Tootsies does no-nonsense, diner-style comfort food to a very high standard. The prices may be a little higher than other chains, but the results are worth it.

The Venue
Tootsies sits only a few hundred metres away from Holland Park tube, overlooked by the towering mansions of the Notting Hill glitterati, so you might be expecting some exclusivity here. However this restaurant is easygoing, with a tasteful yet fun feel. It’s an intimate venue, but you don’t feel cramped, and the smart pale green and cream colour scheme creates a calming ambience. Tootsies used to market itself as an Amercian diner-style chain, but apart from the comfortable booth seats along one side of the venue, it feels quite European in design.

The Atmosphere
Eating here feels relaxing. The music is quiet, the decor relaxing and the staff friendly. The staff are keen to talk and advise and service comes with a genuine smile. Despite the intimate size of the place, you get the impression it never gets too full or overly busy. The crowd is a mixture of families and young couples.

The Food
Foodwise Tootsies does what is says on the tin and does it well, surpassing other chain rivals like Giraffe without costing very much more. The menu offers a wide range of dishes and styles, combining diner food like burgers, wraps and salads with interesting mains like fish and chips, beef and ale pie and butternut rissotto.

After a generous appetiser of garliccy olives and mixed nuts, the Meditteranean platter (£8.95) is a fine way to start the meal. A long ceramic sharing tray is brought out packed with olives, creamy feta cheese, red pepper houmous and turtle bean salsa – a fresh Mexican mix of spicy beans, tomatoes, onions and herbs. A generous serving of flat pitta breads helps you get through the dips which, while offering no real surprises, are consistently tasty. What’s more the portions are more than enough for two people.

For mains the smoked burger, a new addition, shows just how well Tootsies do classic American staples. While the £9.50 price tag might seem a tad steep, this burger proves worth it. The beef burger is high quality and huge, and the nutty Monterey Jack cheese and smokey chipotle ketchup mix perfectly. The added topping of bacon (£1.00) and generous side of fries make this feel simple yet really satisfying. The baby back ribs (£12.50) are a treat as well. This whole slab of soft and easy-to-eat ribs comes with a sweet teriyaki glaze (barbecue is an option also) and a generous helping of redslaw – a creamy red cabbage coleslaw. The dish is served with a wide selection of relishes and pickles and a large side of tasty fries.

Dessert at Tootsies come in dangerously large sizes. The Fire and Ice Sundae (£5.95) is a classic with a twist. This huge serving of vanilla ice cream, pear and ginger chutney, butterscotch popcorn, chocolate chilli sauce and mountains of whipped cream is a real surprise. The pear and ginger chutney gives it tang, while the chilli in the chocolate sauce leaves a warm afterglow in your mouth and throat – nice once you get used to it. The less adventurous alternative is banana and butterscotch sundae (£5.95) featuring bananas, vanilla ice cream, chocolate and butterscotch sauce and whipped cream. Still, this creamy, calorific treat is the definition of comfort food and leaves you feeling pleasantly like a beached whale.

The Drink
Tootsies offers a good range of smoothies (£2.95), and you can choose from a peach and mango or a raspberry base with a 100% pure fruit mix of your choice blended in. Peach and mango with banana is thick, creamy and tangy, and raspberry with peach refreshes and feels full of healthy vitamins. The wine list is good with a big selection of low- to mid-priced roses, reds and whites. There is also a good range of reasonably priced cocktails.

The Last Word
Tootsies doesn’t offer gastronomical innovation but it is not trying to. What it does offer is well made, fresh tasting, classic dishes for just-about affordable prices. Add to this a relaxing ambience and friendly staff and you have all the ingredients for a really enjoyable meal.

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