Dinings (Marylebone)
22 Harcourt Street,
Marylebone
London W1H 4HH
Nearest Tube: Bond Street
3 Yummy stars
Price £££ Tar tar chips/sushi/sashimi 1 piece £3.05-£8.95; Rolls £9.35-£27.80; Hot/cold tapas £6.55-£39.50 (at time of writing)
Toro fatty tuna and Japanese Wagyu Beef on tar tar chips at Dinings in Marylebone
Buzz factor 3/5 stars
Food 4/5 stars
Value for money 2/5 stars
Dinings first opened about 10 years ago, introducing the concept of Izakaya cuisine (ie tapas style food eaten at traditional Japanese pub-like place). The original Dinings is in Marylebone – a tiny place with a sushi counter on the ground floor and a cosy dining space in the basement. It has recently opened in much more salubrious surroundings in Knightsbridge. Ahum, neither place looks like a pub at all.
You go to this Marylebone spot to eat. The décor is simple and it is not a place to party as such. If you want glamour, then head to the Knightsbridge offshoot.
The waitresses at the Marylebone one were all keen to take your order and attentive at all times.
The star is in their tapas style offerings – dainty sashimi bites sitting on a taco shell, beautifully presented on a long dish. They charge their tacos (sushi and sashimi) by the piece, averaging about £4.50+ per piece (plus 12.5% service). Their sushi was fresh and their wagyu beef was really tender.
They seem to like everything small here, their cute little tacos, small space and tables. No, you don’t need to be small to come here, though it might help your wallet. Mmm, did everyone rush here to try out because it is run by ex-Nobu chefs? Given the price tag, I am not sure that I would rush back.
