London Hammersmith Restaurant Guide

“The perfect pub” – this “brilliant all-round” hostelry, in a leafy sidestreet near Ravenscourt Park, is one of London’s top gastropubs: a status it’s maintained for two decades now. Its “seasonal” cooking is “unfussy but universally well-prepared and tasty”, “the wine list is very reasonable, there’s great cask beer” and it’s “always full and humming”. Service has had its ups and downs over the years: “it’s better than ever” at present: “friendly but not overwhelming”. Top Tip – “T-bone night is fantastic and exceptional value”.

A short stroll from un-lovely Hammersmith Broadway, this atmospheric pub (with outside terrace) surprises with its characterful style and quality cooking. “It’s getting busier and busier during the week, but weekends can be surprisingly quiet”.

A “great”, “traditional pub” in a cute warren of Hammersmith backstreets, which has been somewhat gentrified by successive managements, but which has ‘kept it real’ as a community boozer better than most. Steak is the top tip on the “good value” menu.

Ruth Rogers’ “thrilling” canteen, in an “out-of-the-way” Hammersmith backstreet (originally founded to serve husband, Richard’s, architectural practice) has won global renown on the back of “perfectly seasoned” Italian dishes “of such bare simplicity the quality of the phenomenal ingredients truly sing”. “On a hot day, there’s no better spot in London” than its “delightful” outside terrace near the Thames; and in cooler weather, its “faithfully preserved 1990s-chic” interior, though “tightly packed”, mostly gets the thumbs-up too – “bathed in light at lunch, or with a certain buzzing energy in the evening”. It’s the “ferocious prices”, though, which bitterly divide reporters, and which yet again win it No. 1 billing in our list of Most Overpriced restaurants. To its more ardent fans, the situation is clearcut: “forget the haters” – “if you think it’s overpriced, you simply don’t understand food!” Very many other diners, however, are badly torn: “I know, I know, I know: it’s an institution, a pioneer, an icon! And I value it hugely for its contribution to the London scene. The room is still one of my favourites. The food is delectable. But let’s be honest: we have many excellent Mediterranean restaurants all across town nowadays, and a grilled piece of fish, a slice of lemon tart, and a glass of Vermentino isn’t really worth half-a-week’s wages!!”

“If Carlsberg made gastropubs...”, fans of this backstreet Hammersmith hostelry near leafy St Peter’s Square say it would be just like this, with a “roaring fire, beautifully-lit room, well-assembled wine list, and a menu which is driven by quality ingredients (and also with a garden that’s perfect for a romantic summer evening: twinkling lights and lots of greenery”). Not all feedback is so upbeat though: critics say it’s “rather expensive for what it is, with hit and miss service”.

The “amazing”, “top-quality cuisine” at Manoj Vasaikar’s consistently high-rated Ravenscourt Park venue “proves that you don’t need to go into central London to get really excellent, authentic Indian food”. A long-time favourite – the late Michael Winner was a fan – it serves “Michelin star quality cuisine without the wannabe nonsense” in a tightly packed space.

“Phenomenally authentic”, family-run Thai caff near Stamford Brook, on busy King Street, that’s become a cult destination amongst Asian food cognoscenti for its Isaan dishes from the country’s northeast, supplemented by southern seafood by ‘Auntie Bee’; the food “feels like the real McCoy – and is quite challenging as a result”. The place is “filled with Thai expats – what more do you need to say? Oh, it’s cheap as chips”.

In an anonymous-looking Hammsersmith parade of shops, this Keralan café is a particularly notable “hidden gem” – “when it comes to authentic, deft, southern Indian cooking for a minimal bill, Shilpa sure hits the spot” and is “unbelievable value”. A word of caution: “it’s anything but an exciting place”: it’s all about the “genuine cooking”.

“The best kimchi in London” – apparently “voted by the South Korean Embassy!” – is found at this drab-looking stalwart, near Ravenscourt Park tube. Despite the name, the place is Korean-owned and run – and it’s the “fantastic Korean dishes” that garner the plaudits this year: “sweet, savoury, spicy and with generous portions”. But the Japanese dishes are also excellent and “service is always personal”.