Sen Nin Teppanyaki Restaurant in Camden Town

Stepping into Sen Nin, the Japanese Teppanayaki Grill on a Saturday at six, the last thing I expected was to be the only guest in the entire restaurant (especially since the online system had told me any other time slot was booked out - they should call those tech guys). Ah, well it made us feel like VIPs in a very large private room.

The decoration was typically Japanese, simple elegance in tones of black and red. I instantly felt comfortable in this lovely surrounding. Aesthetics generally seems to be a point Sen Nin are eager to make, as a meticulously symmetrical arrangement of a starter sample was placed in front of us only minutes after we had ordered it. 

We went for one of the Teppanyaki meals including a deliciously savoury miso soup and a mix of starters, i.e. sushi, gyeoza chicken dumplings, spring roll and salad. The main course of our choice were soba noodles fried with veg, steak and tiger prawns and the dessert a very generous piece of cheese cake.

While initially slightly sceptical at the grill, seemingly slightly tattered and unkempt, our very own personal chef made sure to clean it before use and after, putting suspicious culinary minds to rest. He then went on to gives us his own little show including juggling knives and a hard boiled egg which landed in his hat (the egg, not the knives). On to the main course. Noodles, meat and seafood were drenched in garlic butter, which to me means heaven on earth, the British meat grilled to soft perfection. 

Admittedly, the prices at £48 per menu are steep and probably the cause for a lack of guests throughout our two hour stay in their Camden location (one of three in London). However, there seem to be various 2 for 1 and half price offers going on to make it a lot more affordable. Especially for London standards.