The Ledbury

Lunch in Notting Hill - The Ledbury!

By Patricia Connell
16/07/2005

 Lunch in Notting Hill - The Ledbury

Notting Hill has always been packed with restaurants that do not reflect the needs of the people who live there but more of the tourists who visit the area. It was about time therefore that someone dared to open a place that catered for its residents.

Ledbury

The Ledbury opened a few weeks ago and already has created a bit of a stir. New restaurants in the area always get people talking because they come and go so quickly that sometimes, you don’t even get to try them that they have already closed their doors. Some are very fashionable one night and gone the next. You might have tried the two previous restaurants at the same address as the Ledbury: Cassoulet and Dakota. Cassoulet wanted to be French but the food and the service were both extremely disappointing, Dakota on the other hand was an interesting concept but again the food was not always up to standard. It was very trendy, over-priced and there was no way to have a normal conversation because the place was so noisy.

Well, I am pleased to report that in line with its sister restaurants Chez Bruce and La Trompette, The Ledbury is none of the above. It is cosy, modern and comfortable. The service is excellent and the food is not overly pretentious nor overly priced (at least not at lunchtime).

I took a friend there for her birthday at lunchtime and we were both equally impressed. We went on a Friday afternoon and as you would expect in Notting Hill, the patrons were all dressed smart casual and the atmosphere was very relaxed even though the restaurant was full. You could very much enjoy the meal without feeling that you had to be part of the crowd.

Ledbury

We both opted for the lunch menu which at £19.50 for two courses seemed to be very reasonable. I had the sardines and the sea bream and both were perfectly cooked. My friend and I debated for a long time whether she should also have the sardines. She was worried about finding bones and she has a phobia about fish bones. I can report right now that there were absolutely none whatsoever and she kicked herself for not having them. She too had opted for an absolutely delicious dish, the parmesan gnocchi with sweetcorn purée, persillade of girolles and summer truffle …

I had previously tried the sea bream at La Trompette and although I had found the dish superb, I was slightly disappointed that the skin had not been as crispy as it should have been. The skin in this case was nicely golden and very crispy.

Something also quite unusual these days, the wine was not overly priced and the coffee that came was absolutely perfect in every way. Only negative, there was no chocolate or petits fours to accompany it. Most surprising! I am one of these people who don’t automatically want to have a desert but who really looks forward to a little sweet something with her coffee. This is perhaps a reminiscence of when I was a smoker and used to have my treat in the form of a cigarette after diner.

So would I recommend the Ledbury? The answer is yes. You will enjoy it and will feel that you have had value for money, particularly with the lunch menu.