Chotto Matte has opened its doors in September 2013, during London Fashion Week and is bringing the energy of underground Tokyo to the streets of Soho. Located on the corner of Bateman and Frith, Chotto Matte will bring together the best of Japanese and Peruvian cultures serving up affordable Nikkei cuisine, killer cocktails, and live music.Spread over 3 floors, Chotto Matte will comprise of 6 distinct areas. The ground floor will include an expansive cocktail lounge featuring a curved bar cut from lava stone from which skilled mixologists will shake up Nikkei inspired Pisco, Sochu, and Sake cocktails. When the sun shines, retractable glass walls will expose the lounge to the street allowing guests to spill into Soho and take in the sights and sounds of the bustling neighbourhood.

Adjacent to the bar will be a raised dining area complete with 55‐cover a‐la‐carte restaurant and fixed‐price raw bar whereby master sushi chef – previously chef to the Emperor of Japan – will serve an ever‐evolving menu of sushi and raw specialties.A spiral, burnt‐timber staircase will lead guests to the upper level which will boast an open Robata grill, sushi bar, and 100‐cover dining room. The exposed Robata grill will accommodate up to 10 guests and serve smoky Japanese BBQ such as hotpots, Wagyu beef, and seasonal grilled vegetables straight from grill to plate.In both the upper and lower level dining rooms, an evolving a‐la‐carte menu is designed to encourage a relaxed, sharing environment with dishes including Avocado Tempura with smoked purple potato; BBQ Pork Belly nashi pear salsa; Grilled Baby Chicken with spicy pomegranate salsa; BBQ specialties from theRobata Grill, and a selection of fresh, sustainably sourced sushi.

The menu will also boast a tasting menu of seven courses for just £40.The interiors are designed to evoke a sense of modern day Tokyo offering guests a multi‐layered experience that blurs the boundaries between modern and traditional aesthetics. Andy Martin’s striking design will fuse both natural materials such as lava stone and burntcedar with art inspired by Tokyo’s contemporary urban culture. Ahead of the September launch Houxo Que, a Tokyo based painter and graffiti artist (previous work pictured above left), will be in residence working on large‐scale bespoke graphics that will adorn select walls within the restaurant.