With its extravagant cocktails, aesthetically plated food and photogenic interiors, it is perhaps no surprise that Tattu has earned a loyal following among middle-class diners seeking a perfect date spot. Founded in 2015 by brothers Adam and Drew Jones, the Manchester-born independent Chinese food chain operates five branches across the UK, including locations in London, Birmingham, Leeds and Edinburgh, as well as three in Dubai.
Criticism of Style Over Substance
Despite the clouds of artificial blooms, ambient lighting, sophisticated menus and eye-catching drinks, some customers have warned that the restaurants offer 'style over substance'. Reviews on social media and Tripadvisor complain of 'underwhelming' food, suggesting the branches resemble 'nightclubs' that are 'overcrowded' with diners seeking Instagrammable snaps. One reviewer remarked that 'the local Chinese takeaway is a better experience'.
A quick scroll on Instagram confirms that many content creators have used the charming decor and appealing-looking food as props for their photoshoots. Meals at the chain, once described by a critic as 'somewhere the Kardashians would enjoy', include £82 wasabi lobster and £110 salt grilled Japanese Black wagyu, alongside cocktails such as a £23 Old Fashioned and a dragon-themed drink for two for £50.
Some diners splashing cash at the restaurant dubbed it a 'wannabe Nobu', referencing the celebrity-loved luxury chain known for Japanese-Peruvian fusion, and lambasted the 'average', 'extremely overpriced' food and 'abysmal service'. One reviewer of the Edinburgh branch wrote: 'If you want lovely surroundings and are not too fussed about the actual food then this is the place for you.'
Mixed Reviews Across Branches
A diner at the London chain said: 'Premium look, budget service. Tattu certainly looks stunning and has a cool vibe, which will appeal to Instagram and TikTok influencers. But the abysmal service is the reason I will not return or recommend to friends.' Another reviewing the Birmingham Tattu on Tripadvisor previously stated: 'Ridiculously expensive for poor quality, extremely salty food. John West has more room in their sardine cans. Overcrowded and squashed dining room. Overall, an extremely disappointing experience. Never to be repeated.'
On Tuesday, popular Birmingham digital creator Amy Langston, who runs the @bababouttown Instagram account with over 65,000 followers, awarded Tattu only 5.9 out of ten. She explained: 'Dinner is very expensive here for what feels like average dishes. However, the roast surprised me. The roast I think is great value and I really enjoyed it.' The Imperial Sunday Roast at the West Midlands spot is £34.50 per person and served between 12pm and 5pm, including meats like duck, chicken and pork with trimmings such as steamed pancakes and salt and pepper roast potatoes.
Another customer at the Birmingham branch wrote on Tripadvisor in February: 'Extremely disappointing. The restaurant itself is relatively aesthetically pleasing if you only wish to take pictures of your food's presentation for social media and do not care if it tastes good. However, for us foodies, the food quality and service were extremely poor and very disappointing given the restaurant's positioning itself as an elevated dining experience. In my opinion, this venue may be fine for drinks, but I would not return for the food or service and I certainly would not recommend it to those who wish to eat high quality, good tasting food.'
Criticism extended beyond Birmingham and London. One diner in Manchester wrote: 'Stylish venue but the ambience was impeded by an overcrowded bar full of barely of age young people who appeared to want to be seen and take photos for social media. This took something away from the restaurant's credibility. The gimmicky cocktails on offer also played to the Insta crowd and undermined the substance of the restaurant. Music was too loud to enjoy a meal. The food itself was good, however taste notwithstanding the set modern sharing menu was overpriced for what it was and simply not worth £74 per person. Minimal food. Our table lamp cut out as did replacements. Staff however were very knowledgeable and attentive and enhanced the experience. Overall, good food but shamefully overpriced. Just was not value for money. A really good evening. But not repeatable.'
In April 2026, another customer, self-described as an 'absolute foodie who loves trying new places', said of the branch: 'Terrible experience. Very bland food for the price. We were expecting great things considering the price. £160 for probably enough food for one person, let alone two. Most flavoursome item on the menu was the prawn toast, the rest was just average. Not good enough at all. Would never go back again.'
An early review scathingly insisted: 'The music is very, very loud and not very pleasant - it is OK if you want to go clubbing but I booked a restaurant to eat, not to dance on the table. Go if you like tasteless and pretentious, and do not mind being ripped off for it, otherwise avoid like the tasteless plague it is.' Another diner insisted: 'The place needs to focus on its food, rather than try to make it cool for the youths to upload pictures to Instagram.'
The Edinburgh Tattu also received negative reviews. One person wrote in January: 'So disappointing, food was absolutely brutal. You are paying alone for the fact there is a cherry blossom tree in the middle of the place. Food was just so below par and staff just did not care less. Told a number of staff how poor it was and they just said "oh ok". Honestly not worth the price or the hype at all.' A Leeds diner agreed, adding: 'We had a dreadful experience here. Whilst the food was okay, the restaurant was severely understaffed, affecting our experience. We got wine that tasted so acidic we could not drink it. The waitress took a significant time to get us our drinks and order.'
A London customer was equally unimpressed, previously writing: 'We popped in for lunch and chose the £70 tasting menu - three of the items were lovely but the sea bass was not great and the desserts were disappointing. To be honest, it felt like a trendy Instagram kind of place - which is fine if that works for you but I felt it lacked any kind of atmosphere. We may have just been unlucky as it was fairly quiet when we visited. The service charge was hefty which is fine if the service is excellent- our particular server was distant and we only paid up because it felt unpleasant not to. A very expensive and disappointing lunch time experience.'
Positive Reviews and Praise
However, others were delighted with the picturesque restaurants. One diner said of the Leeds venue this month: 'A friend and I visited the restaurant as a birthday treat. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole dining experience, the food, drinks, ambience and service was absolutely wonderful. We could not have asked for it to be any better.' Another added in March: 'I had a great experience at Tattu Leeds. I visited with my partner for a birthday meal, and it did not disappoint. The cocktails were excellent, and the food was absolutely delicious. I especially loved the fusion-style presentation - it really added something unique to the dining experience. Overall, it was a lovely evening and I would definitely visit again.'
'Presentation at Tattu really is first class, as is the décor and the service. One I will definitely be revisiting soon,' a customer insisted. A fourth wrote: 'My first visit to Tattu was last night after years of walking past. From reading some of the reviews on here I was apprehensive. As a lot of the reviews state that it is bad value for money. I honestly expected a night which was more style over substance. In fact I was ready for it! How wrong I was. Granted the surroundings are exquisite. We were sat on the terrace, which was warm and cosy, but it felt like outside. The service was slick. They were really on it. The food... all I can say was a fusion of flavours exploded in my mouth, that I had never tasted before - in short delicious just does not cut it. If you want fantastic Asian fusion food, in exquisite surroundings, with excellent service and a fine dining experience - then you must give it a visit. This is my new favourite restaurant... one that I thought was only about Instagram! It is so much more than that.'
One positive review of the Leeds venue read: 'All the dishes were outstanding and are a stylish twist on classic dishes. It is definitely a restaurant of the Instagram age: the décor is stylish as is the presentation of all the dishes and cocktails. Not cheap but good with staff who know what they are doing.' Others echoed the sentiment, writing: 'Simply the best. What an amazing place. The food is second to none, the service immaculate and the Edinburgh restaurant is stunning with a really cool ambience. Highly, highly recommend.' 'Absolutely amazing food and wonderful atmosphere. Can not wait to visit again, so impressed,' a customer said of the Manchester branch.
The London venue was branded a 'great location with a wonderful menu' and an 'amazing' experience by some customers. One wrote: 'I love the experience! Everything was just amazing. The venue is stunning and I am dreaming about coming back already! I cannot recommend this place enough.' The Birmingham branch received similar praise: 'Wow! Incredible food and incredible service. Tattu is not cheap but it is so much more than just a meal, it is a whole experience. The food is of the highest quality - authentic and delicious.' 'The restaurant is truly beautiful which results in a wonderful atmosphere. The staff went above and beyond for all of our needs. The food was absolutely delicious and we never had to wait too long for any part of the meal. Thank you for everything. We cannot wait to come back for the exceptional experience,' another added.
Ratings on Tripadvisor for the five UK branches are all above four out of five. The restaurant's website reads: 'Each Tattu has its own identity, taking guests on a sensory journey from East to West through its award-winning interior design and an astute attention to detail. Relax in stunning, immersive surroundings and enjoy passionate customer service, delivering an experience unlike any other.' It notes the dishes on offer are contemporary Chinese and Japanese cuisine which fuses traditional flavours with modern cooking methods. The Daily Mail has contacted Tattu for comment.
