After a few failed attempts where Nara was closed for inexplicable reasons, I finally got to sample a small selection of their menu at their Staines restaurant.
Nara has an invitingly authentic ambience from its small ground floor sushi bar ( seats about 5) through to the upstairs restaurant - it's almost as if you've stumbled on a corner of suburban Tokyo off Staines High St.
After arriving and being shown upstairs to the empty restaurant, it rapidly filled up with lone diners & families, in what must be Staines best kept secret - perhaps escaping the generic options on offer on the High St & seeking something close to fine dining, but not at London prices - for my money the ambience alone is worth paying for.
I ordered the Eel (Unagi) Donburi - eel & salad on a bed of sushi rice along with a bowl of Kimchi & a sushi roll, along with a warming hot lemon, ginger & honey drink.
Nara's menu reflects a mixture of Japanese & Korean influences which explains the presence of kimchi, but otherwise it's typically Japanese.
The staff were friendly & the manageress even offered to explain how to eat the kimchi, which reminded me of the hospitality I'd experienced in these kinds of suburban sushi restaurants, on trip to Tokyo.
The menu covers a range of sushi & sashimi, along with Bento boxes, Donburi & some desserts.
Nara is a welcome alternative to anyone tired of the usual eating options on offer in Staines, & I for one will be visiting again. read more