Contemporary West African Fusion Restaurant in the Heart of Knightsbridge

Isibani Restaurant, Knightsbridge

We really wanted to love this restaurant and we try to support good African restaurants where we can. We sadly left disappointed though - and Isibani has a long way to go before it can meaningfully compete with the likes of, say, Stork.

The interior was underwhelming - no mood lighting, the tables were uncomfortably close together, and the physical menu was on tired card. Had the feel of a casual/ lunch spot (despite the high end price point).

The food was very tasty, well presented and the mains (egusi and fisherman's soup) were reasonably priced (esp. for the area). My partner's egusi arrived cold however and my starter (the Oxtail on tea bread) was overpriced for what it was. Also odd there are no cocktails or mocktails.

The waitresses made it difficult for us to settle - and made us borderline unomfortable. Lots of anxiously buzzing around tables and some comments which seemed impatient and dismissive.

My partner's never going back - but I'd return because I think they need more time to find their feet and develop a better sense of their unique offering to the scene. If you're going manage expectations.

On Thursday evening,  we celebrated a friend's birthday at Isibani. There were 15 of us so we had to order ahead of time and we tasted a bit of several things on the menu. I just wanted to mention that planning was smooth and the manager was helpful in suggesting several choice of food options and drinks for the party.  The dishes are cooked with care and served well. The flavours are well balanced. As we took the entire first floor, we were left to our own devices and the music up there was acrobats.  The staff really went out of their way to make the evening great. For small events, this is a place to go. Use the upper floor as it has a terrace you can use for pre-dinner drink.. The bill is definitely honest.

Our experience at Isibani Restaurant was one for the books! Right from the first phone call, Isibani provided a unique, warm, and world-class service that would be hard to compare with any other establishment of similar heights and calibre. The ambience and atmosphere truly in touch with the West African spirit, meant that the group had a glorious time—and the food (served by their amazing staff) was in essence an elevation and re-invention of old and new flavours borne out of Nigeria and beyond.

All to say, this restaurant comes highly recommended, and it exceedingly justifies itself as word-of-mouth sensation!

I had never tasted African food before. I have been here in London for about 3 months and some colleagues took me to Isibani just to taste African cuisine. I must say that the flavours are unusual but very good. I had some meat dishes (suya) and I liked them very much. Prices OK.

I had the pleasure of dining at Isibani, the food was outstanding. The perfect blend of flavours and textures made for an amazing dining experience.
A perfect London’s fine Nigerian and European fusion dining experience.
I will definitely be back!

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