To mark its 10th anniversary, sexy subterranean Shochu Lounge on Charlotte Street has expanded with a new
Kanteen offering fast-paced, casual lunches during the working week. The food comes fresh from the Roka kitchens
upstairs, with oriental riffs ranging from hirata buns with shredded lamb, Korean chilli and pickled cucumber to steaming bowls of Tokyo-style soy ramen with char-sui pork, bamboo shoots and
soft egg, plus small plates such as prawn and asparagus gyoza with chilli ponzu. For dessert, note ‘tsubo pots’ such as chocolate soy and vanilla peanut, as well as dori yaki pancakes filled with
tonka-bean cream. Thirsty punters can also take advantage of the bar’s distilled shochu infusions and exotic Japanese-inspired cocktail creations – otherwise, there are ‘vitamin-kick’ fresh juices
such as pear and avocado or ginger and beetroot.