Tag Archives: West London

Goode & Wright, Portobello

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Portobello shoppers will rejoice upon discovering Goode & Wright, a brilliant brunch hang-out in Notting Hill. Westbourne Grove has plenty of options for mid-morning meals, but on Portobello Road it is trickier to find food indoors. I usually grab a snack from the street vendors at the market but last Saturday I was very happy to take a seat at Goode & Wright and indulge in their comfort food.

We squeezed in between the hungry diners and began perusing the menu. The restaurant describes itself as ‘a French bistro with a British twist’, the decor mimics a Parisian eatery with lovely panelling and simply dressed wooden tables; the menu features some classic British flavours. The restaurant was packed and hopeful latecomers were turned away at the door.

I immediately spotted several of my favourite ingredients on the menu: avocado, bacon, parmesan… it was impossible just to choose one dish, so I chose two! Luckily I’d been for a run that morning so my guilt was eased. For a savoury course, I ordered the brioche roll with bacon, avocado and tomato and for ‘sweet’ the Gypsy toast (French toast) with maple bacon and grilled tomatoes. My guest opted for the Austrian inspired Buttermilk chicken schnitzel with avocado and salad. It was all delicious, fresh from the kitchen and smelling divine. The brioche was soft and fluffy with grilled crispy, salty bacon and creamy avocado, I asked for a helping of mayo which complemented the dish. The chicken received a rave review from my guest, a giant flattened chicken breast covered in an irresistible coating. French toast is increasingly hard to find on London breakfast menus so I was delighted to spot it at G&W; the portion size is huge and the combination of sugary thick eggy bread and bacon makes for an indulgently tasty treat.

I was disappointed to hear fresh juice is not available here, so instead ordered a milky flat white, which arrived lukewarm. Despite these minor drawbacks, I thought the food was filling and fabulous, and the service speedy and friendly. A feast here will fuel an afternoon of searching for bargains in the market or just provide a cosy venue for a weekend meal with a friend.

More information and book here.

Albertine winebar, Shepherd’s Bush

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After a tiring day trawling the shops of Westfield I always crave a chilled glass of white wine. Despite living in the Shepherd’s Bush area for years I have only recently discovered the delightful Albertine wine bar.

Slightly removed from the main grubby Shepherd’s Bush strip, Albertine has a charming old-fashioned feel with tired but characterful wooden furniture, a blackboard with special suggestions, dimmed lighting and clouded windows. The vibe is very different to anywhere else in this loud and busy area of London. I felt like I was hanging out in a little tavern frequented by the Hogwarts students and magicians.

Albertine is definitely not a newbie, and has been satisfying West London customers for decades. A huge range of bottles are picked for their individual and unique qualities. The global list features over 130 wines with something to suit every requirement and taste. The prices are reasonable too, for less than £30 you can enjoy a fine bottle with a delectable cheese board and bread to accompany.

Wine bars are making an apparent revival in London at the moment, and Albertine is a great place to enjoy this growing trend.

Follow Albertine wine bar on Twitter here.

Dock Kitchen, Ladbroke Grove

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Dock Kitchen certainly does things differently. The industrial, open plan restaurant is found at Portobello Dock in West London, in an unusual urban landscape. Chef Stevie Parle runs an experimental kitchen, the menu constantly evolves dependent on the seasons and inspired by his recent travels. With each dish he hopes to evoke a sense of place, the flavour of a city, a culinary world that is unexpected and exciting for the diner.

The building itself is intriguing, this converted Victorian Wharf building is part of the regeneration project by Derwent London. The original brick arches and beamed ceilings have been preserved and combined with an exclusive display of Tom Dixon furniture and lighting to create an honest, open space in keeping with Stevie’s food. The Tom Dixon shop resides directly beneath the restaurant and houses pieces from over a dozen international designers.

A big group of us visited a few weeks ago to try the new Lebanese menu. Each month a different country’s cuisine is represented, most recently Indonesia and Sardinia. We sat outside on the terrace, where the atmosphere was pleasant but the service was slow and we felt rather neglected. The wine list is reasonable, or one can choose from the exotic cocktails and craft beers. While settling in we all enjoyed the fried sage leaves, grilled squid with romesco and friggitelli peppers and the beef kofte with cucumber, tomato and seasoned yoghurt. The food was simple and fresh as well as moreishly flavoursome.

The Lamb Biryani with rose petals, black cumin, coriander and almonds is a beautiful mix of components. The meat and rice is cooked in a clay pot and sealed with dough, it feels almost ceremonial breaking the crust to reveal the steaming food beneath. I loved the chicken with spiced green beans, labneh, fried chickpeas and herbs, a lovely fragrant summery dish with the perfect balance of spice and contrasting sweet pomegranate. Fish eaters will rejoice at the Cod, octopus and mussel moilee with trombetta squash and rice, it is an amazing bowl of curry with tentacles and mussels poking out ready for consumption.

The desserts seem to be less strictly part of the country’s cuisine, but a variety of sweet treats all the same. Salted caramel ice-cream is enjoyable but unexciting, Chocolate with cultured cream and burnt salty honeycomb is not your typical cocoa pudding, with a rich and almost bitter taste; speckled with moss green pistachio crumbs, it looks very pretty and was finished in seconds.

I love the idea that you can visit Dock Kitchen every month and travel round the world with Stevie’s creative menu. So step out of your comfort zone and embrace the exoticism and excitement of this innovative restaurant.

More information here: www.dockkitchen.co.uk

From 6 September Dock Kitchen will be serving a Polynesian menu.