Scran Spot Review #7 - Six by Nico, Fitzrovia

CUISINE

Head Chef Nico Simeone first launched Six by Nico in Finnieston, Glasgow, in 2017 and has since branched out to eight further locations. His idea is a simple one, an affordable six course tasting menu which changes every six weeks, each menu ‘themed upon a different place, memory’. Therefore, this original concept ensures you’ll definitely want a revisit, due to the variety of cuisine options throughout the year.

MY SCRAN CHOICE

At Six by Nico, the concept makes the decision for you in regard to food choice, as there are two six course tasting menus to choose from, one regular and one vegetarian menu, and you can also add matching wines to each dish for a further £35. We opted for the regular menu, and the theme this time was ‘From Miami to Ibiza'. They described the culinary experience as ‘a transatlantic & nostalgic food journey that begins in Miami Beach and ends in the white isle of Ibiza’. The food evolved from American cuisine-inspired dishes before presenting colourful, summery-based Spanish dishes.

COURSE 1

The Ibiza Sunset

Paella Bombas / Saffron Emulsion / Roasted Red Pepper Sauce / Wild Garlic Oil / Crispy Chorizo

At the time, I had just returned from a trip to Madrid, and had tried out many local paellas. It was therefore an interesting surprise seeing paella in a ‘bomba’ form, which felt like a Spanish take on arancini. It was delicious.

COURSE 2

Miami Beach

Seared Tuna / Bonito Emulsion / Cucumber / Spring Onion / Chilli Ponzu Dressing

This was a whole explosion of flavours, and tasted very fresh. The tuna was tender whilst the emulsion and dressing complemented its soft texture very well, soaking up the added kick.

COURSE 3

The Cuban

Pressed Pork Sandwich / Mustard Mayo / Gherkin Relish / Choucroute / Pickled Mustard Seeds / Crispy Kale

This was my least favourite element of the meal, partly due to my taste as I typically do not enjoy pork and gherkin too much, but the mustard element made up for it!

COURSE 4

Es Vedra

Sea Bass / Grapes / Samphire / Celery / Smoked Potato / Verjus / Ajo Blanco

I was initially surprised at the size of the portion, as it felt like the ‘main course’ of the meal, and it was lovely. I was devouring the grapes, verjus and ajo blanco, and only wished there was more to pair the seabass with, and the samphire was also delectably salty.

COURSE 5

Churrasco

Rump Steak / Bbq Rib / Smoked Emulsion / Onions / Chimichurri

I really enjoyed the presentation of this dish, and the smoked emulsion was the stand-out. At this stage of the meal, I very much appreciated the skill of the chefs at creating inventive emulsions and sauces, as they dominated the flavours of almost every dish.

COURSE 6

Little Havana

Coconut & Rum Parfait / Pineapple / Brandy Snap Cigar / Passion Fruit Mousse / White Chocolate Namelaka / Pina Colada

To finish off was a very fresh-tasting treat and the separate elements fused together nicely. It was a clever nod to Cuba and completed the journey exploring Spanish-based dishes in a fun way.

REFRESHMENTS

A bottle of the 2020 La Vieille Eglise Côtes du Marmandias.

A lovely Bordeaux bold red wine, which paired nicely with the meat-based dishes.

THE FEE

For a high-class six course tasting menu, Six by Nico stands out as a more affordable option compared to its London competitors. At £44, you will enjoy a wide selection of dishes with eye-catching portion sizes.

THE REVIEW

Overall, a very pleasurable evening out, and I would certainly recommend trying it out in the later hours, because the atmosphere is lively. The food was tasty, the service accommodating and the concept one of the more interesting in London. If you are a fan of tasting menus and desire a light move into that culinary style, this is the place for you, and one of the most economically accessible spots around for eye-catching, flavourful food.

Room for Improvement?

It is hard to criticise Six by Nico too much, as they delivered exactly what you would expect for the price-point. I would be keen to see whether how they will evolve over time and if their ideas will become limited, as a six-week change requires a lot of thought on a continual basis.

Next Time?

There is a broad array of menus that Six by Nico has explored, so I always keep a keen eye on what gastronomic journey they are going to take us on next time. Currently, they have a Greece-based menu, which I am tempted by, and next time, I would also be interested in pursuing the matching wine as a supplement to their delicious food.

THE EYE TEST

THE TASTE TEST

SERVICE

ATMOSPHERE

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

- CHURRASCO -

FINAL MATCH RATING

LOCATION

Address: Six by Nico London, 41 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 1RR

Nearest Stations: Goodge Street (0.2 miles), Tottenham Court Road (0.3 miles), Oxford Circus (0.5 miles)

Website: https://www.sixbynico.co.uk/