Inamo

Long before interactive tabletop technology was common anywhere, Inamo opened on Wardour Street in 2008 with projectors beaming a menu onto every table, letting diners order without waving down a waiter. Nearly two decades on, the gimmick is still the headline: you can browse the menu, change your virtual tablecloth, watch the kitchen on chef-cam or play a quick game while you wait for food, all from the same touch surface.

The cooking itself covers a wide sweep of Asian cuisines, Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Korean influences sit alongside each other on one menu, with sushi and sashimi next to dim sum, tataki and teriyaki dishes. The Yuzu and XO beef fillet tataki and the coconut lemongrass red snapper are among the more distinctive plates if you want something beyond the standard sushi roll selection.

Where Inamo succeeds is in atmosphere rather than culinary precision: it’s genuinely good fun for a group, particularly one that includes people who don’t eat out together often, since the technology gives everyone something to do between courses. It’s a strong pick for a birthday group or a first date where conversation might need a prop.

Reviews on the food itself are more mixed than the concept alone would suggest, with some diners finding portions on the smaller side and flavours less distinctive than the interactive format promises. Prices sit in the mid range for Soho, with sharing plates and rolls typically £8 to £16 each, so a full meal for two with drinks lands around £70 to £90.

The honest caveat, raised repeatedly in reviews, is that service can be slow and unpredictable when the restaurant is at capacity, and there have been complaints about unclear or hidden charges appearing on the bill. Check the total before paying and don’t assume the touchscreen novelty extends to transparent pricing. Booking ahead through the Inamo website is worthwhile for weekend evenings.