Latest reviews for Food & Drink in Kensington, London, United Kingdom

Oddono's - And I thought Carte Dor was good! by carolinebee

carolinebee — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:06:59 +0000

Review by carolinebee

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7052 0732

Website: http://www.oddonos.com

Everyone who's visited this ice cream shop has always seemed very impressed - and quite rightly, because the stuff they serve in here goes beyond ice cream.

Before I tasted Oddono's, I thought supermarket-bought Carte Dor ice cream was good... but boy, was I wrong! A tub of, say, chocolate chip from this place will change your ice cream palate forever.

Rich and creamy, but with real flavours that you can actually taste, literally every variety I've had from here has been excellent. Unfortunately the prices have risen (like everywhere else) but the quality has stayed the same. It can be an expensive habit to break at Â£2 per tub, but it is most certainly worth it to satisfy your sweet craving on a dull weekend night.

I usually carry out my ice cream but you can also sit in on one of their modern looking chairs, and enjoy a moment of cool Italian bliss in an otherwise ordinary London shopping day.Everyone who's visited this ice cream shop has always seemed very impressed - and quite rightly, because the stuff they serve in here goes beyond ice cream.

Before I tasted Oddono's, I thought supermarket-bought Carte Dor ice cream was good... but boy, was I wrong! A tub of, say, chocolate chip from this place will change your ice cream palate forever.

Rich and creamy, but with real flavours that you can actually taste, literally every variety I've had from here has been excellent. Unfortunately the prices have risen (like everywhere else) but the quality has stayed the same. It can be an expensive habit to break at Â£2 per tub, but it is most certainly worth it to satisfy your sweet craving on a dull weekend night.

I usually carry out my ice cream but you can also sit in on one of their modern looking chairs, and enjoy a moment of cool Italian bliss in an otherwise ordinary London shopping day.

Whole Foods Market - Not for the weekly shop by CPaskell

CPaskell — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:39:48 +0000

Review by CPaskell

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7368 4500

Website: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/uk/kensington

Tags: expensive, organic, delicatessen

I go to Whole Foods for 4 things.

1. The experience: to see the plethora of items on sale, some rare, some expensive but worth it for what you get, some overpriced and cheaper at Waitrose for comparible quality. But we do not have another shop like this in the UK - Like Selfridges for foodies.

2. The cupcakes. Exquisite huge, decently priced beautifully decorated cakes the authentic American way. No where else I have been to in London matches these.

3. The samples - wine, cheeses, biscuits...try the expensive stuff even if you don't intend to buy.

4. Veri veri Terriaki. I could not find anywhere that stocked this - my favourite stir fry sauce ever ( I used to live in California and bought a bottle of this from Safeways every week!)Halellujah! It has taken 5 years, but I can once again enjoy the best Chinese-Jewish stir-fries in the world!I go to Whole Foods for 4 things.

1. The experience: to see the plethora of items on sale, some rare, some expensive but worth it for what you get, some overpriced and cheaper at Waitrose for comparible quality. But we do not have another shop like this in the UK - Like Selfridges for foodies.

2. The cupcakes. Exquisite huge, decently priced beautifully decorated cakes the authentic American way. No where else I have been to in London matches these.

3. The samples - wine, cheeses, biscuits...try the expensive stuff even if you don't intend to buy.

4. Veri veri Terriaki. I could not find anywhere that stocked this - my favourite stir fry sauce ever ( I used to live in California and bought a bottle of this from Safeways every week!)Halellujah! It has taken 5 years, but I can once again enjoy the best Chinese-Jewish stir-fries in the world!

C. Lidgate - Top quality meat! by jackpot4544

jackpot4544 — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:18:16 +0000

Review by jackpot4544

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7727 8243

Tags: delicatessen, rare finds, friendly staff

This is the first time i have reviewed a butchers, so bear with me! The shop itself is spotlessly clean which really sells it to me. (Decor is also fab!) There is an enormous choice of different meats available. However if you are used to buying your meat from Sainsburys or somewhere like that, you will notice a huge difference in the quality. The beef has clearly been well hung and is my favourite. The steaks just melt in your mouth, even after my poor cooking skills have been let loose on them! The quality of meat here just can't be describer adequately! However be warned - quality meat equals higher price, but you really do get what you pay for!This is the first time i have reviewed a butchers, so bear with me! The shop itself is spotlessly clean which really sells it to me. (Decor is also fab!) There is an enormous choice of different meats available. However if you are used to buying your meat from Sainsburys or somewhere like that, you will notice a huge difference in the quality. The beef has clearly been well hung and is my favourite. The steaks just melt in your mouth, even after my poor cooking skills have been let loose on them! The quality of meat here just can't be describer adequately! However be warned - quality meat equals higher price, but you really do get what you pay for!

Hotel Chocolat - expensive but good by marie_sk

marie_sk — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:02:09 +0000

Review by marie_sk

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 0870 442 8282

Website: http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk

Tags: delicatessen

Hotel Chocolat makes high quality chocolate. The shops are very open and modern. Sometimes they give you chocolates to try when you go in.
The chocolates are very expensive but they are of the finest quality. A box of 30 chocolates will cost about Â£18.
They sell chocolate for every occasion. They have a wide range of products, including chocolate enrobed fruit, truffles, turkish delight, low sugar chocolates and big chocolate slabs. The chocolate slabs come in many tempting flavours like caramellow and rocky road. Most of the chocolate is very dark and I wouldn't recommend the 100% cocoa bar (its very bitter).
I have signed up to their newsletter and they regularly send me their new product detailsHotel Chocolat makes high quality chocolate. The shops are very open and modern. Sometimes they give you chocolates to try when you go in.
The chocolates are very expensive but they are of the finest quality. A box of 30 chocolates will cost about Â£18.
They sell chocolate for every occasion. They have a wide range of products, including chocolate enrobed fruit, truffles, turkish delight, low sugar chocolates and big chocolate slabs. The chocolate slabs come in many tempting flavours like caramellow and rocky road. Most of the chocolate is very dark and I wouldn't recommend the 100% cocoa bar (its very bitter).
I have signed up to their newsletter and they regularly send me their new product details

Sainsbury's Local - Sainsbury's Local by PinkPink

PinkPink — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:03:01 +0000

Review by PinkPink

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7352 4137

Website: http://www.sainsburys.co.uk

Tags: newspapers / magazines, groceries, frozen foods

This shop is very popular, and is probably helped by the fact that there are 5 student halls of accommodation a very short walk away. The shop isn't very big, but in terms of basic needs such as some bread, milk, cornflakes, some meat, etc., it does the job. As is expected, the choice is limited. As this is a small branch, it is a common problem that most of the items are priced slightly higher than the larger Sainsburys which is about 15-20 minutes walk away from the smaller Sainsburys. It is situated on Fulham Road where there is a bus stop right outside the shop, so it is very convenient, but personally I have almost always decided to walk that bit more further to the bigger Sainsburys.This shop is very popular, and is probably helped by the fact that there are 5 student halls of accommodation a very short walk away. The shop isn't very big, but in terms of basic needs such as some bread, milk, cornflakes, some meat, etc., it does the job. As is expected, the choice is limited. As this is a small branch, it is a common problem that most of the items are priced slightly higher than the larger Sainsburys which is about 15-20 minutes walk away from the smaller Sainsburys. It is situated on Fulham Road where there is a bus stop right outside the shop, so it is very convenient, but personally I have almost always decided to walk that bit more further to the bigger Sainsburys.

Sainsbury's - Sainsbury's by PinkPink

PinkPink — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:58:13 +0000

Review by PinkPink

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7373 8313

Website: http://www.sainsburys.co.uk

Tags: bakery, frozen foods, newspapers / magazines

This large supermarket is very popular especially amongst students from Imperial university which is about 10-15 minutes walk away. You can find pretty much everything you want there, and everything is at a reasonable price. It is less expensive than Waitroses but more than a few have said that it is more expensive than the Tescos further down Cromwell Road (about 20 minutes walk away from Sainsburys).

The staff there have always been very helpful and friendly, and I like the self service machines far more than those in Tescos. The supermarket has only one floor, but it is so big that you really can find pretty much everything there. I'm not sure how good they are with cloths and things, but for the whole year that I've used that supermarket, it has never disappointed me or the students I know there.

They do have some good offers on sometimes for example buy one get one free full sized easter eggs, etc.. There is always a discounted isle for food that will be out of date the following day, and there are a great many checkouts there as well.This large supermarket is very popular especially amongst students from Imperial university which is about 10-15 minutes walk away. You can find pretty much everything you want there, and everything is at a reasonable price. It is less expensive than Waitroses but more than a few have said that it is more expensive than the Tescos further down Cromwell Road (about 20 minutes walk away from Sainsburys).

The staff there have always been very helpful and friendly, and I like the self service machines far more than those in Tescos. The supermarket has only one floor, but it is so big that you really can find pretty much everything there. I'm not sure how good they are with cloths and things, but for the whole year that I've used that supermarket, it has never disappointed me or the students I know there.

They do have some good offers on sometimes for example buy one get one free full sized easter eggs, etc.. There is always a discounted isle for food that will be out of date the following day, and there are a great many checkouts there as well.

Marks & Spencer's Simply Food - top quality food by volcom883

volcom883 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:14:44 +0000

Review by volcom883

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7352 6073

Website: http://www.marks-and-spencer.co.uk

Tags: organic, off licence, rare finds

ok, everything they sell are more expensive than the normal supermarkets but then you can treat yourself once in a while cant you?

things to try from there:

-pinklady apples. about 60 pense each but trust me you will not be disappointed

-white chocolate cookies. 70 pense each

-tatziki. turkish/greek yogurt with cucumber inside. absolutely the best thing in the world. Â£1.40

-houmous. again very very good quality houmous Â£1.40

-mints. mints at Â£1.09 sold at the tills. there are about 100 in a box. last so long...

i would definitely recommend you to to marks & spencer food once in a while to treat yourself. yes, expensive but very special! good if you invite your girlfriend aroundok, everything they sell are more expensive than the normal supermarkets but then you can treat yourself once in a while cant you?

things to try from there:

-pinklady apples. about 60 pense each but trust me you will not be disappointed

-white chocolate cookies. 70 pense each

-tatziki. turkish/greek yogurt with cucumber inside. absolutely the best thing in the world. Â£1.40

-houmous. again very very good quality houmous Â£1.40

-mints. mints at Â£1.09 sold at the tills. there are about 100 in a box. last so long...

i would definitely recommend you to to marks & spencer food once in a while to treat yourself. yes, expensive but very special! good if you invite your girlfriend around

Tesco - Great store by cricketer

cricketer — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:20:57 +0000

Review by cricketer

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7853 7100

Website: http://www.tesco.com

Tags: mediterranean, delicatessen, supermarket

This store is a very good branch of tesco. It has a great isle of cheap bargain products which i use regularly!
It has a specialist meat counter which regularly feeds my family!
The staff are very helpful and always direct me to the relevant isles when i get lost in this large store.
There are always BOGOF deals and many discounts across the store. The store even sells electornics and i picked up a bargain of a TV last week!
There is ample parking for all the shoppers and its a very easy store to locate so i whole heartedly reccomend this store!This store is a very good branch of tesco. It has a great isle of cheap bargain products which i use regularly!
It has a specialist meat counter which regularly feeds my family!
The staff are very helpful and always direct me to the relevant isles when i get lost in this large store.
There are always BOGOF deals and many discounts across the store. The store even sells electornics and i picked up a bargain of a TV last week!
There is ample parking for all the shoppers and its a very easy store to locate so i whole heartedly reccomend this store!

H G Walter - Highly Recommended by AndrewKing

AndrewKing — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:15:45 +0000

Review by AndrewKing

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7385 6466

Tags: delicatessen, healthy food, helpful staff

Been using Walters for about a year now for my food each night, and have never been disappointed with the quality of food I have bought! I would highly recommend this shop for people who enjoy high quality, exciting, byt simple food! The family are excellent at offering advice and suggesting new things to try each evening! I will be using them for many years to come!

Awesome establishment!!!Been using Walters for about a year now for my food each night, and have never been disappointed with the quality of food I have bought! I would highly recommend this shop for people who enjoy high quality, exciting, byt simple food! The family are excellent at offering advice and suggesting new things to try each evening! I will be using them for many years to come!

Awesome establishment!!!

Buttercup Cake Shop - Kensington Cupcakes by sue

sue — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:30:02 +0000

Review by sue

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7937 1473

Website: http://www.buttercupbakeshop.co.uk

Tags: cafe, cake, cakes

Currently being addicted to cupcakes, when I read about the Buttercup Cake Shop in Kensington I added it straight to my to-do list. A couple of weeks later I came up with the ingenious plan of taking my sister and her BF to Whole Foods, but beforehand suggested we head to Buttercup for morning tea, as it is not a good idea to visit Whole Foods on an empty stomach!

Buttercup is hidden away, a few blocks back from Kensington High Street. It is a small shop with only a couple of tables, and a small display cabinet of delicious looking cupcakes. There is a good range of flavours - the friendly American owner has bought over some American recipes, and added a few British concoctions as well. You can eat in (with a cuppa) or take away, and they also offer delivery.

Between the three of us we sampled four cupcakes - the Mocca, Banoffee, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and the St George's Day special - which was a vanilla cupcake with red and white icing. My sister and her BF liked the Banoffee best, while my favourite was the Chocolate Peanut Butter - yum!Currently being addicted to cupcakes, when I read about the Buttercup Cake Shop in Kensington I added it straight to my to-do list. A couple of weeks later I came up with the ingenious plan of taking my sister and her BF to Whole Foods, but beforehand suggested we head to Buttercup for morning tea, as it is not a good idea to visit Whole Foods on an empty stomach!

Buttercup is hidden away, a few blocks back from Kensington High Street. It is a small shop with only a couple of tables, and a small display cabinet of delicious looking cupcakes. There is a good range of flavours - the friendly American owner has bought over some American recipes, and added a few British concoctions as well. You can eat in (with a cuppa) or take away, and they also offer delivery.

Between the three of us we sampled four cupcakes - the Mocca, Banoffee, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and the St George's Day special - which was a vanilla cupcake with red and white icing. My sister and her BF liked the Banoffee best, while my favourite was the Chocolate Peanut Butter - yum!

Le Pain Quotidien - by Roya

Roya — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:42:23 +0000

Review by Roya

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7486 6154

Website: http://www.painquotidien.com

Tags: sandwiches, hot / cold drinks, hot food

A wonderful place to sit with the paper or a good book. The food is scrummy, the staff are friendly and they never hurry you. Perfect Sunday brunch hang-out.

Being where it is it can occasionally become populated with mums and pushchairs, but there's plenty of room, so it never feels oppressive.

Have the savoury muffins. Um-mummm..A wonderful place to sit with the paper or a good book. The food is scrummy, the staff are friendly and they never hurry you. Perfect Sunday brunch hang-out.

Being where it is it can occasionally become populated with mums and pushchairs, but there's plenty of room, so it never feels oppressive.

Have the savoury muffins. Um-mummm..

Bagatelle - Sweet French Stuff by Ladis19

Ladis19 — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 20:12:23 +0000

Review by Ladis19

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7581 1551

Website: http://www.bagatelle-boutique.co.uk/

Tags: french, cakes, delicatessen

This place is quite rightly situated in the heart of South Ken, just beside the French Lycee. It is THE place where French people gather to buy their delicious French bread and patisseries. I will agree that the quality of their food is outstanding however it does come at a price, £17 for a Gallette des Rois. Ouch!!!. My advice is to avoid this place around 4pm. It is packed with French mums and their multiple offspring trying to chose their Goûter (4 o'clock snacks traditionally in the form of a croissant or a pain au chocolat)

Bagatelle also provides catering services for bigger groups. Private parties and corporate functions.

If you are after seriously good French sweets, this is place is for you.
This place is quite rightly situated in the heart of South Ken, just beside the French Lycee. It is THE place where French people gather to buy their delicious French bread and patisseries. I will agree that the quality of their food is outstanding however it does come at a price, £17 for a Gallette des Rois. Ouch!!!. My advice is to avoid this place around 4pm. It is packed with French mums and their multiple offspring trying to chose their Goûter (4 o'clock snacks traditionally in the form of a croissant or a pain au chocolat)

Bagatelle also provides catering services for bigger groups. Private parties and corporate functions.

If you are after seriously good French sweets, this is place is for you.

Troubadour Delicatessen - Nice Food by lisas

lisas — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:19:39 +0000

Review by lisas

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7341 6341

Website: http://www.troubadour.co.uk

Tags: food, good, deli

A very relaxing place and very good food! Fantastic for take away. I also like sitting at the big table upstairs and read the papers, or relax downstairs on the comfy sofas. They also have yoga classes upstairs!A very relaxing place and very good food! Fantastic for take away. I also like sitting at the big table upstairs and read the papers, or relax downstairs on the comfy sofas. They also have yoga classes upstairs!