Nozomi

As you can judge by the positive opening title, I don't have especially great things to say about this place. First impressions based on hear-say was that it was full of pompous banker w*nker types looking to splash out their money in hope of picking up a lady of the night or two (which the bar by the way seemed to be indeed full of). What was I doing in such a seemingly seedy place then I hear you wondering? Well friend of a friend passing by to visit a friend of another friend kinda thing. I was having a good time thanks to the decent group of people I was with but every time I looked around I felt this uncomfortable tingling in my spine caused by the unwelcome and insistent gaze of the ravenous B-W species. Brrrrr... And to make things worse, my coat (my only winter coat) got stolen, which I was particularly annoyed by given how acidic the weather has turned recently.

To be fair to the place, the bar staff and management were all very pleasant, professional, and helpful. The music was also cool very tasteful mix of funky jazzy tunes. The restaurant looked posh and expensive (I heard it offered v. good Japanese cuisine) and has won an award for Best Restaurant Bar 2006. The cocktails were decent enough but had a nasty price tag attached to them. It can't be that bad then you're probably thinking..

Bottom line is, this place does have a special atmosphere, but for me, despite the awards and the fame, it wasn't one I felt comfortable and relaxed in, so I won't give it more than 2 stars (bearing in mind I haven't tried the food which I'm sure is very good). I probably won't be back unless it's to look for my coat or (if I don't manage to find one in the busy corners of Oxford street) steal someone else's ;) Yeah that's what this place could do to you.. turn you into one of them if you're not careful.. Proceed with caution..