Japanese and Scandinavian are two cuisines that, on paper, you may think would never work together. But the culinary creatives behind Paddington’s Sven-San have found a way. A delicious, mouth-watering way.
Step inside and the cottage-like exterior gives way to something closer to a tavern. It’s warm and cozy, with plenty of tables while never seeming cramped. The exposed beams offer a hint of a Nordic aesthetic that blends well with the stylish but practical minimalist design found elsewhere in the restaurant.
Paddington dining wizard Michael Bengtsson is the mind behind this flavoursome union. The Japanese and Scandinavian influences, recipes and cooking styles come together on the menu, somehow finding a balance with neither dominating the venue.
The meals are playful takes on standards of both cuisines creating a dining experience that is equally as inventive as it is satisfying, with highlights on the menu including the gravlax (thinly sliced of salmon that has been cured in salt) and the ‘sushi cake’, a large disc of rice topped with fresh seafood.