiscent of something one might find at a more casual establishment.
The grand finale of our meal, after finishing our mains, was the revelation that no desserts were available. And, in keeping with the evening’s theme, no table wipe accompanied this news either!
In conclusion, while the cooking itself was not inherently flawed, the menu sometimes felt a little uninspired, occasionally clashing with the truly wonderful setting. The ambiance of Mu is genuinely exceptional, creating a fantastic backdrop for an evening out. However, a touch more attentiveness in the front-of-house service, perhaps a few more table wipes, and a reconsideration of the dessert offering, could truly elevate the dining experience to match the beauty of the surroundings. And, on a slightly playful note, for a restaurant offering £14 cocktails and £50 bottles of wine, perhaps the introduction of actual chopsticks would be a charming touch!
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
A curious diner.
Cat
I was definitely apprehensive coming here with the review score being 4.2 stars. After walking in this place i just knew i was going to leave extremely satisfied.
Cocktails were great, the food was just wow, honestly i don’t even know what i ordered but i just know everything i tasted was incredible. The short rib could be slightly more tender and less chewy but apart from that everything was excellent, including the matcha cheesecake.
Our waitress was great, kept checking in for drinks, and cleared our table frequently without interrupting conversations or being too overbearing.
The live band was incredible, the atmosphere completely went through the roof as soon as the guys started playing.
I see many reviews complaining about price? Honestly id say its worth every penny. Perfect spot to catch up with an old friend, a date and even a business dinner!
Will be back for sure.
… moreCocktails were great, the food was just wow, honestly i don’t even know what i ordered but i just know everything i tasted was incredible. The short rib could be slightly more tender and less chewy but apart from that everything was excellent, including the matcha cheesecake.
Our waitress was great, kept checking in for drinks, and cleared our table frequently without interrupting conversations or being too overbearing.
The live band was incredible, the atmosphere completely went through the roof as soon as the guys started playing.
I see many reviews complaining about price? Honestly id say its worth every penny. Perfect spot to catch up with an old friend, a date and even a business dinner!
Will be back for sure.
L Shaikh
Disappointed with this spot! It definitely feels overhyped and overpriced. The atmosphere and dimly lit tables are lovely but we that didn’t seem to justify the pricing for the food.
We got prawn “dumplings” for starters and they were pretty awful. They were bland and underwhelming. The aubergine was similar – I was expecting them to be much tastier and instead they were a little lifeless and under seasoned. I was waiting to give feedback to the staff but no one ever came around and asked us if the food was okay.
The octopus carpaccio and cucumber salad were probably the tastiest things we had that evening, and even then, they were plates we didn’t feel matched the prices.
Unfortunately I would never come back here.
… moreWe got prawn “dumplings” for starters and they were pretty awful. They were bland and underwhelming. The aubergine was similar – I was expecting them to be much tastier and instead they were a little lifeless and under seasoned. I was waiting to give feedback to the staff but no one ever came around and asked us if the food was okay.
The octopus carpaccio and cucumber salad were probably the tastiest things we had that evening, and even then, they were plates we didn’t feel matched the prices.
Unfortunately I would never come back here.
EMI
the most lovely atmosphere! the food was incredible, me and my boyfriend had such great service! the food was so so good, alongside that, the jazz band playing completed it!
… moreEden Offer
Cute place, good variety of wine, and the cocktails look super good, too. We came in on a live music night, which was super fun. The food was the only thing that did not stand out, so if you’re looking for a good vibe with a great wine selection, I highly recommend it
… moreJeremy Lambert
When trying too hard is combined with London hype and prices… And why, oh why, do you guys charge £20 corkage for a birthday cake brought on site that you do not offer on your menu? We have NEVER seen this before!!!
A modest menu which brings nothing original compared to other Japanese-themed restaurants, with the need to have sides with your main as the plate comes pretty much just with the meat. They only provide you with chopsticks (why would you want to try to eat the sea bass or the chicken thigh elegantly anyway?!). The dessert options are laughable (although I admit that you don’t go to a Japanese restaurant for the desserts). The food tasted good though, with kudos on the broccoli and the pork tonkatsu. The white wines weren’t great.
The staff was pleasant enough, but half of them couldn’t advise on the wine options and none was able to explain any of the Japanese wording on the menu properly.
The venue itself is very hipster, with furniture and minimalist decoration which was tasteful. It gets a bit loud when the live music is on but at least, the jazz band knew what they were doing. Just don’t have dinner in the 30 mins before they play because they spent a good 15 mins setting up and testing their instruments and sound levels in a rather unpleasant manner (and I say this as a musician myself).
In short, we won’t bother again.
… moreA modest menu which brings nothing original compared to other Japanese-themed restaurants, with the need to have sides with your main as the plate comes pretty much just with the meat. They only provide you with chopsticks (why would you want to try to eat the sea bass or the chicken thigh elegantly anyway?!). The dessert options are laughable (although I admit that you don’t go to a Japanese restaurant for the desserts). The food tasted good though, with kudos on the broccoli and the pork tonkatsu. The white wines weren’t great.
The staff was pleasant enough, but half of them couldn’t advise on the wine options and none was able to explain any of the Japanese wording on the menu properly.
The venue itself is very hipster, with furniture and minimalist decoration which was tasteful. It gets a bit loud when the live music is on but at least, the jazz band knew what they were doing. Just don’t have dinner in the 30 mins before they play because they spent a good 15 mins setting up and testing their instruments and sound levels in a rather unpleasant manner (and I say this as a musician myself).
In short, we won’t bother again.
H K
Amazing live jazz music. Helpful and friendly attentive staff. Great for drinks and food menu. Recommended for couples or date night.
… moreJennie Z
If you’re looking for a place that combines excellent music and delicious food, MU is a must-visit. The jazz show was absolutely mesmerizing. As for the food, it didn’t disappoint at all. Every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The menu offers a great variety. I had an incredible evening at mu!
… moreTheo Kemp
Had the nicest evening here.
A spectacular food offering from a talented chef backed up by a lengthy and well thought out wine list.
Live pianist is a nice touch too.
… moreA spectacular food offering from a talented chef backed up by a lengthy and well thought out wine list.
Live pianist is a nice touch too.