See how full a restaurant is and you have a simple gauge of how good it might be. If it’s a sushi place and many of the customers (as well as serving staff) are Japanese, then you’re fairly likely to be onto a winner. Murasaki fits the bill. Since opening some time ago and bringing a much-needed taste of Japan to Maida Vale, securing a table has proven consistently difficult. When you’re reviewer made it there recently, it was worth the wait. Walk in and you are greeted by the sushi chef and staff in the traditional Japanese manner. The furnishings are classically minimalist, with an emphasis on wood panelling and the occasional drape. To the extent that there’s an aesthetic angle, consider that the word ‘Murasaki’ means purple in Japanese. The only thing that seemed out of place was the pumping dance music, especially given it was lunchtime, but no one else seemed bothered by it, so it seems somewhat churlish to gripe. The menu comprises a broad range of sushi, sashimi, rolls, main dishes and combination platters. Dinner also sees a grill offering added to the list. Your reviewer opted for the classic Bento Box. For those unfamiliar, take a look at the picture: as the name suggests, it’s food served in a box. A British friend who had lived in Tokyo for a number of years once described it to me as ‘posh packed lunch for the Japanese.’ It seems fitting and the expression has stuck ever since. Presentation is of the essence but it was substance as well as style at Murasaki. The sashimi (bottom left) was perhaps the stand-out, wonderfully fresh and expressive – just how it should be. The teriyaki was the only slight relative let down (too much sauce), but not enough to mar the experience. Service was perfect – not too intrusive, but there to satisfy every whim. At £21, this is fair price to pay for a satisfying lunchtime experience. Based on the seeming enjoyment factor of others presents (and the dishes they were served), your reviewer will be back.
Murasaki: The colour purple