Kensington Place

201 - 209 Kensington Church Street

London
W8 7LX

For many food-lovers, Kensington Place is where the current food renaissance all began. This was the first place where you could enjoy seriously good food, sometimes light and simple, but with deft, complex touches, in what is essentially a very smart of-the-moment brasserie-style setting. Kensington Place taught us to expect fabulous space, madly buzzing ambience, service, and food that made us swoon. And now? It's still fabulous, still has Rowley Leigh at the helm, and still is number-one choice for media and stage types, and lucky local denizens of Notting Hill. The modern decor features enormous plate glass windows for the see-and-be-seen factor, a calm mural of a child's ball on a pond, designer chairs and designer everything else, and an active and satisfying bar area where you can grab a snack. Buy why deny yourself the full KP experience? You haven't lived until you've tried the starter of chicken and goats cheese mousse, or griddle scallops with pea puree and mint vinaigrette. Try mains of game sausages with red cabbage and nursery-type puds like Beaujolais pears with black pepper ice cream. The wine list is imaginative and there are loads by the glass and down at the affordable end. The greeting staff are exceptional and the waiters slim as whippets to fit between the tables.

Average Price: £45

Cuisine: European

Underground: Notting Hill Gate