London - The Ledbury

The Ledbury décor is straight from the pages of World of Interiors magazine - comfortable high back chairs, wide parquet floors, flowers recessed into pillars and a little too much down lighting.   Floor to ceiling mirrors draped with curtains cover one wall, giving the impression of increased space, but more importantly, the opportunity to watch the other diners behind you.

Positioned in a posh residential street in Notting Hill, people really do dress up for dinner here, making the people watching very worthwhile. The clientele is a little middle-aged.

Skeletal women, (who clearly have weekly, if not daily hair appointments), in neat, Chanel suits, dine with overindulged men in Armani pin stripes and bright Hermes ties.

Think Ivana Trump and Mohamed Al Fayed.

The waiting staff reflect the ambience of the place; very smart, very efficient and very French.  In fact my starter was presented with strong French pronunciation –

“Asparagus, tomato and CRAP.’

But it wasn’t crap. It was crab and it really was delicious.  The presentation and quality of the food is fabulous, so it is surprising that one can usually book an 8.30pm table the day before.  Although the restaurant is always full it is never packed, and as a couple you can often sit adjacent to one another, looking out across the room from a round table which could easily accommodate four. 

Late arrivals one evening were Gordon and Tanya Ramsay.  Gordon couldn’t sit still for more than five minutes. He kept disappearing to the back of the restaurant. Initially, one might have assumed the poor man was suffering from bladder problems. It was actually the kitchen and the calibre of the cuisine which was attracting his attention.

The food, with various taster accompaniments, is good value at £50 for three courses.  The wine list is also fairly priced. For example, ‘La Dame de Montrose’  98 at £52 and a half bottle of Segla for £27.50.

The Ledbury is slightly off the beaten track, in upper Notting Hill, but well worth the extra mile.

The Ledbury
127 Ledbury Road
London
W11 2AQ

020 7792 9090

http://www.theledbury.com/