The Art of Tableware at TAKU
The Quiet Importance of Tableware at TAKU
When guests dine at TAKU, every detail has been considered long before they arrive—and that includes the plate their food is served on. In Japanese fine dining, tableware is not just a backdrop, but a collaborator. It shapes the presentation, supports the dish, and subtly influences how the meal is experienced.
At TAKU, we take great care in sourcing and selecting our ceramics, curating a collection that reflects both our culinary philosophy and aesthetic values.
Ceramics as a Reflection of Philosophy
Many of the plates and bowls used at TAKU are handcrafted in Japan, embodying centuries of craftsmanship and regional heritage. These pieces often feature muted glazes, uneven textures, or visible throwing lines—deliberate imperfections that celebrate the wabi-sabi principle of beauty in impermanence.
Alongside these, we use French porcelain from JL Coquet, a celebrated maker known for its ultra-fine white porcelain and perfect symmetry. The clean lines and refined finish of JL Coquet ceramics bring a sense of purity to the dish, allowing colours and textures to stand out vividly.
The contrast between Japanese earthiness and French precision gives us a versatile language to work with, allowing our chefs to select plates that reflect the tone of each dish—whether rustic or refined.
JL Coquet Hémisphère - Mont Blanc Dessert
Plates That Elevate the Dish—Literally
Tableware doesn’t just frame the food; it plays an active role in how it’s perceived. We choose each vessel carefully based on shape, size, texture, and colour—but also height. Varying the height of plates across a meal helps create rhythm and visual flow, drawing the eye in different directions and preventing monotony.
A slightly elevated bowl can bring attention to delicate broths or layered dishes, while a flat, wide plate gives our chefs room to explore symmetry or negative space. This approach allows us to build height naturally into the plating—something we touch on further in our blog on the art of plating.
At the Omakase counter, where dishes are served directly in front of the guest, this balance is especially important. Every course must feel intentional and harmonious in the space it occupies.
Function, Feel, and Flow
Good tableware should never feel like a barrier. Whether it's the way a spoon fits into a curve or the angle of a sushi plate that guides a bite toward the guest, functionality is key. We test every plate and bowl for not only its appearance but also how it interacts with the food—and the diner.
Some of our tableware is custom-made to suit particular dishes or to support fragile textures such as uni, toro, or aged white fish. These are not simply visual choices; they ensure that every bite can be taken as intended.
This attention to flow also extends to our seasonal rotations. As our menu evolves, so too does our tableware, allowing each new ingredient to be presented in its best form.
A Dialogue Between Dish and Plate
Ultimately, the tableware at TAKU is an extension of the food itself. It reflects our commitment to artistry, our respect for tradition, and our dedication to the guest’s experience.
Just as the knife skills behind each cut of fish or the plating choices made by our chefs communicate care and intention, the ceramics we use are part of that same conversation. Quiet, but essential.
Book your seat at TAKU in Mayfair and experience a dining journey where every detail—from the choice of tuna to the shape of the plate—is designed to leave a lasting impression.