Ginza Japanese Teppan Yaki

Being Nottingham’s only restaurant offering professional teppanyaki, Ginza should be somewhere that's second to none. Sadly it's not the case.

The Venue
The outside of the building is the first sign this may not be the best dining experience. Two of the five letters on the sign are missing and a third is hanging far below the remaining two. This is not a good look for somewhere charging up to £30 a head.

The inside is a bit on the sultry side, with black furnishings and red lanterns. You can choose to seat at one of the teppanyaki tables or at a regular table. Once you've settled and had a good look around you realise Ginza needs redecorating as it doesn’t have a particularly contemporary feel.

The People
Evening times are always pleasantly busy. Diners who are looking for something a little different or even special, flow through the doors to experience something that is hard to find in Nottingham.

People are obviously impressed with the skills of the teppanyaki chefs and the performance they put on while cooking, and Ginza is popular with groups who are celebrating something or other.

The Food
Anyone who has ever been for a good teppanyaki meal will know that it is one of the most fabulous dining experiences to be had, not just a meal but a real experience. You should be left to enjoy your meal over two to three hours and delight in the company of strangers who join you at your table.

Ginza is sadly not like this whatsoever. You can be in and out of the restaurant (including pre-dinner drinks in the bar) in just over an hour and with a bill of almost £80 for two it feels like you’re being rushed.

The food is delicious, and it should be for the price. Set meals range from £17 to £29 a head. A lot of emphasis is put into the fish dishes with beautifully sweet lobster and the lesser known cuttlefish.

To watch the chefs at work is a pleasure, but the whole experience can leave you with a sour taste. It feels as though you're being hurried to finish so they can usher in the next sitting. It's so disappointing to pay above average prices and feel your custom isn't appreciated.

The Drink
The draught selection of Carlsberg and Tetley’s stick out like sore thumbs and just don’t seem to be at home in these surroundings.

The wine list is not the most exclusive but you'll be able to find a good bottle of white to go with your seafood. Saki is obviously on offer and green tea is served with each set meal.

The Last Word
It seems Ginza are resting on their laurels, smug that they're the only restaurant around offering teppanyaki. This complacency means diners don't get what they pay for, and while the food is undeniably good, everything else lets it down.

venue information venue map view nottingham review user reviews (5)