A roof terrace restaurant, in London, in the winter? Hmm…

The Venue
Enter what feels like the deliveries door and complete your ascent up the spiral staircase until you reach the twinkling terrace lit with fairy lights. Enough heat lamps are there to prevent goose bumps, although many coats remain buttoned up on the not so courageous of diners. Opaque corrugated sheets protect you from the elements from most sides but unfortunately also block the view.

The Atmosphere
As with the rest of Notting Hill, the clientele is mixed and diverse. Weekends sees all the table filling up with couples and groups planning their next port of call. Service is friendly, frantic and fast but would need to be with the draughty walk from kitchen to table during the winter months.

The Food
The menu is as you would imagine from a Thai restaurant that also provides takeaways. All categories include chef’s specialities, stir fries, curries, seafood and duck dishes, with something for every taste. Not what you would call massively memorable, but you’re here more for the unique set-up and location than the food. A few main dishes such as grilled pork with sweet chilli sauce, grilled beef salad with spicy sauce, whole grilled squid and sea bass make up the grill part of the restaurants name. Thai fish cakes have a spicy, chilli twang, with a good selection of dips. Aromatic duck is crispy and moreish. Meat and fish dishes range from about £6 to £12 with accompanying rice and noodles from about £2.

The Drink
The restaurant serves wine, with the lowest price bottle of wine at about £14. You can also bring your own for a £3 corkage fee.

The Last Word
Thai Garden and Grill has an excellent location and reasonably priced food, but if you’re looking for the glamour and style of Notting Hill then this is perhaps not the best choice. Although a little rough round the edges, it still has a certain charm and bundles of the quirky factor.

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