BY KELLY BESWICK
Its name might sound like a well-known food delivery service – and in some respects that’s what it is, but the cuisine on offer at this Pan-Asian eatery nestled within one of Shoreditch’s chicest hotels, is a world away…
Hotel dining can sometimes be a soulless experience, with mediocre food being listlessly served to what is often tantamount to a captive audience. Well, rest assured, dining at UBA, the latest restaurant incarnation at Hart Shoreditch, is anything but this. Drawing inspiration from Asia, but with the occasional modern European element thrown in for good measure, the food here is worthy of its prime location on the Great Eastern Road. The service, meanwhile, is bright friendly and enthusiastic, while the décor gives a nod to the Orient but without resorting to cliché. Artful use of screens and a large central bar means the space never feels cavernous and the sultry lighting adds an air of intimacy.
On our early evening mid-week visit, only a few tables were occupied, but within half an hour of being seated the place was filling up fast. The menu here lives up to the Pan-Asian hype, taking in China, Japan, Indonesia and everything in between. To help us embark on this epic gastronomic journey we decided to fortify ourselves with a couple of Blushing Gheishas from the cocktail list, a delightful blend of Haku Vodka, Umeshu (a Japanese plum liqueur), lychee, sorrel, lemon and vanilla. It arrived in a pretty gimlet glass, looking pink and demure, but as we soon discovered, looks can be deceptive, because these Gheishas packed a powerful punch!
The menu is broken down into small dishes and large and our waitress advised us that four of the former and two of the latter would be plenty and she wasn’t wrong there. As soon as our first small dish arrived, Rock Shrimp Style Tempura with Seaweed Furikake and Kimchi Garlic Mayo, we could see the generosity of the portions and that we were in for a feast, and not just for the stomach but also for the eyes, with everything presented so beautifully.
Korean Crispy Fried Chicken with Sesame and Lime followed with Miso Caramel Glazed Aubergine and Cornish Crab Calfornia Royal Maki hot on its heels. Everything was so delicious it was impossible to show restraint. By the time the large dishes arrived, Yakinuku Beef Ribeye and Crispy Skin Salmon Belly, we were already pretty full, but ploughed on regardless – the food was simply too good to leave. As a result, however, dessert had to be declined, which is the perfect excuse to come back for another visit, not that one was ever really needed!
UBA
61 – 67 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3HU (At Hart Shoreditch hotel)
ubarestaurant.com
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