Watford Restaurant Guide

Cheneston's, named after the early spelling of Kensington, embodies refined fine dining with a touch of British culinary heritage. Discover a symphony of comfort and creativity orchestrated by Executive Chef Daniel Putz, crafting signature dishes infused with inspiration fro...

Markos Tsimkalis is celebrating his second year at this upbeat modern taverna near Holland Park station, where fish is a particular highpoint of a sunny Greek menu made from excellent ingredients (e.g. meat from nearby Lidgates), and with many dishes from the charcoal grill. High-quality Greek wines are a particular feature of an interesting drinks list, with a number of ‘special pours’ by the glass.

“It’s worth the trek to Colindale for the superior dim sum on offer” at Andrew Hung’s “high-end Chinese” three-year-old. Andrew gave up a career in architectural engineering to pursue the project and the commitment shows through: “the interior is beautifully designed, and the service is slick, friendly and engaging. Top-class and highly recommended!”

The Crazy Bear Beaconsfield introduces an exquisite Thai dining experience, where modernity meets tradition in a symphony of flavors. Our Thai cuisine is celebrated for its originality and provenance, embodying the essence of authentic Thai culinary art with a contemp...

“This unusual Asian-fusion restaurant” from Michael Lim “delivers extremely high-quality, fresh-tasting dishes almost uniformly across the board” from its variety of cuisines – and “Michael always takes care of the customers”. After almost three decades in Notting Hill, it now has a spinoff in Seymour Place, Marylebone, where it’s “a very welcome addition”.

“The culinary jewel in Chiswick’s crown” – this cousin to Chez Bruce “located in a side street off Chiswick High Road” is many diners’ idea of the “perfect neighbourhood restaurant”. Having “survived the enlarging of the space” and a “change of staff a couple of years ago, things have now completely settled in as has chef Greg Wellman”; and its performance this year in our annual diners’ poll was incredibly consistent. The modern French cuisine “is a bit cheffier and more refined than before”, with “lots of interesting Asian/Japanese touches”: “interesting, but not too cutting edge” and “most importantly full of flavour”. There’s also a “fascinating” wine list to match (“the commitment to wine, as opposed to just seeing it as a profit centre, is noteworthy” with “an outstanding sommelier who will suggest perfect accompaniment for the dishes but also provide answers to far-fetched requests!”). “It’s all combined with seamlessly efficient service… not as easy to do as they make it look, I suspect!”. “Sit outside on a warm day”. Top Menu Tips – “excellent pasta/ravioli plates add to excellent versions of more classic dishes, and a recent rabbit terrine was world class”.

On the surprisingly picturesque (for the inner Home Counties) high street, a 16th-century pub where Hugh first kissed Andie in ‘Four Weddings’ – and where starry chef Atul Kochhar now delivers “outstanding” and upscale Indian food. The latter ranges far beyond the usual suspects, with ‘British Indian’ dishes tapping ingredients like Hertfordshire venison and grilled Lake District lamb – and with particularly good value set menus also part of the attraction.

Apadana Restaurant is a 5 Star Award-winning chic restaurant that uses family-kept recipes to craft authentic, sumptuous Iranian classic dishes in the heart of London's trendy Kensington high street.Indulge your senses in our family kept recipes passed on for generation...

“Authentic cooking from the open kitchen” elevates this Indian venue, easily missed amidst the anonymous units around Westfield Shepherd Bush’s Southern Terrace. It’s the London representative of a chain founded in 1972 in Bombay by JK Kapur (with 15 locations in India) and specialises in North Indian cuisine.

Something of an unexpected find on the Hammersmith Road – part of the Victorian former premises of St Paul’s Boys School were converted into a hotel some years ago and incorporate this smart dining room looking onto a small park. A variety of relatively affordable menus – Sunday Lunch, Afternoon Tea, and, more recently, a steak and whisky pairing – make it a flexible venue, particularly suited to a family occasion.

“They know what they are doing” at this comfortable hotel brasserie, well-located with a covered terrace on Marylebone Lane. Even its harshest critic – who finds the menu “pretty standard if uninteresting” – says that it suits “a functional business lunch”. But most reports are more upbeat – “there’s nothing to ‘frighten the horses’ but what they do, they do well. A place to come and please everyone and be able to have a proper conversation. Hooray!”

“A private, discrete setting” with “reasonably spaced tables and no music”, together with “no-nonsense good grills and fish” win a fair number of recommendations – including for business meals – for this Art Deco hotel dining room, a short walk from Selfridges, which features striking murals above its plush banquettes and wood panelling. It consciously aims to import Manhattan style down to the slant on its menu of salads, crustacea and steaks.

Here at Lazeez Tapas we bring a sharing culture akin to that in Lebanon, serving up contemporary Lebanese cuisine with a Mediterranean twist in a great central London location right next to Selfridges department store in Oxford Street.We use the freshest of ingredients ...

Owner Alexandra Petit-Mentzelopoulos is a scion of the family who own Bordeaux’s epic Château Margaux, which explains the unusually heavyweight wine list at this attractive and comfortably converted Tudorbethan pub in Marylebone. Over 50 vintages, including 14 Château Margaux wines, are available by the glass (using the Coravin system) from a list whose emphasis is on clarets and top Burgundian names. Its modern European cuisine has Francophile leanings and – though not the main event compared to the wine – plays a respectable supporting role.

“Sally has triumphed in maintaining stands and a smile across the decades” and the “super-civilised institution” she opened in 1984, south of Notting Hill Gate, has shown rare staying power. That “there is always a really warm welcome” from the “effective and nurturing” staff goes down well, as does the way she has “maintained excellence with the finest seasonal produce perfectly cooked” (inspired by Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in California, her friend and mentor since the late 1970s). “Simple but elegant decor” and a strong wine list focused on North America complete a picture which still inspires practically zero criticism.

“A really lovely atmosphere” is a high point for fans of Adriana Cavita’s chilled two-year-old in Fitzrovia, in which the well-known chef from Mexico City presents tacos and street food alongside sharing dishes of grilled fish and steaks cooked in homemade Red Mole sauce over coals. Inconsistent feedback hits its ratings though: the odd dish doesn’t work (maybe it’s something about the London palate) and service is, on occasion, “VERY slow”.

“A classic, inspired menu is served in a lovely dining room on Old Amersham’s beautiful high street and supported by a great wine list” at Laurie & Jacqueline Gear’s 16th-century converted cottage. It waited almost 17 years for its Michelin star – having been founded in 2002 and winning the accolade in 2019 – and cynics say it’s “consistently good even after the award!” delivering “fantastic food, year after year”. “Prices are reasonable for the quality with dishes embellished with flair and complemented by the polite and engaged staff”. Many best meals of the last 12 months are reported here, and one reporter thought it “as enjoyable as any restaurant we have tried in the past three or four years”. It’s one of the top-50 most commented-on destinations outside London in our annual diners’ poll.

Nestled in the heart of picturesque Buckinghamshire, the Crazy Bear Beaconsfield stands as a beacon of extravagance and unique style, blending traditional British heritage with an audacious twist. Our restaurant prides itself on a diverse range of exquisite ...

Named for the booking pseudonym of the late Princess Margaret (who lived for many years at nearby Kensington Palace), this stalwart bistro is perennially popular for its superbly welcoming, quirky style (a kind of quaint, old-farmhouse, rustic chic) rather than its 1970s Anglo-French cuisine. A fire closed it in early 2024 – a reopening in 2025 is suggested by its website.