Now, I usually am quite vague with my introductions to my reviews, so you have to read on for my thoughts. However, I’ll be straight up today: if for you, like me, a good night out includes music, drink and food, you’ll LOVE an evening at INCA London. I usually find that restaurants with live shows excel in one element or the other: INCA nails both the food and the entertainment – plus they have exceptional service. Why do I think this? Well, for that, you will have to read on for my review of INCA London…
The venue
Sitting just off Oxford Street, South American restaurant INCA London is aptly located in London’s West End. The venue, formerly home to nightclub Toy Room, is a lot bigger inside than it appears from the outside, with the majority of the space being a cave-style network underground. From the moment we got downstairs, we felt the warmth of South America: the music, the decor, the ambience, and the service were all instantly welcoming.
The food
Elevated Nikkei cuisine is served at INCA London, marrying Peruvian and Japanese ingredients and cooking techniques. The dishes are served as sharing plates, which is a nod to the community culture of the countries that inspire this restaurant, and everything we tried was served with pristine presentation. Here, you can dine on maki rolls, tacos, tostadas, and skewers, as well as main dishes and sides.
I enjoyed everything I ate on my visit, but there were some standout dishes I must shout out. Firstly, the tempura shrimp dragon maki: it was so good that my friend, who doesn’t even like sushi, went back for a second helping. The juicy, battered shrimp was elevated by a combination of Peruvian mango and pickled chilli, resulting in the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Another fish dish that I must highlight is the black cod main; my goodness, the way it flaked away when the fork made contact was beautiful, and it melted in my mouth like butter. I also recommend ordering the saucy corn-fed chicken skewer, the crispy green beans, and earthy Brazilian picanha.
The dessert was equally as wonderful flavour-wise and in presentation. We shared an indulgent INCA Sphere, a gold, dark chocolate sphere, with a coconut mousse filling and pouring warm caramel sauce; this was served with flair by our waiter, and tasted just as good as it looked.
The drinks
The drinks menu at INCA London is ample: a long list of spirits, a lovely range of cocktails, and a dedicated wine list, with international options. I am a cocktail girly, so although I was having a Dry December, I made sure to have a mocktail. The team were very accommodating and were able to create most of the classics without alcohol. My guest was not having such a December though, and assured me the margaritas were strong but well-balanced in flavour.
The entertainment
The icing on top of the cake, and a key element of this review: the entertainment at INCA London. Just wow. The performers were such talented singers and dancers, I was in awe; their exceptional talent, backed by their immaculate stage presence and gorgeous costumes, was truly a sight to behold. The team covered hit songs with their own INCA twist, plus popular Latin American tunes. From the impeccable Salsa routine to the provocative and electric club-style cover of Cry Me A River, I was entranced.
Prior to my visit, I’d had some concerns that the performances would mean diners couldn’t really chat; this was unfounded. The performances were a good length, and staggered throughout the evening, so there were intervals where you could eat and chat away with those at your table.
To conclude this review of INCA London, it is a great evening out, comprising good vibes, good food, and a good show. I will definitely be making a return in future, and look forward to seeing what new iterations of the menu and performances the team come up with.