I’d been to Chino Latino approximately one and a bit times before.
I should be saying twice, but the second time, despite booking a table well in advance, after half an hour we still hadn’t been seated, when we said we were leaving, they were like ‘Ok bye’. The first time we’d been the service was slow, but this was ridiculous.
That’s the bad bit of the review over. As annoyed as I was, the fact is that the food at this multi-award winning Pan-Asian restaurant is so good, so, despite the disappointment, I still wanted to go back. In fairness I left it a year. This time we booked a table mid week and treated ourselves to the taster menu. You might have noticed I like taster menus. It means I don’t have to decide what to order and it makes you maybe try something you wouldn’t otherwise have had. Usually restaurants use them to showcase some of their best dishes. Chino Latino is no different, drawing influence from Japanese, Chinese, South East Asia, Vietnamese and Thai cuisines, so, at the the expense of my expanding waistline, it’s win win.
This time upon entering we were shown immediately to our table. For a sparsely occupied restaurant they’d put us on a small table in a corner, almost impossible to get to my seat thanks to a rather rotund gentleman at the next table. Credit to our waiter who must have seen the saw the look on our faces. He asked us of we’d prefer another table and offered us one in a nicer raised area which had a great view of, not only the restaurant, but also the kitchen and the chefs (many of whom hail from some of London’s finest Michelin-starred Japanese restaurants) The design of the restaurant is über-chic with the decor in signature Chino Latino red and black.
Tuna Ishiyaki
The first course to arrive at our table was a mouth watering Tuna Ishiyaki with Wasabi Salsa and ponzu sake which the waitress poured onto delicious soft tuna at our table as we watched it sizzle.
Tempura Roll & Tenkasu Roll
Next up was Rock Shrimp Tempura Roll with Wasabi peas and Yuzu Mayonnaise and Tenkasu Roll; Tuna, Salmon, Halibut and avocado. I admit I’m not the biggest sushi fan but these tasty rolls were just enough to give a tantalising flavour of how good sushi can be.
Dim Sum Selection
The third course was a Dim Sum Selection. Lovely light parcels of Smoked mackerel and prawn, Steak gyoza, Chilean Sea Bass and Crayfish with a dipping sauce.
Crunchy Taquitos filled with Hamachi and Beef were next. Served like little Icecream cornets, this perfectly seasoned dish was mixed with red onion, jalapeño avocado and aji panca with a wedge of lime.
Taquitos
Time for the main courses.
Lamb Cutlet
Lovely succulent slices of Sirloin Steak on hot rocks with wasabi ponzu and garlic. Tender Lamb Cutlets, marinated in Korean hit pepper paste with wasabi cream. Soft Chilean Sea Bass with smoked chipotle miso and tender stem broccoli.
Sirloin Steak
The main courses were accompanied by French beans, xo sauce, Jasmine rice. A gorgeous platter of desserts followed which included a selection of sorbets, exotic fruits, banana and almond fritters and chocolate and pistachio tempura accompanied by a warm chocolate sauce. Absolute Heaven.
Dessert Platter
At £45 per person it’s not a cheap night out but then that’s not the idea. This is a rare chance to sample an array of quality cuisine. I’d definitely go again but, if like me, you want great service and attentive staff, I’d definitely advise visiting early in the week. You won’t be disapointed.
For more information visit:
http://www.chinolatino.eu/nottingham
or call: 0115 9477444
By Tanya Raybould
