Harden's says
Proper restaurant pedigree at this bistro in Notting Hill, which opened in October 2022: founder Chris D’Sylva, the owner of two high-profile local food shops, Notting Hill Fish + Meat and Supermarket of Dreams, has brought together a team including chefs Max Coen, formerly of Frantzén, Kitchen Table and most recently Ikoyi; George Williams, formerly of River Café; and Kai Menneken, of Phil Howard’s Church Road in Barnes. Ben Whitfield, a former general manager of Brasserie Zédel, runs the front of house, while the drinks come under Ale Villa, most recently of Clare Smyth’s nearby Core.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Justifiably winning its first Michelin star this year, this gem of a ‘neighbourhood’ restaurant is another sublime addition to the booming Notting Hill foodie scene” – that’s still the most popular take on Chris D’Sylva’s in-crowd sidestreet haunt. “The ambience is hectic as the restaurant is always full and the tables quite tight”, but fans say “this only adds to the sensation that you are eating in a real destination”. Overseen by chef Max Coen, “excellent fish and delicious roasts” are perhaps to be expected given D’Sylva’s connection to the nearby Notting Hill Fish Shop and Supermarket of Dreams; and “sitting at the bar watching fire-grilled meats and sampling deliciously creative little bites” can be “one of the absolute gastronomic pleasures of the year”. Even its supporters, though, acknowledge that “it’s absolutely not a dinner that will be easy on the wallet” and – given the “crowded and loud” setting – sceptics increasingly conclude the place is “overhyped” and “far too much of a scene”: “Well, it is in Notting Hill, a territory of the super-rich, but surely even they consider VFM?”
Summary
With Chris D’Sylva’s background (Notting Hill Fish Shop and Supermarket of Dreams) “the ingredient quality was always going to be superb” at this “constantly buzzing” new ‘bistro for locals’, which has instantly become something of a “modern classic” for the Notting Hillbilly in-crowd. Chef Max Coen “manages to make decadent dishes seem simple” (“steak is to die for”; or “feast on the most melting buttery liver pâté”) and “counter seats are excellent for kitchen watching” – “you get the cooking show and a fantastic atmosphere with lots of interesting fellow diners”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Dorian?
105-107 Talbot Road, London, W11 2AT
Dorian Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Spectacular ... every plate was a total delight. The partridge was rarer than i would have prepared myself but how wrong was i. The chicken liver parfait may be the best dish in London. superbly looked after by a young dinamic team, can't wait to get back"
"The MOST disappointing meal of the last twelve months. Everything was awful. Our table was adjacent to the door, which was constantly opening, a freezing draft blasting us. The tables were crammed so closely together, we could hear the conversations two tables away. The food was fantastically expensive - much more than you list. The service was indifferent and rushed. Each dish, including the vegetables, came without cutlery. We had to ask four times on separate occasions for serving cutlery. I have rarely felt so angry and disappointed in any London restaurant. Drunk on it's own hype, they have forgotten the guest experience actually matters."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
 Extras |
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|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
105-107 Talbot Road, London, W11 2AT
Opening hours
| Monday | 5:30 am‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
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