So, let me take you down memory lane… a young(er) Clare back in the day, donning a chic little Off the Shoulder LBD (Little Black Dress) and her first ever pair of snazzy, classic Louboutins. This was probably my sixth date with the guy who would end up being my husband two years later…
Now I don’t just wear that kind of outfit for anyone. As someone who revels in spending the majority of my week in my athleisure wear (you can imagine, the pandemic only made this condition worse…), you can gather that the stakes were high. Long before I was a restaurant / food blogger, I prided myself on being the one to choose the dining spots (my now husband learnt that very quickly!) and I knew what the sixth date called for… a trendy, chilled vibe with delicious eats that was perfect for a hot date. I could only think of one place, my go-to Chotto Matte in Soho.
FAST FORWARD 3 YEARS…
Reopened following a new haircut and back with a bang, Chotto Matte’s flagship Soho location on Frith Street now boasts a technicolour cosy lounging area for cocktails and conversations, and a moodily lit second level with sushi bar theatrics and geometric flooring which lends to their intimate Nikkei experience.
I personally have such a soft spot for this place, the memories of the excitement and anticipation of my past date there and the familiarity of ‘old favourite’ aspects of the restaurant (such as the dazzling open kitchen and the warm, personal service from waiters who just can’t do enough for you), this hotspot in Soho has taken on a new vision whilst retaining the original slickness which made it so popular in the first place.
THE RESTAURANT THAT BREAKS BOUNDARIES
Chotto Matte is a Japanese-Peruvian fusion delight established in 2013 by Kurt Zdesar. As a fusion food addict, I was in my element sampling the following dishes…
- Dreamy, frothy Pisco Sours – it’s not usually my go-to cocktail but I tried one at the reopening launch party and I think I’m hooked! I went for the same again…
- A delicate Yellowtail Sashimi with a dash of yuzu and truffle which set off the entire dish.
- Succulent and sweet Padron Peppers with miso.
- BBQ Broccoli with chilli that packed a punch!
- Amazonian BBQ Salmon peppered with goji berries, brazil nuts, coriander, jungle curry and smoked purple potato purée.
- Their insanely popular Miso Chicken with chilli yoghurt. How do I know that it is so in demand? If you take a look at my @welshclarebit Instagram reel for the reopening itself, you will see that the Miso Chicken literally disappeared off the tray in a matter of seconds!
- We couldn’t skip out on the sushi and so we opted for a freshly prepared Dragon roll sculpted with a slice of avocado.
- To top it all off, a creamy and decadent Hazelnut Yuzu Bun for sharing (highly tempted by the Chocolate Ball but we were positively stuffed!).
PERFECT FOR: Great for a vibey catch-up with work colleagues or friends. As far as a hot date is concerned, don’t let my ‘husband to be’ date put the pressure on! I’ve always encouraged the idea that as long as you’re having a gorgeous meal, the date you take really doesn’t have to be the best. Book the dinner and make sure to try that Sashimi – you’ll come out with no regrets, even if your date remains a friend!
Written by Clare Hayley Brent | IG @welshclarebit
Make a reservation at www.chotto-matte.com/london-soho | IG: @chottomattesoho
📍 Chotto Matte Soho 11, 13 Frith St, London W1D 4RB
Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
Need to make a group booking? We offer a FREE venue finding & group bookings service. Get in touch today bookings@mysohotimes.co.uk
Sign up to receive the latest issue of our magazine – straight to your inbox!
Plus, we’ll share the latest news, events, and discounts from our partners in and around Soho in a MONTHLY newsletter… Ready to join the club?
MY SOHO TIMES 