What’s the draw
Feeling pretty good about its clasp on London’s burgeoning ramen scene, Bone Daddies has since turned its hand to more eclectic, modern Japanese fusion with Flesh + Buns and Shackfuyu. The latter is based around the yoshoku concept, where Western cuisine is reinterpreted into that of Japan.
What to drink
We started with a Smoke on the Water, a heady cocktail made with gin, vodka, vermouth and Japanese whisky (it works, we assure you) with burnt lemon. Sake-head? A carefully selected list, divided by serving temperature, will see you through, and a strong Japanese whisky menu will take care of you if you’re hanging on after mains.
What to eat
Be careful – you’re in grazing territory, and without due care and attention you’ll devour all the sweet, sour, tangy and endlessly moreish morsels put in front of you without thinking – although we managed to limit ourselves to just five or six. Standouts were the rabbit curry doughnut – deep-fried and served with a garnish, so good we were tempted to lick the bowl after (we didn’t) – tender lamb neck fillet with fiery red sauce to accompany it, and sukiyaki-style wagyu picanha, brought over on a sizzling skillet to cook as your leisure. Miso aubergine bordered on a dessert level of molasses-drenched sweetness if that’s your thing; if not, save room for the only finisher: French toast with tea-flavoured soft serve ice cream. It’s exactly as good as it sounds.
Cocktails and dinner for two: around £80. 14A Old Compton St, London W1D 4TJ; bonedaddies.com/shackfuyu