Harden's survey result
Summary
For “boozy lunches and elbows-on-the-table guzzling”, Tom Conran‘s Irish-themed ‘Guinness-and-oysters’ pub on the fringe of Notting Hill is hard to beat; and a pint plus a pint of prawns or other seafood platter helps fuel the excellent craic. In addition to plentiful crustacea, there’s a solid choice of “good food done well”, with a separate menu in the cute and tiny upstairs dining room.
Summary
Tom Conran’s lively Bayswater favourite celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, and remains “a wonderful spot for a long lunch, starting with Guinness and oysters”. There has been no need to update the Irish pub theme, which is as fashionable as ever (as witnessed in the recent launch of The Devonshire off Piccadilly Circus). The artless cooking is “foodie” but straightforward, with seafood (oysters, whelks, cockles, crab or a pint-of-prawns) the top pick. Top Tip – tiny, cute first-floor dining room, with a separate menu.
Summary
One of London’s original gastropubs, Tom Conran’s Irish-themed “neighbourhood joint” in Bayswater still hits the spot after nearly 30 years. “Whoever is in the kitchen does a terrific job, as the food is delicious”. It “can be noisy with bigger parties” and “the upstairs dining room is only small” – but you can always eat in the main bar.
Summary
Almost 30 years on, Tom Conran’s Irish-themed gastropub is “still ace” – “all chaos and noise; with happy, if haphazard service; plus excellent prawns by the half-pint, and outstanding fish soup (of sonorous depth, with generous chunks of fish and a whopping kick of chilli and love)” – and of course “a fine pint of Guinness”. Top Tip – “downstairs is where the atmosphere is”, not the cramped first-floor dining room.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Cow?
89 Westbourne Park Rd, London, W2 5QH
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinner | £18.00 | £23.00 |  |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £14.50 | £28.00 | £9.00 | £6.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £40.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £8.00 |
| Service | 15.00% |
89 Westbourne Park Rd, London, W2 5QH
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | 11 am‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 11 am‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 11 am‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 11 am‑11 pm |
| Friday | 11 am‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 11 am‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
Best Irish restaurants nearby
Irish restaurant in Kensington and Chelsea
Irish restaurant in Wandsworth
Irish restaurant in London
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
Middle Eastern restaurant in Bayswater
Fish & seafood restaurant in Maida Vale
Italian restaurant in Notting Hill
