Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
plates, change regularly and cost from £11.
Mon-Sat
12.30-2.15pm & 6.30-11.30pm, Sun 12.45-2.45pm &
6.30-10.30pm.
Dinner
Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 66 Knightsbridge,
SW1
T
020 7201 3833,
W
dinnerbyheston.com;
!
Knightsbridge; map pp.250-251.
You know what to
expect from Heston - imaginative, witty food that tastes
amazing and gives you a once in a lifetime experience.
Blumenthal doesn't actually cook here - the head chef
worked with him at the
Fat Duck
- and there is less
emphasis on flash and dazzle and molecular cuisine. Dishes
are taken from British culinary history right through from
medieval times, and some are marvellously odd -
powdered duck, “meat fruit”, taffety tart, frumenty. The
sky's the limit as far as costs go, of course, though there's a
three-course weekday lunch menu for £36, and the
atmosphere is gratifyingly unintimidating. Mains from £25.
Daily noon-2.30pm & 6.30-10.30pm.
No.10
10 Hogarth Place, SW5
T
020 7373 7000,
W
no10-earlscourt.co.uk
!
Earl's Court; map pp.250-
251.
Stick to the Szechuan food and you're onto a winner in
this small, low-key restaurant. Many dishes offer the
peppery kick you'd expect, but they also have a number of
less fiery treats. Mains around £7; you won't spend more
than £18 a head for a big meal.
Mon-Fri 12.30-2.15pm &
5.30-10.50pm,
Sat
&
Sun
12.30-2.15pm
&
5.30-10.20pm.
Racine
239 Brompton Rd, SW3
T
020 7584 4477,
W
racine-restaurant.com;
!
Knightsbridge or South
Kensington; map p.252.
The food here is French - rich,
nostalgic dishes from the glory days of Gallic cuisine,
perfectly executed. Mains from £16.50; two- or three-
course menus £15.50/£17.75 Mon-Sat, £18/£20 Sun.
Daily noon-3pm & 6-10.30pm.
CHELSEA
CAFÉS
Mona Lisa
417 King's Rd, SW10
T
020 7376 5447;
!
Fulham Broadway; map p.265
. This genuine old caff -
very unusual in chichi Chelsea - dishes up cheap, good,
old-fashioned food in plain, convivial surroundings. The
mixed local crowd - from Sloanes to regulars from the
adjoining council estate - enjoy anything from big fry-ups
to great Italian comfort food - including good fish dishes.
Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-4pm.
Hunan
51 Pimlico Rd, SW1
T
020 7730 5712,
W
hunanlondon.com;
!
Sloane Square; map p.265.
Don't go too much by its name - rather than Hunanese
cuisine, this acclaimed restaurant serves delicious
Taiwanese/Chinese fusion food. There's no menu: tell them
how spicy you like things, and any other preferences, and
they'll bring you an array of small dishes to your table for a
“leave-it-to-us feast”. Reservations essential. Feasts from
£45 per head, drinks included.
Mon-Sat 12.30-2pm &
6.30-11pm.
Ì
Medlar
438 Kings Rd, SW10
T
020 7349 1900,
W
medlarrestaurant.co.uk;
!
Fulham Broadway; map
p.265.
Really good, Michelin-starred French-influenced
Modern British food with deceptively simple dishes, the
like of duck egg tart with red wine sauce or wild turbot
with ginger, mushroom and soy broth, served in a relaxed,
welcoming dining room. It's
prix fixe
, and excellent value:
three-course lunch £26 Mon-Fri, £30 Sat & Sun, three-
course dinner £42.
Daily noon-3pm & 6.30-10.30pm.
24
RESTAURANTS
Chutney Mary
535 King's Rd, SW10
T
020 7351 3113,
W
www.chutneymary.com;
!
Fulham Broadway;
map pp.250-251.
Chutney Mary
turns out gourmet Indian
food - complicated, subtle dishes with modern twists -
and rather wonderful Anglo-Indian puds on changing
menus. Mains £17-25; Sunday lunch buffet £26.
Mon-Fri
6.30-11.30pm, Sat 12.30-2.45pm & 6.30-11.30pm,
Sun 12.30-2.30pm & 6.30-10.30pm.
HIGH STREET KENSINGTON TO NOTTING HILL
CAFÉS
Books for Cooks
4 Blenheim Crescent, W11
T
020
7221 1992,
W
www.booksforcooks.com;
!
Ladbroke
Grove or Notting Hill Gate; map pp.274-275.
Cute
dining area within London's top cookery bookshop (see
p.429). Conditions are cosy, to say the least, but it's a great
little find. Wander in and have a coffee and cake while
browsing, or get there in time to grab a seat for the set-
menu lunch, using recipes from one of the topics in the
store (noon-1.30pm).
Tues-Sat 10am-6pm.
Lisboa Patisserie
57 Golborne Rd, W10
T
020 8968
5242;
!
Westbourne Park; map pp.274-275.
Authentic
Portuguese
pastelaria
, a perfect Portobello Rd pitstop, with
the best coffee and
pasteis de nata
(custard tarts) this side
of Lisbon.
Café O'porto
at 62a Golborne Rd is a good fall-
back if this is full.
Daily 8am-6pm.
Tom's Deli
226 Westbourne Grove, W11
T
020 7221
8818,
W
tomsdeli.co.uk;
!
Westbourne Park; map
pp.274-275.
It's all very Notting Hill - relaxed, cluttered,
boho-posh - at this charming, bustling deli-café, which
TOP 5 BUDGET
BLOWERS
Dabbous
The City. See p.372
Dinner
Knightsbridge. See above
The Ledbury
Notting Hill. See p.382
St John
Clerkenwell. See p.376
Viajante
Bethnal Green. See p.379
