Tattu London

Stepping out of the lift into Tattu at London’s new ‘Outernet’, it’s hard not to feel like a celebrity. The lavish, pseudo-Chinese decor features marble, burnt ash and velvet, with a giant steel blossom sculpture taking centre stage in the ‘dragon courtyard’. Sipping on cherry blossom negronis (which come complete with a mini tree sticking out of the ice cube), we soaked in the view of the city at sunset.

Having seen some koi fish-shaped gau online, we felt obliged to try them. The seabass filling was undeniably tasty, but for £14.50, you’d probably feel cheered by the sight of more than just three dumplings. Things improved significantly with the arrival of the Szechuan pork belly. While the signature Szechuan spice levels were quelled somewhat, the deliciously melty pork and sticky sweet sauce combined for a pleasing plate. The wagyu beef carpaccio was better still, laced with truffle and a kick of ichimi pepper.

Black cod seemed the fitting large plate to order, given the setting. Tattu smartly switched out the traditional miso for a more delicate hoisin, ginger and lime glaze, allowing more stage time for the delicate fish itself. Jasmine rice and black truffle broccoli were ideal accoutrements but had to be ordered separately, adding to the bill.

The meal ended as it began, with cherry blossom. This time, the tree was rooted in chocolate soil, a pleasantly tart cherry sorbet resting in the shade under its candy floss foliage. Given the mixed service (we were recommended a lovely Pinot Gris which matched the food perfectly, but subsequently advised not to order a certain dessert because it wasn’t to the server’s liking), £165 a head does feel like a lot to pay for dry ice and a selfie. That being said, it’s a pretty stunning selfie.

Tattu wants to give you something to look at.

Whether its the sky-high rooftop views of the city, the highly aesthetic and artistic interior, or the creatively plated dishes, there is no shortage of eye candy at the group's London location. This is the fifth restaurant to bear the Tattu name, and is located in the Now Building of the Outernet development. It's a hard building to miss - covered in wrap-around screens, with enough space to fit 220 people.

Though the other five locations are famous for their Instagrammable interiors full of cherry blossoms and dazzling light displays, each location promises a different menu and decor according to the nature of the city. Tattu in London was designed by the Joyce Wang Studio, and features artwork by Shanghai artist Shan Jiang. A traditional Chinese Courtyard House serves as inspiration, and the restaurant is broken up into four main parts: you enter the spirit screen into the Flamboyant Opposite House (the bar) modeled after the phoenix, then into the koi fish-themed dining hall called the Intimate Western Residence, then into the stone garden that is home to a tiger that guards the resident DJ in the Regal Main Residence, finally reaching the main dining hall called the Spectacular Inner Courtyard that takes inspiration from the dragon. At the centre of the restaurant is a handcrafted 20 metre-long cherry blossom chandelier, meant to mimic the spectacular gardens at the centre of a traditional Chinese Courtyard House.

Oh, and there is also an outdoor terrace.

It's hard to imagine looking down at your plate in a place so vibrant, but Executive Chef Andrew Lasseter has created a contemporary sharing-style Chinese menu designed to do the place justice. Expect to see dim sum, small plates, large plates, and desserts, and make sure to wash it down with one of the bar team's inventive cocktails as you enjoy the scenery.