Inamo St James has now closed. Check out Inamo Covent Garden instead.
Inamo St. James is an award winning restaurant and bar that serves modern Asian cuisine but also offers great cocktails. The restaurant sits on the site of one of my all time favourite restaurants, St. Albans, so when I arrived and saw what had risen from the ashes, I was instantly intrigued.
The Venue
The layout of Inamo St. James is very original. The entire floor space, excluding the bar area, is drenched in tables. Neatly positioned throughout the entire restaurant, each table initially seemed to be their very own unique design. Despite the close quarter seating, there are a number of strategically placed, beautiful Japanese Shoji partitions that divide the restaurant into smaller sections creating an almost faux intimacy.
Once seated, Inamo's pièce de résistance is revealed - the interactive, touch-screen tables. Diners can choose their own table design from a number of options. It doesn't end there; you can also order your food and drink, call the waiter, see your bill, play games against your date, see the chefs working in real-time and even order a taxi. Undoubtedly one of the most unique features of any restaurant or bar I’ve visited.
The Shoji partitions at Inamo create intimacy in what would be a very open plan restaurant.
The Atmosphere and Clientele
There is somewhat of a shared excitement at Inamo - the entire room seemed to be captivated by the tables. There was a mixture of romantic dates, larger office parties, small groups of friends and cocktail drinkers at the bar. Inamo clearly had something for everyone, and everyone was having a blast. The music was lively without being evasive and given the power of the interactive tables - you could alter the mood and lighting setting as you wished.
The bar area at Inamo is perfect for pre-dinner drinks.
The Food and Drink
The cocktail list was simple and accessible; you could spend as much time deciding what to order as you could exploring the interactive table, as everything looked great. I went for a classic vodka martini; my guest tried the Lychee martini and Passionate martini with raving reviews for both. There is also an impressive list of beer, both affordable and fine wines, sake, ciders and a spirit list that could satisfy the most discerning drinker. The food at Inamo was as impressive as the futuristic table from which they were ordered. The food came out promptly (despite the restaurant being busy) and you always knew exactly how much to order by checking your bill. Stand out dishes include: Baby Pork Ribs (£6.95), Tiger King Prawns (£6.90) and Scallop Gunkan (£6.25), all very reasonable.
The interactive tables at this London restaurant bar allow guests to personalise their dining experience.
Summary
When you're eating at Inamo, you can't help but think you are being given a glimpse into the future. Inamo could be a success with just the table feature alone, but coupled with the fantastic food and drinks on offer, it will not be long before more places take on this clever concept.
