Notting Hill, Mediterranean Restaurant Guide

This attractive modern Notting Hill café is inspired by visits to Tel Aviv, and the “energetic kitchen produces a small range of well thought-out dishes”. Staff are “really friendly” too.

“The real Italian deal, just off Portobello Road”, this “plain and simple” trattoria has “been going for ages and seems to be just as popular and noisy as ever” – and “always delivers solid good value”. Founded 25 years ago, it has two sister restaurants in the same street, Essenza and Osteria Basilico.

Still “a gold standard”, with their “lovely, beautifully displayed food” – this small group of deli-cafés has expanded slowly since the first one opened in Notting Hill 21 years ago; the latest arrived in Pavilion Road, Chelsea, in January 2022. Hugely influential Israeli-born chef and writer Yotam Ottolenghi has transformed the way much of the world sees Middle Eastern cuisine – and vegetables. “I’m not a vegetarian, but I love eating the veg dishes here and I find I don’t need to order any meat”. (See also the chef’s two grander restaurants, Nopi and Rovi).

“Bringing the expertise and professionalism of Le Gavroche to a more local setting” – Emily Roux (daughter of Michel) and her husband Diego Ferrari’s (former head chef at Le Gavroche) Notting Hill four-year-old has become one of London’s more notable destinations. It’s “an excellent combination of gastronomic dining in a relaxed and civilised interior with just the right balance of buzziness” that provides “understated luxury, but without an eye-watering price tag”. The French/Italian menu “changes regularly to show off seasonal ingredients” – “slightly quirkily presented” and with “thoroughly enjoyable” results. And the experience is buoyed by “excellent attention to detail from arrival to departure” from its “skilled and friendly” staff. Top Tip – “divine” lunch menu, which is “brilliant value”.