Resto narrows its horizons to the Rising Sun

Shedding the superfluous to focus on a small part of your business can be extremely effective, like Soho's bookshops, whose entire stock seems to star men whose business is very large. Narrowing its offerings to great effect: Senkai, officially launching tomorrow.

After shutting down their previously pan-Asian Regent Street resto, Cocoon's owners have completely re-imagined the joint as the strictly Japanese Senkai, whose more minimalist layout showcases orange banquettes and black chairs against a backdrop of white walls, ceilings, and bar, so…better order the white wine. The soft-opening a la carte (still a work-in-progress) has thus far seen larger dishes incl. Wagyu tartare w/ white truffle ponzu, soft shell crab dipped in jalapeno mayo, and pork & Jerusalem artichoke gyoza, a dish sure to satisfy your apostate. They'll also have a traditional robata scorching the likes of roasted lobs in red chilli butter, veal chops w/ pomegranate, black kingfish surrounded by rock samphire, and lamb rump w/ shiitake and sansho pepper, a Japanese variety of the Sichuan, so probably not quite as red.

The raw bar's where you'll see Godzilla-land essentials like sashimi (from yellowtail to surf shell clam), as well as more modern ceviche dishes (diver scallops w/ grapefruit & coriander, sea bass w/ mango mint & red chilli, etc.) pioneered by Japanese chefs in 1970s Peru, back when Soho's bookshops were crammed with John SoHolmes.