If you happen to be strolling on Westbourne Grove, the Bond Street of Notting Hill, stop in at the discreetly named 202 Westbourne Grove. Owned by retail bigwig Stephen Marks (who also owns Nicole Farhi), 202 is a casual “yummy mummy” place not only to eat and people watch but also to buy that £30,000 Venetian mirror you’ve been hankering after. Everything is for sale, including antique mirrors, oak tables, cane chairs and Farhi’s clothing line. But if you’re just in the mood to eat, that’s fine too. Open only for breakfast and lunch, with a no-reservations policy, 202 offers the kind of comfort food that goes down well on a typical overcast London day, from buttermilk pancakes with fruit compote and crème fraîche, to kick off your morning, to spiced beef, black bean and Manchego quesadillas with avocado salsa and fish and chips, at lunch. My scrambled eggs with mushrooms on toast was just what my stomach craved, while my stroller-pushing, calorie-counting friend was pleased with her Greek salad. A meal for two, including wine and coffee, costs about $90.
Contemporary art fans should stop in at 5 Pollen Street in Mayfair, a convenient five minute walk from Sotheby’s. The restaurant which offers a modern Italian menu and a chic interior with art and wallpaper by British artist Gary Hume. Pollen Street itself is so small that my cab driver asked me to repeat my destination. When I did he said: “In my 25 years of driving a cab, no one has ever asked me for Pollen Street.” With the arrival of 5 Pollen street that is sure to change.
Housed in the old Theatre Museum, Balthazar London is the sister restaurant of the famous New York City mainstay. Here it shares a space with the London Film Museum and is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, plus weekend brunch. An adjacent boulangerie offers sandwiches and homemade pastries to go.
Located on Brompton Road, between the Victoria & Albert Museum and Harrod’s, this neighborhood bistro is perfect for lunch or dinner. It’s cozy without being claustrophobic, and most of the chic clients look like they live around the corner in pretty South Kensington. Brompton B&G was started by Francois O’Neill who has a culinary heritage (thirty years ago, Francois’ father Hugh and his cousin, renowned restaurant critic Quentin Crew, launched London’s first brasserie in this spot). Brompton B&G serves seasonal, accessible fare that is delicious, too. For lunch, I had filet of bream with fennel, pepper and tomato piperade, while my friend feasted on boiled ham with potatoes, cabbage and parsley sauce. Both dishes were worth returning for. Those in a hurry can opt for the £12.50 Express Lunch, which includes and entrée and coffee.
This fun and no-frills spot serves just three dishes: burgers, lobsters and lobster rolls (deliciously offered on a toasted brioche with mayonnaise, lemon and chives.) All options come with French Fries and a side salad, and cost £20 (a bargain in its Mayfair neighborhood). There are no appetizers and desserts are limited, but cocktails are delicious, as is the beer on tap. Because this popular restaurant takes no reservations, it is advisable to dine early (eg at noon for lunch).
Evelyn Stern, the Argentine-born wife of architect Sir David Chipperfield, says the inspiration behind this lovely café were the chic walk-in pasticceria of Italy where she lived for several years. The elegant room is lined with pretty, pale yellow marble counters and has floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto bustling Regent Street. Chef Simon Jenkins, formerly of Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, is in charge of the cosmopolitan menu with pastries hailing from Italy, France, Germany and beyond.
Located near the Thames in Chelsea on a quiet backstreet, this marvelous place is perfect for a leisurely Sunday lunch. The brasserie, filled with Gallic charm, serves up such timeless fare as French onion soup, Provençal fish dishes and côte de boeuf in Belle Epoque surroundings of frosted windows and pretty blue banquettes.
This Covent Garden restaurant reminds one what it’s like to be young and impulsive—but with good food. Launched by restaurateur Russell Norman and Richard Beatty who already have three hits with Polpo, Polpetto and Spuntino in nearby Soho, the pretty restaurant has already boosted Covent Garden’s slightly dated feel. The menu focuses on small pizzas and meatball dishes as well as traditional Venetian small plates. Da Polpo doesn’t take reservations, making it ideal for a casual lunch or post-theatre nibble.
Sister restaurant to London classics, the Ivy, J Sheeky and Scott’s, but with a modern and relaxed atmosphere all of its own, this ever-popular Italian restaurant is ideally located close to the V&A museum and Cadogan Hall in South Kensington. Welcoming throughout the winter with roaring log fires, the restaurant becomes an alfresco favorite during the summer with the conservatory roof and large front windows open to the outdoors. Focusing on seasonal ingredients and Italian country cooking, the hearty menu includes gnocchi, ravioli and risotto dishes, traditional polpette brasate and fegato saltato and a tempting selection of gelatos and cakes. There is a popular and affordable set menu and the mostly-Italian wine list features good Prosecco and Champagne options.
This small Soho spot gets high marks for its homespun, relaxed European approach and delicious, often-changing menu (a photo of the hand-written menu is posted on Ducksoup’s Web site daily). The team met at Mark Hix’s acclaimed Oyster & Chop House. The reviewer of the Evening Standard loved everything he ate here. Like Da Polpo in Covent Garden Ducksoup is small and does not accept reservations, so come early or be prepared to wait.
Kensington, which is not known for its restaurants, finally has a local spot that’s both delicious and stylish. Named after Kensington’s post code, Kitchen W8 was conceived by Phil Howard, top executive chef at Michelin-starred The Square, as the place for talented Mark Kempson to spread his culinary wings. Decorated in contemporary pale shades, Kitchen W8 just off Kensington High Street is the perfect place to impress new friends, yet it’s also fine for a girl’s night out. Don’t be fooled by the name. The food here is not casual-kitchen but Michelin-goes-rustic. Service is highly attentive.
Princess Di’s old Kensington hangout has been given a new lease on life with new owners D&D London. The food is delicious and original: soufflé comes with mustard ice cream; petits fours are chocolate-flavored and spiced with thyme, basil and bay leaf. The restaurant is just off Kensington Palace in lovely neighborhood that’s been long on cherry blossom trees and short on good food—until now.
For a classic brasserie-style experience in Chelsea, you can’t go wrong at Le Colombier, where everyone looks like a regular. Among those flocking here are antitrendy low-key, blue-eyed Etonian alumni. The oysters are fresh and tasty, the steak and pommes frites as good as in Paris, and the melt-in-your-mouth crêpes Suzette will remind you of your youth. The cozy feel to this long-established favorite makes it ideal for Sunday lunch.
Lutyens is the latest addition to Sir Terence Conran’s restaurant empire, hot on the heels of Boundary and Albion in Shoreditch. Located in the former Reuters building in the heart of Fleet Street, the menu features both French and Irish classics, with ingredients selected seasonally to suit every taste and budget. The Lutyens bar, open all day, offers charcuterie and light bites, while the main restaurant is open Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner only. In addition, there is a private members’ club (based on annual membership) and bar in the downstairs cellar rooms.
In this quiet, neighborhood patch of London, Orrery is a true local’s haunt located on the first floor of the Conran shop. Head chef Igor Tymchyshyn–formerly of Michelin-starred Mayfair-favorite Mirabelle–adds a modern twist to traditional French dishes with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Rely on the knowledgeable sommelier for a wine recommendation and during the warmer months, ask for a table of the quiet outdoor terrace overlooking St. Marylebone Church.
One of Nathalie Hambro favorite spots.
“Run by Margot Henderson and Melanie Arnold, the stylish Rochelle Canteen is set in an old Victorian school (now converted into studios for fashion designers, artists and photographers) in east London’s trendy Shoreditch area. Known for its laid-back atmosphere and delicious cuisine, the canteen, which only serves lunch, is a favorite among artists traveling incognito and the local boho crowd. Cash only and BYO wine.”
Tucked away in a quiet square midway between King’s Cross and Liverpool Street, this first venture from chef Anna Hansen inevitably attracts the business diners, but has rightfully become a favorite among East end locals. A ‘snacks and small plates’ menu features fusion dishes like beer-battered okra with tamarind yoghurt and asparagus in pomegranate molasses (highly recommended), while the serious mains include crispy pork belly with black bean and cocoa puree and grilled miso onglet steak. Save room for dessert- roast peanut pannacotta with wasabi jelly and chocolate brownie with tamarind caramel should never be missed. Request a table upstairs for a more intimate meal, or dine alone at the central communal table on the ground floor.
For a simple, mouthwatering bowl of soup and a hunk of homemade bread, try The Orchard, headed by Natasha Abraham, the ex-chef at the critically acclaimed River Café. The Orchard hits the spot and leaves the wallet unscathed. The small, simple café serves a selection of homemade soups, light lunches and original desserts. Save room for dessert, which may include Apfel Kuchlein: bite-size apple doughnuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and finished off with luscious vanilla sauce.
An intimate Tuscan restaurant started by Florentine brothers Frederico and Max Sali (and backed by top chef Giorgio Locatelli), Tinella has been garnering well-deserved rave reviews since it opened. The brothers previously worked with Locatelli at Zafferano and have cooked at several Michelin-starred restaurants in Tuscany. Locanda Locatelli became so popular, expensive and showy that I gave up trying to get a table years ago, but Tinello is a different story.
It’s low-key with a simple modern décor, not too expensive and most importantly, meals are delicious and the wine list extensive (Max Sali bought wine for Locatelli). The menu features small-plate appetizers, like pickled octopus or zucchini fritti, followed by entrees of such regional dishes as linguini gallinella e olive nere (pasta gurnard, black olives, chili and garlic). Another reason to rave about this place is its convenient location, right on antiques shop–lined Pimlico Road near Sloane Square.
Indagare Tip: It is crucial to request a table on the ground floor.
Those who like their trendy Chelsea eateries casual should stop in at Tom’s Kitchen, the latest offering from super chef Tom Aikens. With its long wooden tables, open-to-view kitchen and wood-burning stove, the restaurant serves up deliciously simple dishes, made with fresh, locally grown produce, that are guaranteed to please customers of any age. The all-day brasserie-style menu has everything from classic fish, meat and poultry preparations to casseroles, charcuterie, sandwiches and pies. Summer dishes include a red-onion tart with tomato salad; mozzarella, olives and pesto; sautéed squid and chorizo on toasted sourdough; and steamed filet of bream with cockles, asparagus and saffron potatoes.
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