Openings: Roka Canary Wharf

Rainier Becker, owner of famous Japanese chains Zuma, Roka and Shochu Bar, has unveiled yet another upmarket addition to London’s rapidly expanding Canary Wharf restaurant scene.

His latest opening, Roka Canary Wharf, is due to open at the end of October.

Head chef Yoshi Muranaka will offer many of the favourites from Roka’s existing London branch in Charlotte Street, although he has also created some new dishes specific to Canary Wharf.

These include sweet shrimp served on nori toast with yuzu mayonnaise and spicy tuna with yuzu tobiko and avocado maki.

The restaurant will be able to cater for 140 guests, with a bar and outside terrace in addition to the main dining area.

Roka Canary Wharf will also be the first in the chain to incorporate the “Robata Chef’s table”, where guests can experience at close quarters the buzz coming from the open charcoal robata kitchen.

Shochu, the Japanese spirit distilled from barley, sugar, buckwheat and sweet potatoes, promises to be a real speciality at the bar.

As with the Charlotte Street venue, regulars can order their own personalised Shochu Kume to enjoy each visit.

This opening marks the fourth Roka restaurant worldwide, with existing branches in London’s Charlotte Street, Hong Kong and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Gabriel Savage, 22.09.09