London Chelsea Restaurant Guide

Opening in late 2020 – between lockdowns – the “lovely outdoor seating” at this large newcomer set around a Chelsea courtyard quickly came into its own. It’s the debut restaurant for Hugh Stanley, with Olivia Burt (ex-Claridge’s and MasterChef: The Professionals winner) at the stoves, and although some sceptics feel it “doesn’t live up to Liv Burt’s performance on TV”, the majority of reports are of food with “exceptional quality and presentation”.

“Large portions of cheap, tasty food” gives this street-food operation rarity value in pricey Chelsea. “Nothing fancy, just really tasty Vietnamese noodles and soup, located below street level with an eating area under tents”. The name translates as “happy Buddha” – but that’s not why they sell branded T-shirts…

2021 Review: “When all you want is an old-school burger”, these US-based arrivals of recent years really “hit the spot” – you can “build your own”, with “tons of accessories”; plus “seriously addictive fries”, “thick milkshakes”, and “more soda flavours than is reasonable”. “The eat-in experience is as depressing as McDonald’s”, though, in fact perhaps more so – “some branches have a strangely gloomy ambience” – but fans feel that “if you don’t mind 1980s-rock, a trip can still be surprisingly fun”.

This lovely 200-year-old pub in a Chelsea backstreet serves a very decent menu (including “child-friendly” options) and is thriving follow a smart refurb under the ownership of Rupert Clevely’s Hippo Inns for the second time – in 2010 he sold it to brewer Youngs as part of Geronimo Inns.

“Always ambient and fun” – Richard Caring’s stretching (twisting?) of the Ivy brand is easy to snipe at but has so far avoided degenerating into farce. For sure, “the food is certainly nothing superior”: fans may claim it’s “more than adequate”, but its overall ratings nowadays are only just the right side of poor. That said, even critics of the cooking often feel that the “lovely” interiors and “welcoming service” provide compensation, and fit the bill for making an occasion of a meal. In the capital, the most mentioned outlets are The Ivy Chelsea Garden (“delightful garden tables and ideal for a noisy girls’ night out”); and The Ivy Kensington Brasserie (“huge fun, loads of buzz” and “always a treat”). The Ivy City Garden and Canary Wharf’s Ivy in the Park follow along in terms of volume of feedback. The newest member of the spin-off family is The Ivy Victoria – a vast space with 300 guests over two floors.

“Tasty sharing plates” – sourced from the family farm and vineyard in Sussex – earn general praise for this “charming” but “cramped” and oddly proportioned faux-rustic dining room in Chelsea. Rabbit was the second of the Gladwin brothers’ ‘farm-to-fork’ small plates London venues, following The Shed in Notting Hill and preceding Nutbourne in Battersea and Sussex in Soho. The fifth, The Fat Badger in Richmond, is due to open in late 2021.

“Absolutely top-notch food” – “pricey but great!” – is the key to the steady growth enjoyed by this Copenhagen-based Japanese group, whose most recent (2019) openings in Soho and Chelsea join established venues across London. It’s “an interesting concept, well executed” – “fresh and delicious sushi”, yakitori skewers, and “colourful, almost art-directed salads”, delivered in dining rooms that combine clean, Japanese minimalism with Danish hygge.

2019 Review: This “great little Italian pizza place” in a side street off the King’s Road is a “best-in-class for a cheap and cheerful bite”. There’s a “limited menu, but what it does it does well”… and has done for yonks.

2021 Review: These “buzzing family-run Italians” in southwest London create “an exceptional atmosphere” for large parties of all ages – and “they won’t break the bank”. “Despite the celebratory brouhaha, they produce a very respectable menu of traditional dishes – fish stew, duck, pizza on demand” – “even the veggies are catered for”. “Expect noise and old people dancing.”

“There’s a real buzz and warmth” to this tiny but “intimate” Venetian trattoria off the King’s Road, which packs in well-heeled Chelsea locals and their children. Roberto Colussi, who founded it in 1984, died four years ago, but its regulars continue to recommend it as “great for a night with good friends”. “The cooking is amazing given its minute kitchen”, but overall “you don’t really go to Ziani’s for the food”.

Never known to stand still in its 800-year history, Borough Market has expanded again. Hot on the heels of its home delivery service (www.goodsixty.co.uk/borough-market) is this new food hall, just off Winchester Walk, which features 13 permanent fitted kitchens and a further 10 pop-up stalls – a crucible for young brands that are going places. Current incumbents include Applebee’s Fish stall, Brindisa Kitchen, Juma Kitchen, the phenomenal Mei Mei, and Rudie’s Jerk Shack.

A “delicious range of Malay-Chinese food” on the menu at this smart Chelsea outfit is the reason why “a lot of Asians eat here”. This London offspring of a successful Oxford restaurant has taken on a tricky site in Sydney Street where others have failed to last the distance.

The nice roof terrace at the 30-year-old Chelsea branch is the main reason to mention this small pizza chain, which also has siblings in Battersea and Wimbledon (the latter has yet to re-open as of September 2021).

“Consistently good food from an appealing menu” has earned a solid following for this Asian-fusion chain with branches in Soho, Marylebone, Primrose Hill, Chelsea and Barnes. Opinion is split on the relative merits of its two main offerings – all agree on the “terrific sushi” but others register both pros and cons for the hot dishes.

2021 Review: An “intriguing concept” – ‘A rotation of Mammas’ from 20 different Italian regions per year provide the hearty scoff at this welcoming Chelsea yearling, where handmade pasta is something of a feature. By all accounts, the formula works, delivering “interesting dishes not found in your typical Italian restaurant” to a consistently good standard, and – for the ’hood – it’s not especially pricey either.

The casually luxurious DNA of Goodmans and Burger & Lobster is evident at this two-year-old venture (opened in December 2019), overlooking Chelsea Green. What is essentially a surf ’n’ turf menu with seafood and USDA steaks sold by the 100g is bolstered by Italian dishes and pasta, all served in an elegant, vaguely Alpine setting, complete with fire pit and wooden ceiling. For the most part reports are all good – “a very welcome addition” – but, on the downside, ratings are dragged down by the fact that it’s “soooo expensive”.

The PR for this newly relaunched King’s Road pub says it’s a ‘much-loved institution’, but we hadn’t heard of it before its mid-2021 relaunch. Still, it’s got a prime Chelsea location; it’s got a fine restored interior (dating from 1838); and it’s got strong backing, with investors led by Dominic Jacobs of The Running Horse Mayfair and Jyotin, Karam & Sunaina Sethi, of JKS Restaurants. The culinary team has splendid form too – Kitchen Table’s James Knappett is collaborating with chef Alex Harper, who has The Ledbury and The Harwood Arms on his CV.

“Full of bright, light flavours” – and from a superbly imaginative, “fresh and varied menu” – Phil Howard’s “splendid” ‘flexitarian’ cuisine continues to delight and inspire at this Chelsea five-year-old, in a chichi backstreet. “No expense accounters here – just real people spending their own money on wonderful food in a really friendly contemporary environment”, and with notably “attentive but unobtrusive” staff. Its ratings blipped slightly this year, and even a diner reporting his best meal of the year felt it was “struggling to find its rhythm, as so many places are post-lockdown”. More typically, though, diners “are thrilled to come back here” – “during the lockdowns, he kept us going with civilized, assemble-at-home meals, but the reopening has made us realize what a master he is. Carry on!!!”.