The Burrito Bar is an enticing offering from Whole Foods Market’s food court on the first floor providing tasty and adequate sustenance before resuming your day of shopping or returning to work.

The Venue
The Whole Foods Market is a new approach to shopping and dining from – where else – America, who have over two hundred of these stores dotted across the fifty states. If you didn’t know this place had its American origins, you would inevitably come to that conclusion anyway. All the produce looks fresh, the staff seem highly motivated and the design is sleek and businesslike.

The Atmosphere
The food court has a remarkably clean, inoffensive and wholesome look to it. It does however get terribly busy at lunchtime creating more of a chaotic atmosphere which is dealt with superbly by the efficient staff. There’s a real London-style hustle and bustle between 12pm and 2pm resulting in a lack of ambience about the place. People queue eagerly with trays, grab their cutlery and pull up a seat at one of the many long canteen-style tables - they’re on a mission, a mission to refuel, and that’s it. One would imagine that this is the objective of Whole Foods Market; to consume and continue shopping. The difference here is that the food served is a cut above your normal shopping mall pit-stop fare. The Burrito Bar, one of around nine food bars in this court, is no exception.

The Food
At the Burrito Bar, you get to choose your own burrito. The list of ingredients resembles any you’d get in the US which speaks volumes as to Whole Foods’ principles on selling and using authentic ingredients. The Chipotle chicken, the traditional choice for burritos and tortillas, is succulent and juicy with sour cream and tomatoes oozing reassuringly from the hot wrap. The one criticism would be the overloading of black beans which explode from the wrap after the first bite. It’s nice to be the benefactor of such generosity but it does make you look a little clumsy in front of other diners.

The Drink
The bar only serves food so should you require a drink, there is a wide selection of non-alcoholic beverages, juices and smoothies at the Juice Bar opposite.

The Last Word
Whole Foods have brought quality food to the world of shopping hall food courts. This addition to Kensington High Street is certainly an exciting prospect and no doubt the shape of things to come.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (1)