Now Open: Rika Moon, fine-dining Japanese fusion restaurant in the heart of Notting Hill

Posted on September 27, 2022 in Front Page Highlights, Latest Openings

Now open in the heart of Notting Hill, located on the corner of vibrant Westbourne Grove, Rika Moon is a new family-run Japanese fusion restaurant founded by dynamic business woman Mahsa Salehnazhad and her husband, with Executive Chef Paul Greening (previously of Novikov and Aqua Kyoto) at the helm. The menu couples sophisticated Japanese cuisine with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and creative cocktails set against the backdrop of chic design and decadent interiors.

Mahsa brings her perchance for style, design and beautifully crafted cuisine, to oversee the creation of an innovative menu curated for sharing with signature dishes including; Wagyu Tataki with crispy shallots, beer mustard daikon, Japanese chive and brown butter yuzu truffle sauce; Chilean Seabass with garlic, ginger dashi and sea vegetables and Miyazaki A5 Beef with pickled nameko, caramelised mirin onions and foie gras miso. The menu also features a varied selection of Nigiri Sushi and Sushi Maki with favourites ranging from Blue Fin Chu Toro Tuna to Soft Shell Crab Roll served with Yamagobo, shiso leaf and kimchi. For those looking for something lighter, a dedicated raw menu is also available with fresh cuts of locally sourced fish, as well as indulgent bites including Rock Shrimp Tempura with kimchee garlic sauce and Iberico Secreto Katsu. Select your own dishes, or choose the Omakase, with a variety of plates selected for you by the chef.

Aside from an extensive wine and spirits list, Rika Moon offers a unique selection of cocktails, mirroring the eclectic food menu, with serves including; the Peach Highball with toki, akashi tai, umeboshi vinegar and peach soda, Hana-Tsuki Negroni with shiitake infused cocchi, roku gin and campari and the Matcha Ocha with Bacardi Quattro, Koko Kanu, condensed milk and matcha infused soy milk.

Built across two floors, the restaurant has two unified but diverse levels which have been skillfully designed under Masha’s expert eye. The upstairs is better suited for lunches and daytime cocktails, with huge windows wrapping round the building making the room incredibly light and airy and highlighting the ornate wallpaper. Moving downstairs, the lighting is dimmer and the atmosphere intensifies, small tables are dotted about with a private dining room at the back seating two people, and a sushi counter and bar punctuating the room. The real star of the show is their infamous ‘disco loo’, push a button and the bathroom comes to life with pumping music and flashing lights.

Quote from Mahsa:

“Opening my first hospitality venture, particularly in such a vibrant and creative area is a dream come true. Rika Moon is the physical expression of my passion for design and food, a vision brought to life through partnerships with some of the best in the business. At its core Rika Moon is a welcoming space serving premium cuisine utilising the highest quality ingredients.”

Despite the sophistication of food, drink and design, Rika Moon is a warm and effusive spot with a larger than life general manager, Camille Lemmery, and a dog friendly policy which stems from their namesake ‘Rika’ – Mahsa’s family dog. Open until 12am on Friday and Saturday, Rika Moon is a space offering seamless transition from day to evening, the perfect backdrop for long lunches and intimate dinners.