North Kensington, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

2021 Review: On Ladbroke Grove, this big landmark pub was taken over by Harcourt Inns, with chef Ruairidh Summers at the stoves, and re-launched in mid-2019, too late for survey feedback.

2022 Review: This expensively refurbished Ladbroke Grove pub quietly opened in late summer 2019 – when we added it to the website it already had over 20k followers on Instagram, which can be explained by its backing… some guy called Ed Sheeran. Early reports of the diverse menu suggest that Ed’s lyricism hasn’t infused the cooking with any magic – quite the contrary – but that his upbeat style is more evident in its party vibe.

Insta-star (3M followers!) chef Thomas Straker’s “packed” two-year-old off Portobello Road wins praise for its “convivial” style and “excellent” Med-inflected menu, including signature flatbreads that are “the best ever”; plus starters like burrata, carpaccio or pasta followed by seafood and steaks ordered by the 100g. Launched on the back of social-media success under lockdown, there’s a minority criticism that it’s “oh so trendy (so I’m told) – but frothy, superficial and ultimately boring and expensive”. Top Menu Tip – “knockout duck gnocchi”.

2024 Review: “In a scruffy but lovely part of London, in the shadow of the Trellick Tower”, this year-old, Portobello-fringe bar/restaurant is “top notch”. It serves “small plates of interesting combinations charred on an open grill” and “bar seats offer great views of the actual cooking”. Beyond the food, it’s an “excellent night out” all round thanks to its “warm ambience”, helped along by a brilliantly curated vinyl collection.