92 Kensington Park Road,
Notting Hill,
London,
W11 2PN
0871 971 4507
Note: Calls cost 10p per min plus network extras.
The ViewLondon Review
The jewel in the crown of brasseries – a chic restaurant with stunning food and piano jazz – what more could you want?
The Venue
Tucked away behind trendy Ladbroke Grove, the Notting Hill Brasserie restaurant occupies a fashionably discreet location. The building is converted from three Victorian terrace houses with grand looking tall windows and green manicured pot plants flanking the entrance. There’s something quite quintessentially London about it that it makes you feel like you should be in a Richard Curtis film!
The Atmosphere
The restaurant has a sophisticated, mellow vibe. The sounds of the tinkling piano jazz greet you as you walk into the bar. Low warm lighting and a cream and beige colour scheme create a sophisticated effect. The tables are spaced well apart to create a sense of spaciousness as you sink into the big custom made armchairs. The sophisticated setting is given a quirky twist by the modern African art that dots the walls. The live piano music creates a disarmingly light atmosphere to counteract any possible stuffiness.
The Food
The Notting Hill Brasserie is not your common or garden moules, frites and a bottle of plonk style of brasserie. In fact, the brasserie name is really quite misleading altogether! The focus here is on creative, modern European cooking of an exceptional standard. A starter of a light cannelloni of lobster and freshwater prawn with cepe puree is delicious – perfectly offset with an airy, delicate shellfish veloute. The roast fillet of monkfish with sweet parsnip puree and mussel ragout is an expert balancing of flavours. The monkfish is soft and tender and fortunately not tough. Like monkfish, scallops are often a casualty of over-cooking in restaurants, but the sauteed scallops with cauliflower puree, stuffed squid and chorizo is beautifully delicate and plump.
Notting Hill Brasserie is somewhat famous for one main course - the Chateaubriand roasted in a salt crust, with chips with Bearnaise sauce. Try this and you will see why. The salt crust gives the Chateaubriand an incredibly soft texture and the fluffy centre with crispy outside of the handmade chunky chips will make you fall in love with the potato all over again. Desserts are predictably delicious. The creme brulee is stunning – an ambrosial creamy centre with a perfect brulee.
The Drink
The long wooden bar by the piano serves up some masterful cocktails. This is the kind of place that makes you want to have a martini or a cosmopolitan - both of which are fantastic and would give any London mixologist a run for his money. The wine list is well chosen and comprehensive. The waiters are experts and will suggest a suitable bottle for your meal.
The Last Word
Notting Hill Brasserie is a very special restaurant with exceptional food in magical surroundings – the kind of place you will remember forever.
Notting Hill Brasserie has been reviewed by 2 users