EATING IN LONDON - London 2015 - page 671

Geales, which opened its doors in 1939 as a fish-and-chips shop, has been serving
Notting Hillbillies ever since. Today the menu is much more varied, but the emphasis
is still on fish. The gingham-clad tables are casual, but the food is upscale. If you still
want the crispy battered cod that put them on the map, it's the best around (lunch— £ 10
two-course express menu; dinner— £ 3-11 starters and salads, £ 10-22 main dishes; Mon
18:00-22:30, Tue-Fri 12:00-15:30 & 18:00-22:30, Sat 12:00-22:30, Sun 12:00-21:30, re-
servations smart, 2 Farmer Street, just south of Notting Hill Gate Tube stop, tel. 020/
7727-7528, www.geales.com ).
The Churchill Arms pub and Thai Kitchen (same location), are local hangouts, with
good beer and a thriving old-English ambience in front, and hearty £ 8 Thai plates in an
enclosed patio in the back. You can eat the Thai food in the tropical hideaway (table ser-
vice) or in the atmospheric pub section (order at the counter and they'll bring it to you).
The place is festooned with Churchill memorabilia and chamber pots (including one with
Hitler's mug on it—hanging from the ceiling farthest from Thai Kitchen—sure to cure
the constipation of any Brit during World War II). Arrive by 18:00 or after 21:00 to avoid
a line. During busy times, diners are limited to an hour at the table (food served daily
12:00-22:00, 119 Kensington Church Street, tel. [phone]).
Hereford Road is a cozy, mod eatery tucked at the far end of Prince's Square. It's
stylish but not pretentious, serving heavy, meaty English cuisine executed with modern
panache. Cozy two-person booths face the open kitchen up top; the main dining room is
down below. There are also a few sidewalk tables ( £ 7-8 starters, £ 14-17 main courses, re-
servations smart, Mon-Sat 12:00-15:00 & 18:00-22:00, Sun 12:00-16:00 & 18:00-22:00,
3 Hereford Road, tel. [phone], www.herefordroad.org ) .
The Prince Edward serves good grub in a comfy, upscale-pub setting and at its
sidewalk tables ( £ 10-15 meals, Mon-Sat 10:0-23:00, Sun 10:00-22:30, family-friendly, 2
blocks north of Bayswater Road at the corner of Dawson Place and Hereford Road, 73
Prince's Square, tel. [phone]).
Café Diana is a healthy little eatery serving sandwiches, salads, and Middle Eastern
food. It's decorated—almost shrine-like—with photos of Princess Diana, who used to
drop by for pita sandwiches. You can dine in the simple interior, or order some food from
the counter to go ( £ 3-5 sandwiches, £ 6-10 meat dishes, daily 8:00-23:00, cash only, 5 Wel-
lington Terrace, on Bayswater Road, opposite Kensington Palace Garden Gates, where Di
once lived, tel. [phone], Abdul).
On Queensway: The road called Queensway is a multiethnic food circus, lined with
lively and inexpensive eateries—browse the options along here and choose your favor-
ite. For a cut above, head for Royal China Restaurant —filled with London's Chinese,
who consider this one of the city's best eateries. It's dressed up in black, white, and gold,
with candles and brisk waiters. While it's pricier than most neighborhood Chinese restaur-