It’s a little chilly at this time of year, and the idea of dining al fresco may not fill you with festive cheer. But on a clear, crisp night in November, with heaters and a blanket to hand, we did just that at the Winter Piazza Terrace by Grey Goose at Sushisamba in London’s iconic Covent Garden. It is easy to find in front of the famed Opera Terrace and you will get to try Japanese tempura and sushi, to Brazilian churrasco and moqueca, to Peruvian anticuchos (served with Peruvian corn) and seviches.
Ambience
There are not many covers – perhaps 20 or so, which are placed around a central Grey Goose bar. This proved very handy for a quick cocktail turn-around. Brightly lit white-leafed trees hem the entire area and entry is through a white fluffy arch. It looks very festive.
Food & Drink
The menu has plenty on offer from Aperitivos dishes to nibble on, to small plates, seviche and dishes made on a Robata, a traditional Japanese charcoal grill and served on small plates on skewers.
We started with edamame, which seems the thing to do these days, along with green bean tempura served with black truffle aioli.
We moved on to small plates starting with the very tangy yellowtail with avocado and roasted corn miso, and tuna seviche which was chunks of soft, pink chunks of tuna, marinaded in pomegranate juice with maize morado, wasabi peas and basil. Then came kanpachi fish tiradio in black truffle oil, garlic and chive.
Then came the wagyu gyoza. Five pieces wrapped with crunchy pastry (gyoza) filled with the tasty soft beef and served on kabocha puree (similar to squash) and sweet soya.
From the Robata menu, the black cod on skewers beckoned. This was flavoured with miso, beautifully sweet, and served on big buttons of Peruvian corn.
Black Cod Miso served on Peruvian corn
My favourite dish was the Poussin, soft and tender and seasoned with teriyaki, yuzu kosho (Japanese condiment made from fresh chiles), and served with a delicious Japanese egg mayo. This dish, to my mind, has to be the star of the menu.
We also had a fabulous dollop of Japanese steamed rice and grilled tenderstem broccoli, not that we needed it.
There is a fabulous selection of cocktails specially curated for the Winter Terrace. Most are quite sweet which suited me perfectly. I loved the chocolate and cherry Old Fashioned and the Snowball Margarita which finished off a rather heady winter’s evening.
VERDICT: If you are shopping around Covent Garden and ready for lunch or an early dinner, The Winter Terrace may well be a great hangout to chill with a cocktail and get to share Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian dishes.
Check out the full menu here.
35 The Market Building
London WC2E 8RF