London Chiswick Restaurant Guide

Chef Kuldeep Mattegunta and Mustaq Tappewale, both formerly of Kricket, joined forces to open this permanent location in Chiswick (on the former site of Hedone, RIP) in late 2020, just at the moment Tier 3 came into operation (and had coverage on the Beeb as a result). It’s the product of a series of pop-ups serving adventurous Indian food – little initial feedback so far, but such as we have says the Indian tapas cuisine is “outstanding”.

2018 Review: A “re-invention of the old fire station in Chiswick” – from neighbourhood bar chain Darwin & Wallace – “an open airy space, successfully divided into various differing areas”. Its Aussie-style menu generally produces “well thought-out” and “tasty” dishes, but although service is “friendly” its speed can be “very slack”.

2018 Review: “One of the best local cheap eats” – this pair of Persian kitchens in Chiswick and East Sheen are “not to be missed if in the locale”.

2021 Review: With its “lovely sunny courtyard” and gracious interior, Harcourt Inns’ Chiswick yearling represents a successful realisation of the potential of this big, very characterful building (formerly Carvosso’s RIP, and originally Chiswick’s Victorian police station) as a chichi neighbourhood gastropub. But while the food’s consistently well-rated, anyone expecting to experience the magic of the place’s much PR’d associations with Harcourt’s chef-director Henry Harris (erstwhile patron of Knightsbridge’s legendary, but long-defunct, Racine) will likely leave disappointed by food that’s creditable pub grub for W4, but nowt more. (And in October 2020, Henry Harris parted company with the group).

All stylish white tablecloths and “romantic, old-school” atmosphere – this Acton Green fixture serves “really good French bistro cuisine” to a happy crowd of regulars. “So consistent for so long”, it “gets very busy at weekends” – “long may Le Vacherin last – there are far too few places like it”. The one muted criticism, voiced by a minority of reporters, is that it “never quite delivers on expectations – we always leave wanting just a bit more”.

A classic Victorian tavern by Acton Green Common with “lovely pub food you can rely on” from a Spanish tapas-style menu, served in a “beautiful dining room” at the rear, leading out to a small garden. As a bonus for local families, it’s notably “good with kids”.

Select sounds from the in-house vinyl collection to listen to while you sip excellent coffee at this “wonderful local café” near Turnham Green. There’s also “surprisingly great food (the chicken salad is a delight to the eye and the palate)”.

“Top-quality cooking” at “very reasonable prices” is a consistent refrain from aficionados of Michael Nadra’s neighbourhood duo, in Chiswick and Camden Town. They are a slightly odd couple – the former tightly packed off the high street; the latter out-of-the-way, near the Regent’s Canal, and with a “nice little courtyard for warm evenings”. In both locales, the modern European menu uses “high-quality ingredients” and is “pleasantly served by charming staff who meet all demands”. Recent changes have been generally welcomed: “it’s more of a brasserie-style offering now (I preferred the old cooking, but I’m in a minority of people I know)”. Note – Chiswick remains ‘temporarily closed’ as of September 2021, but a relaunch is promised ‘as soon as possible’.

A “lovely local” near Turnham Green, this “family-owned Italian” is “tiny but with terrific food and atmosphere”. There’s a good range of pizzas but the Puglian dishes are what makes it special.

“A bizarre concept – coffee and empanadas – but it works. Who knew?!” This small Chiswick coffee bar, just off the high road, is “a great spot to while away an hour on the sunny terrace… and there’s top coffee, too”.

This modern take on the wine bar “sets the benchmark for an imaginative, indeed educational, wine list” – with “constantly surprising selections from far-flung places alongside the old-world classics”. There are “good choices by the glass, though prices can start quickly to move upwards”, and the “food is generally surprisingly good, with good-value set-lunch options”. The ultra-handily situated King’s Cross branch draws some flak for being “just too popular”, while branches in the City, Faringdon, Marylebone and Chiswick all have their fans. A new branch is scheduled to open by Borough Market in late 2021.

“An unassuming place in Turnham Green Terrace” – this basic, family-run Japanese café delivers “some really excellent sushi and sashimi”: “a wonderful selection at a reasonable price”.

Soho House seem to have forgotten about their all-day brasserie in a prominent spot on the Chiswick High Road – the most generous critic in our latest survey says it’s “unfortunately not as good as it was”. Others are much harsher: “pretentious and not worth the money”; “grabby on pricing”; “lazy, careless and very popular – go figure”.

These pan-Asian pitstops can knock up anything from “reliable Japanese” dishes to “amazing curry laksa” with great speed and efficiency. Launched in Bloomsbury, the chain has expanded slowly over 25 years and now has branches in Ealing, Putney, Kensington and Chiswick.

2018 Review: “The meat is right on the money” – “beautifully cooked” – at this “relaxed” two-year-old Chiswick outpost of Islington’s Smokehouse, in a converted pub with very cute garden. It’s “dog-friendly”, too, although your poor canine may drool with envy in this environment!

“Rustic yet accomplished” sums up the appeal of this “reliable local” on the Acton-Chiswick border – and refers to both its “stylish pub food with an Italian twist” and to its “lovely garden”. “Love the honest food, good service and great ambience” – the Art Deco green tiles and wood panelling are further distinguishing features.

“A brilliant addition to the neighbourhood” – this Chiswick site was formerly a branch of Brew (next to W4’s thriving Franco Manca), and, despite opening in tricky times (October 2020), wins enthusiastic local praise. The first solo project from Kimberley Hernandez (previously head chef at XU and Kym’s), it’s a relatively ambitious neighbourhood restaurant for this chain-filled high street, with “competent”, “flavoursome” modern European cooking.

This “spacious” late-Victorian tavern on Chiswick’s main drag is thriving under “very impressive new management” who have installed a new pizza kitchen and revived the “lovely garden” with a large covered terrace. “They took over just before the first lockdown and worked their socks off to get it right – and boy, have they succeeded” with its “honest and reliable” food offer.

Angie Steele’s Chiswick café again gets a big thumbs-up, including from the local yummy mums, for its brunch treats, cakes and other simple, healthy-ish fare.