Why would an Amalfi-inspired Italian restaurant open a Japanese omakase counter? At ALBA, the answer is simpler than it sounds: it is the same philosophy in two languages. Restraint, precision and complete trust in the ingredient. Set opposite Harrods on Brompton Road, ALBA runs Japanese dining alongside its Italian menu and a ten-seat omakase counter along the left of the dining room, facing the store through the window. It is a new chapter for the restaurant, and a natural one. You can book through the ALBA website.
Below, the thinking behind the counter, the chef behind it, and what to expect from a seat.
Two Coasts, One Sea
Southern Italy and Japan arrived at the same conclusion independently: when the catch is good enough, the cook's job is to stay out of the way. Sea urchin eaten straight from the shell along the Amalfi Coast and uni served across a Japanese counter are the same delicacy, handled with the same care. Crudo and sashimi reached that point separately, from opposite ends of the world.
That instinct is what ALBA's counter is built on. Omakase and crudo are, at heart, the same philosophy in two languages: do less, choose better, and trust what the sea has given you. The counter simply unites two coastlines that have prized the same catch, raw, for centuries.
The Chef Behind the Counter
Behind the omakase counter, the experience is led by ALBA's Japanese Head Chef Takuya Kaneko, who brings over twenty years of Japanese fine-dining experience to the room. Bringing those hands to ALBA is not a departure from the restaurant's Amalfi identity, but a continuation of the idea ALBA was built on, told in a second accent.
A Second Coastline, in the Room
The omakase counter sits on the left side of the dining room, with just ten seats facing Harrods across Brompton Road. From here, the view becomes part of the experience, while each guest watches the chef prepare every course directly across the counter. Two traditions, one instinct: to find the finest the sea has to offer, and do as little as possible to preserve the freshness, richness and true flavour of each ingredient.
What to Expect from the Omakase Experience
Each of the ten seats follows the chef's selection, built around the season's finest sourcing: hand-selected uni, otoro, caviar, and daily deliveries of the best catch. Nigiri, sashimi and small raw courses are served directly across the counter, in full view of their preparation. Guests choose between two chef-curated tasting menus, a nine-course omakase and an extended twelve-course expression. The counter runs two dinner seatings, at 6:30pm and 8:30pm, Tuesday to Saturday: one of the most exclusive tables in London. For a more flexible visit, the Japanese à la carte menu is served Tuesday to Saturday, lunch and dinner, in the dining room alongside it.
ALBA was always a restaurant about the sea, the Amalfi Coast's version of it. This counter is not a second cuisine bolted onto the first. It is the same reverence for raw, seasonal seafood, read through a Japanese lens. Guests who love ALBA for its crudo will recognise exactly what they are looking at. As an Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge with the Amalfi Coast at its heart, ALBA is simply following the same sea a little further east.
To secure a seat at the counter, book through the ALBA website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Omakase Counter at ALBA London?
An intimate ten-seat Japanese counter along the left of ALBA's dining room in Knightsbridge, opposite Harrods, serving chef-curated tasting menus in the omakase tradition.
Who is the Chef at ALBA's Omakase Counter?
The experience at the counter is led by ALBA's Japanese Head Chef Takuya Kaneko, who brings over twenty years of Japanese fine-dining experience.
What is Served at the Omakase Counter?
Guests choose a nine-course or twelve-course chef-curated tasting menu, built around the day's finest sourcing, including uni, otoro and caviar. A Japanese à la carte menu is also served Tuesday to Saturday, lunch and dinner.
How Many Seats Does the Omakase Counter Have?
Ten a sitting, with dinner seatings at 6:30pm and 8:30pm, Tuesday to Saturday, making it one of the most exclusive tables in London.
How Do I Book the Omakase Counter at ALBA?
Reservations are open through the ALBA website. With ten seats a sitting, early booking is recommended.
