Akira Back Review
A midweek visit to the new Mandarin Oriental in Mayfair is a treat in itself, so we were lucky enough to be invited to visit Akira Back and try some of the delicious food on offer.
As you walk into the hotel and into the restaurant, the decor is really elegant and tasteful and whilst it was relatively quiet when we arrived, it got busier throughout the evening and there was a really nice atmosphere.
Our waiter kindly offered to order for us (keeping in mind relevant dietary requirements) and we were treated to a real feast.
To start, we shared their signature Tuna Pizza (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!) and the Eringi Mushroom Pizza with truffle oil. Both were so light, and so different to anything I’d eaten before. We then had the most delicious Wagyu beef tacos, that melted in the mouth, and Duck Gyoza, served on top of a sweet potato puree.
For mains, we shared a really succulent Jidori Chicken, served on a bed of potato puree and with a drizzle of teriyaki on top. The chicken was perfectly paired with Glazed Mushrooms and Grilled Asparagus – which was probably one of my favourite dishes of the night!
Just as I thought I couldn’t eat any more, they brought out two sushi dishes; one with fresh salmon, and the other called the Cow Wow – marinated beef topped with coleslaw. I don’t think I’d ever tried beef sushi before, and had definitely not had any with coleslaw on top, but it worked!
As always, I was too full for my own dessert, but we shared the Matcha ice cream (which I’m not usually a fan of, but this was really light and not too strong), which was served on top of a crunchy sesame biscuit and with shards of meringue and cream around the outside. It looked almost too good to eat!
It might not be the most affordable place to visit for a general weekday dinner, but definitely one to add to the list for an occasion.
For those in the area, or looking for somewhere different for a business lunch, Akira Back has also recently launched a new lunch menu, offering a series of their iconic dishes for under £50pp – and ordered and served within 40 minutes.
