London Paddington Restaurant Guide

“Aussies know how to do a breakfast”, and this “always-friendly” outlet of the ‘Daisy Green Collection’ (big modern cafés generally in recent developments; of which there are about 15) is also well-located by the canal in Paddington (“every restaurant we’ve been to in the Green collection has been good but Bondi Green is in a lovely location as well”). “Try the Shakshouka or the Fancy Bacon Roll if you’re a sinner or the Healthy Start if you’re not. Either way, the coffee is excellent”.

“A Classic for South Ken and after all this time still the best curry house there is!” – this family-run “local favourite” has lasted over six decades and is “always jammed and lively”. Service has mellowed over the years – it’s quite “amusing” and “friendly” nowadays. The cooking? “Pretty standard stuff, but perfectly good and consistent”.

“Good-to-very-good dim sum”, “excellent seafood” and “good duck” are the hallmarks of this “wonderful Cantonese” venue in a modern basement setting in Paddington Basin – although it has yet to recover the stellar ratings it achieved before the pandemic. Top Tip – it’s often recommended for a family meal with kids in tow.

“Back with a bang!” – this survivor from the 1990s near Edgware Road has served “gold-standard” Indian food in a comfortable setting for decades. One regular opines that it has “improved considerably after a bit of a blip” during the pandemic – although there’s still the occasional “variable” report. “Service is friendly but professional”.

“Only for cheese lovers… and that’s me!” – the clue is in the name at Mathew Carver’s “fun and different” venue – a 96ft custom-built, double-decker barge permanently moored in Paddington Basin, which showcases “a great selection of British cheeses with interesting pairings”. “Out-of-town visitors love it”. Top Menu Tip – “The curried cheese curds are amazing”.

Review: “Sinfully good” burgers are delivered with “quick and efficient service” – and “genius free soft serve ice cream” (which accompanies your bill) – at this independent group with a handful of outlets around London. Former nurse Liz Down and her husband Stew started out in 2016 with a stall on Broadway Market, inspired by working holidays in the Canadian Rockies. Top Tip – “indulge in the guilty pleasure of their dry-aged beef glazed in miso with double cheese”.

Review: “The pizza is second to none”, combining “top-quality ingredients and fabulous bases” at this quartet of “bustling” pizzerias founded 15 years ago by Neapolitan-born Angelo and Pasquale. Since launching in Ealing, they have expanded slowly to Fulham, Islington and Fitzrovia – and the extent to which they’ve maintained their ratings is an achievement for an expanding group.