London Queen's Park Restaurant Guide

“Chicken with amazing sides” is the winning formula at Romain Bourrillon’s rotisserie chain, which imports its chooks from France. “Nice brunch”, too.

2021 Review: “What a find!” – In a fairly obscure part of town, near the Queen’s Park Estate, “a really cosy, neighbourhood Italian, serving a top selection of cheap ’n’ cheerful dishes, but also more pricey ones, all freshly made and of great quality” (in particular the hand-rolled pasta). Service from husband-and-wife team Simonetta and Avi “is very professional but lively, and there’s a real sense of community at play (e.g. the staff were handing out little pieces of paper with a guest’s name on it, asking us to sing along for his birthday!)”

2021 Review: Understated trio of “good neighbourhood Lebanese” in Hampstead, Maida Vale and St John’s Wood; “consistently tasty food” is served “in huge portions for the hungry at reasonable prices”.

“Super southern Indian dishes at reasonable prices too” win a following for this family run Keralan in Kilburn. It’s either “brilliant and low key” or “very good but with slightly disappointing surroundings” depending on your tastes.

This “great local Indian” in Kilburn, now 60 years old, was a pioneer of Keralan cooking in the UK (and has fed celebs as diverse as Diana Ross and Harrison Ford over the years); and still serves “lovely dosas and appetisers” as well as “good vegetarian dishes”. The odd report says “the dining room is looking really tired”… but they’ve been saying that for decades now and most diners warm to its unaffected style.

This “tasty and lively” Malaysian ‘kopitiam’ makes a “fantastic local restaurant” and has been a “good addition to Queen’s Park” since opening two years ago. It’s a ‘second-gen’ operation from siblings Fatizah and Irqam Shawal, whose parents opened Satay House in Paddington more than 50 years ago.

“I’m addicted to their hispi cabbage!” – Josh Katz’s marvellous Queen’s Park three-year-old sits in a mews at the “über-trendy end of Lonsdale Road”; and everything about it hits a surefooted note as a “high-quality” neighbourhood spot that actually draws fans from miles away. “Every dish is a winner” with “very interesting flavours” permeating the “excellent, small Middle Eastern plates”: “such as aubergine, merguez sausages and beans, grilled chicken and wondrous za’atar-strewn bread and dips; and there’s a wine list full of interesting bangers”. Even fans can find it a bit “crowded” (with some of the seating at a communal table), but on most accounts it’s a “great place for a leisurely meal of sharing plates”. No reports as yet on its new spin-off in Fitzrovia, which opened in the middle of our annual diners’ poll in April 2024.

Opening in early 2025 on Lonsdale Road in Queen’s Park, a bakery that doubles as a restaurant. Keren Sternberg, previously head baker at Layla, is behind the breads and pastries, while ex-Noble Rot chef Luke Frankie comes to the fore at lunch and dinner.