“A Culinary Maverick in the Heart of Soho”
Freak Scene x 100 Wardour St
Nestled on the ever-vibrant 100 Wardour Street, Freak Scene Wardour Soho beckons with neon signage, eclectic beats, and a promise of gastronomic adventure. It’s a pop up restaurant that wears its name with pride—a place where boundaries between cuisines blur, traditions are gently subverted, and every dish tells a story of creative rebellion. Freak Scene captures the dynamic spirit of Soho: irreverent, artistic, and unapologetically bold.
The Visionary Behind the Mayhem: Scott Hallsworth
At the helm of Freak Scene is the maverick chef Scott Hallsworth, whose culinary journey began in the kitchens of Nobu. Hallsworth’s food is, above all, playful - driven by a deep respect for Asian flavours and a gleeful disregard for convention. The menu at Freak Scene is a distillation of his professional wanderings: a riotous mash-up of Japanese, Southeast Asian, and Australian influences, filtered through the lens of London’s cosmopolitan palate.
The Menu
The Freak Scene experience begins with a parade of small plates designed for sharing, each crafted to jolt the taste buds awake. We kicked off with scorched edamame with sake, butter, sea salt and lemon, a Thousand Leaves house chips with a furikake and jalapeno dip, yellowtail sashimi with kizami wasabi salsa, kaffir lime mayo and Yuzu soy, and finally fried baby squid with a jalapeno dip. The ‘Thousand Leaves’ have set a new benchmark for me in the world of chips!
Hallsworth’s larger plates continue the theme of layered punchy flavours. Thai Pork Meatballs will dill, chillies, shallot and tamarind ketchup, and Kombu Roasted Chilean Seabass with spicy Shiso Ponzu, whilst melting in your mouth, takes the palate to another universe. Given the sushi bar is the centre piece of the restaurant we let the chefs decide how we were going to finish, and they did not disappoint with the grilled unagi and foie gras roll with green apple balsamic and puffed soba – never in my life did I think I’d be enjoying freshwater eel!
No review would be complete without a nod to the liquid half of the equation. Our waiter insisted on recommending the house rosé ‘Le Premier Ballerine 2023’ from Gascogne in France, which held up pretty well against the strong, fiery flavours of the menu. For those seeking something stronger, the sake selection is formidable—ranging from delicate floral notes to robust, earthy expressions, and the cocktail list deserves its own spotlight-each drink a reflection of the kitchen’s philosophy: inventive, unpretentious, and never boring.
In a city where restaurant service can often be brusque or formulaic, Freak Scene stands out for warmth and personality. Staff are passionate about the food and happy to share recommendations, whether it’s the best wine pairing for a particular dish or the origins of a special ingredient.
Dining at Freak Scene is an experience—an act of joyful rebellion against the expected. It’s a place to try new things, laugh loudly, and linger over plates that demand your attention. In an era where culinary trends often feel interchangeable, Freak Scene is resolutely itself: bold, unapologetic, and deliciously unpredictable.
For the adventurous eater, the curious wine lover, and anyone who craves a dash of excitement with their dinner, Freak Scene delivers in spades. In the ever-evolving tapestry of Soho’s dining scene, it stands out as a beacon of individuality—a reminder that sometimes, the best food comes not from tradition, but from fearless exploration. But don’t delay – this pop up is only here until the end November 2025 - book via OpenTable – Discover & Book the Best Restaurants
