London Chiswick Restaurant Guide

“Really innovative Indian food” is making its mark at this newbie from Kuldeep Mattegunta and Mustaq Tappewale, who met while working at Kricket in Soho and have taken over the former premises in deepest Chiswick of much-lamented Hedone (RIP) – including the open kitchen (“sitting at the counter watching the food being cooked is fun”). “Unusual and superbly made dishes” put it “in a different league from most Indian restaurants.”

“Authentic bourgeois French cuisine” is on the menu at this “old-fashioned” but “superbly run” Gallic fixture with a “lovely atmosphere” by Acton Green. “Classic and reliable but with real flair”, locals consider themselves “lucky to have this in W4”, while plenty of regulars from further afield appreciate the “very good value for a full-service French restaurant”.

A “great stalwart for years” – this spacious Victorian tavern by Acton Green Common is a “good local” with the unexpected feature of a “Spanish-inspired” selection of tapas and other dishes, alongside more standard British roasts on a Sunday. Look out for the charming rear dining room, with small garden.

“An absolute treasure to have on the doorstep” for Gunnersbury residents – this funky café south of Turnham Green dispenses excellent coffee and has an ace vinyl collection to rifle through and choose a tune. “The food is always delicious too, and imaginatively served. We love it!”

“Wonderful coffee and great pastries” are served at this rustic Chiswick spot, inspired by the cultural coffee shops where artists and politicos gather in Rio. All the baked goods – empanadas, croissants and pasteis de nata – are made daily on the premises, and they have begun to roast their own Brazilian coffee beans.

“It’s wonderful being able to choose so many wines by the glass” from the “eclectic list” at these popular modern wine bars, liked for their approachable contemporary style. “Obviously the liquid refreshment is the main point here”, but the “simple” cooking can be “more assured than you might expect”, if from a “limited menu”. A new branch opened in late 2021 at Borough Yards in SE1, while in late 2022 its oldest site, on Seymour Place in Marylebone, shut up shop. Other particularly notable branches include the one right by King’s Cross station (with a convenient and excellent terrace) and Chiswick.

“Very consistent and reliable sushi” wins a loyal local following for this no-frills, family-run pit stop, a short walk from Turnham Green tube.

The longstanding (est. 2006) Chiswick branch of Soho House seems to have been left behind as founder Nick Jones’s empire spreads around the world. It occupies a prominent site on the busy High Road with a cute outside terrace, but generates precious little feedback these days – even by reporters who like its modern brasserie cooking.

The “mix of Asian food slightly adapted for all tastes” and offered at “really reasonable prices” makes this long-running chain “a family favourite”. Founded at the Brunswick Centre in Bloomsbury 26 years ago, it now has branches in Ealing, Putney, Kensington and Chiswick, along with two delivery-only kitchens. Top Tip – “you can’t beat the curry laksa”.

With “one of West London’s top pub gardens”, this “great local” – on the Acton-Chiswick border – with a green-tiled Art Deco facade excels for its “delicious food and welcoming service” under the direction of “a proper landlady”. There’s also a “charming nook-filled room” for “Sunday lunch gatherings in the winter”.

This “fantastic independent neighbourhood restaurant” in Chiswick serves an “adventurous” modern European menu of “delicious and unusual dishes”. Approaching its second birthday, it’s the first solo project from Newly Appointed Head Chef Nathan Cornwell representing fine local British cuisine.

This “rather sweet little café” in Chiswick from transplanted South African Angie Steele provides “very friendly and quick service for a light menu” of healthy-ish treats from breakfast to 5pm.

‘Food, Passion, Glamour’ is the mantra of this funky neighbourhood bar/restaurant, owned by restaurateur Lorraine Angliss (of Annie’s and Little Bird), who – having operated in Richmond for many years – opened a second site on Chiswick’s main strip in Spring 2022.

Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, this Middle Eastern venture on Chiswick’s main drag has gradually expanded its scope over the years from offering daytime “lovely loose-leaf tea and good coffee with a great selection of cakes”. “At night, it transforms into a Lebanese / Eastern Med restaurant, serving a pretty traditional menu with fresh tasty dishes and Lebanese wines to hand”.

With its inviting décor, this fast-expanding group has been a big “winner” since the pandemic, mushrooming to 18 sites, all of which have generally proved useful additions to their respective areas. But while “it certainly looks the part, and the staff look after you well enough”, the brunch-friendly fare can be hit ’n’ miss, with reports ranging from “surprisingly good” to “formulaic and really abysmal”. Top Tip – “always a top option for feeding the family”.

This Mediterranean fusion spot on the edge of Bedford Park in Chiswick combines “excellent pizzas and tapas”. The gazebo adds to the Med effect in good weather.