Notting Hill Diary

I was browsing through some photos on my phone recently when I came across these two. In brief, Ray and I had just left Inn on the Green near Portobello where Rotten Hill Gang had been playing with Mick Jones’s band Carbon Silicon. At the start of this year, Carbon Silicon hosted a run of seven fantastic nights there called Carbon Casino. These shots are just after the last one. We were walking along Portobello Road on the way to a friend’s house for a nightcap when we were pounced on by three paparazzi.

Now I don’t pretend for one minute that they had any interest in me or Ray, or even really in Gaz Mayall, the dapper looking fellow on the left. Just a hunch, but I suspect they might have thought there would be more mileage in a late night bleary eyed shot of Sienna Miller and Rhys Ifans.

I decided it would be nice to see what it looks like from the victims’ angle so I took a shot myself. The next day the same scene from the view of one of the scumbags appeared in the Daily Mail or somesuch quality rag. The nice thing is that it’s taken at exactly the same moment. Look at the position of Sienna’s arm and hand in both shots and, a little bit harder to see, Ray’s right arm and legs. Oh - and the geek in the background with a camera phone to his eye.

As the weazels danced around in front of us like three crazed leprachauns, Rhys called out to them “Right lads, you’ve got thirty seconds or this beer goes over you”. He counted down from about 10 and did indeed give the pieces of human waste probably the closest thing they’d had to a shower all day.

Just for fun, here’s the celebrity spotting page on the the Smirkle site.

Unlike other sites, our policy is only to review pubs and restaurants that we, personally know and have visited. Remember this site is a local’s look at the area and we want you to know that we really are REVIEWING places rather than just quickly cobbling together write ups from other sites.

It’s also the reason that most of the reviews tend to be good. But that fine isn’t it? I mean wouldn’t you rather just hear about the good places?

That said, if you know of a local pub or restaurant you’d like to see reviewed, please suggest it to us, or even write a review yourself. Or buy us a pint down there so we can review it together. That’s OK to!

The Scribe of Rotten Hill

Cuisine: Thai
Value for money: excellent
Atmosphere: good
Service: very good

No 1 Café is so named, because of it’s address, 1 Dalgarno Gardens. Why such an innocuous address for one of the best Thai restaurants in town? We’ll because up until 8 or 9 years ago it was something of a greasy spoon by day and a small Thai restaurant in the evening.

Back then it occupied the tiny centre part of the building with only 6 or 7 tables. It was always packed and did a huge trade in takeaways to hungry diners, who would flock from miles around to sample - did I say “one of the best”? Make that “the best” Thai food in town.

I’ve never heard a bad report of this place and most say it’s the best and most authentic Thai they’ve ever had outside of Thailand. So perhaps it’s not a surprise, although no less impressive, to see that they’ve expanded year on year so that by now they occupy one room to the right and two to the left of the original building and, in the summer months, have tables in the adjacent garden just on the edge of Little Wormwood Scrubs.

Even more impressive is the fact that it has become this popular despite being completely off the beaten track. Situated in a commercial no man”s land between Ladbroke Grove and Scrubs Lane it has no passing trade and has built its reputation almost entirely by word of mouth.

And the food? The food is to die for. I’ve been there many times and almost never been disappointed (there was a brief period a couple of years back when the soups went a bit to salty, but they seem to have overcome that now).

The menu is both extensive and well balanced and, because they offer vegetarian versions of most of their dishes (sometimes TWO vegetarian versions), I’ve been able to try something different every time.

Prices are extremely reasonable and you get to bring your own booze, further driving down the cost of a meal. There’s a corner shop next door that sells drinks, the only other business in an otherwise residential street.

Service is polite, efficient and friendly.

Go to Number One. You will not be disappointed. Even if you have never tasted Thai food before, or you have, but weren’t that keen on it, try Number One.

1 Dalgarno Gardens
London W10 5LL
020 8968 0558

Conveniently located (for me anyway!) on Latimer Road, The Music Space (better known as Grove) is directly opposite Dimitri’s Nektar bar and to a degree the two enjoy a symbiotic relationship.

Owned by the extremely friendly and helpful Alistair (and pleasingly he always seems to employ staff who share his personality traits), the studio is open for (um - I think!) 10am till 12:30 at night, though it’s been known for us to go on longer.

Comprising 5 rehearsal studios over 2 floors, each room has a very usable sound, vocals always being audible over the PA (a common problem in a lot of rehearsal studios). One of the studios downstairs is equipped with recording facilities.

A range of backline is available, including Marshall and Fender guitar amps, Apeg bass bass amps and drumkits.

The prices for both the studios and backline hire can only be described as extremely competitive, especially given the quality of the place and it’s no surprise that bands travel from all over town to make use of its facilities.

The Grove Music Studios
10 Latimer Industrial Estate
Latimer Road
London W10 6RQ

020 8960 9601

Cuisine: pizza
Value for money: good (better in the Chiswick branch)
Service: good (better in the Chiswick branch)
Atmosphere: OK (but then we usually take away)

If you do fancy something a little different out of a pizza experience without compromising quality, try Firezza. As with most decent pizza places they offer a wood fired oven etc etc, but what makes them different is that aside from having near perfect pizza bases (depending on your personal definition thereof) is that they go the extra mile in several areas. For a start, if your order a delivery and one of the toppings is rocket (for example) to make sure everything is as fresh as possible the rocket comes wrapped separately (and a very generous portion of it it is to!).

If you go in there and ask, at the moment all 12″ pizza are £7, even with extra toppings, whcihc theoretically means that for £7 you could have a pizza with one of everything on it. If you a bit nuts. Ask for additional chilli, which Wifey and I always do, and you’re offered the choice of having it added either before or after it’s baked.

Finally, they do rectangular “lengths” of pizza by the half yard, which is ideal for two people. You can switch toppings every quarter yard. It’s a gimic to be sure, but an eye catching one anyway.

And now the strange part. Firezza is a chain of maybe 7 restaurants around London. We first got introduced to it via the one in Chiswick and we go there quite a lot because, well, Chiswick is quite nice and we can pick up a pizza from there and go and sit by the Thames.

The thing is, the Chiswick one is much better than the one on All Saints Road and we’re not sure why. If you’re on All Saints Road and you fancy a pizza you’d do much better to go to Ripe Tomato across the road.

12 All Saints Road
London W11 1HH
02072210020

Choosing a good pizza is a very personal thing, but Red Planet does good, honest pizza that’s a cut above the local competition and just the thing for those Sundays after a late night when you can’t be bothered to cook for yourself.

No one eats a pizza with a view to losing weight so you might as we’ll admit it and go for one of their 15″ pizzas for only one pound more than the 12″ ones. Yes you’ll be stuffed to bursting point, but as my mother says, you don’t have to eat it all at once. Actually she doesn’t say that, but it sounds like the sorts of thing she would say.

So nothing ground breaking, but there are times when you know exactly what you want out of life and don’t need any surprises. Red Planet is for just those times.

167 Ladbroke Grove
W10 6HJ
020 8968 9998

Value for money: good for a pub in this area
Service: good
Atmosphere: very good

It’s a long time since I’ve eaten in the Pelican (though it was excellent last time I did) so I can only review it as a pub. I really do like this place.

Tucked away at end quieter end of All Saints road, it offers a quaintness that has survived its various modernisations. There are interconnecting rooms on two levels an somehow they’ve managed to lay it out so that you feel like talking to people as you pass through.

Al in al its a great place to met friends. The only shame is that it no longer has George Vjestica’s “Dirty Roar” nights, where musicians would perform impromptu sets.

George, incidentally, moved his night to the Tavistock for couple of weeks before that pub closed down. Plans are afoot for him to start I up again as soon as the new owners sort themselves out a PA!

45 All Saints Road
London W11 1HE
0871 3327369

Nektar. An unusual time guarenteed

Split over two floors,the furnishings of this establishment reflect the idiosyncrasies of its owners, Maggie and Dimitri. The effect is as if they’ve collected random pieces from the freebies section of some classified ads site.

The bar benefits from the fact that it is precisely opposite Grove Rehearsal Studios, which guarantees a constant supply of musicians and often quite high profile ones at that. It leads to some interesting drunken conversations after rehearsal time.

Also the haunt of most local musicians, many of them play there, despite the fact that it is a bar clearly designed without band performances in mind. There’s no stage and the mixing console perches uncomfortably on a narrow ledge around an inconveniently placed pillar, while the dj squeezes behind said pillar up against the only door leading the damp hovel of a basement that passes for the dressing room.

But the discomfort of the dj trying to keeping records from skipping as equipment laden musicians edge past is nothing compared to that of the drummer, who sits under the impossiby low staircase hunched over the house kit.

I think the following anecdote sums up Nektar. For some reason for the first few years after the current owners took over the bar, the electricity was on a key. This means that whenever it was running down, you had to run to a shop nearby to charge it up.

One night a number of bands and a dj (me, as it happens) were playing. This used to happen from time to time and the event was called Meet the Greek in honour of Dimitri’s roots. The Magic Numbers were just getting to the final verse of their encore when the power went.

Sean, their drummer, soldiered gamely on while the other three and the entire audience of around 150 packed into a space barely larger than an average living room, sang the chorus over and over and over again, until Dimitri returned from a hasty trip to the local shop, luckily one that opens late, to charge the key.

There is a canopied area in front where you can while away a few hours saying “hi” to passing friends or listening to Dimitri’s unique brand of philosophy.

Would I recommend Nektar? I’m not sure. I rather like the fact that it’s almost completely below the Internet radar. Oh sod it. Yes I would. It’s a bit off the beaten track, but on the right day I can guarantee you a bar experience like no other.

Cuisine: Italian
Food: Fantastic
Service: Excellent
Atmosphere: Excellent

This is a real gem in the heart of Notting Hill on All Saints Road (a street whose name was made only marginally less cool by having once had a girl band named after it).

Simple Italian dishes of the highest quality are served by friendly staff in surroundings that give the impression that you’ve ben invited to dine in a real family restaurant.

In fact this is more than just a contrived impression, being as it is, owned by the affable David and having among its staff son Daniel and his (far from displeasig to the eye) daughter Alexia. Posters from David’s wife Ethel’s previous career on stage (she appeared in the original production of “Hair” adorn the walls.

There are a few tables outside on the pavement, but we chose one of the candle lit tables inside for romantic reasons. We were seated by the charming Eva, who took our drinks order and gave us the menu to peruse.

As ever when I’m writing a restaurant review I had to take my wife. That’s not the chore I just made it sound, it’s because I’m vegetarian and most of you aren’t so you probably want to know what the options are for carnivores too!

The menu is extensive and creative, without being in the least bit pretentious. I’ve been there several times, so it’s hard for me to recommend any specific dishes because they’ve all been good. However here are a few of my favourites.

In the starters I’ve enjoyed the Bruschetta (chopped tomatoes marinated in garlic, olive oil, fresh basil and herbs on toasted bread) and particularly the Insalata di Campo (goat’s cheese, aubergine, courgettes, peppers, artichokes and pine kernals on mixed leaves), but then add goat’s cheese to almost any dish and I’m your friend.

Of the pastas both the Penne Arrabiata and Penne Siciliana are excellent. The latter is the most faithful representation of that classic dish that I’ve had since a visit to Pallermo itself a few years back.

My favourite pizzas are probably the Fiorentina and the Quattro Formaggi. I’m a bit particular about my pizza bases since I tried to eat my way through New York last year and for my money Ripe Tomato get them just right. Light, with just a few bubbley bits, the outside is perfectly “randomly” crusty for a rustic look and taste. Sorry this has all been vegetarian, but wifey isn’t with me to help right now so I can’t ask her what she’s had!

It’s all just simple food, done well.

They don’t have a website because, as David says, “We’re full most evenings already!”. And you know what? There’s something nice about that!

Ripe Tomato serves simple, excellent dishes at very reasonable prices in a friendly, convivial atmosphere and you can’t ask for more than that. Highly recommended.

Ripe Tomato
7 All Saints Road
Notting Hill
W11 1HA

020 7565 0525

Value for money: not bad
Atmosphere: good
Service: good - just

Formerly the Warwick Castle, this is yet another pub on Portobello Road in a brilliant location for the market (yes there are a lot!) and another that’s undergone a renovation, though in this case it was a few years ago now and actually, they transformed it from being a rather shaby affair with a bad reputation (or god one, if an evening of random violence is your thing) to one with rather a nice atmosphere.

Not, to my mind, an atmosphere like to diagonally opposite and one block away Market Bar (you’re never likely to hear locals saying “Let’s meet at The Castle” in the same way), just different. The fod looks very god here (and once I’ve eaten I’ll tell you for sure) and the staff are just certainly friendly and attentive.

In brief, it’s more that there’s nothing not to like rather than a place to go overboard about, but that’s a judgement by me personally. The relaxed crowd outside on a Saturday afternoon or inside almost any evening attest to its popularity.

225 Portobello Road
W11 1LU
tel: 02072217103