Latest reviews for Food & Drink in Westbourne Grove, London, United Kingdom

Holland & Barrett - by MartaZ

MartaZ — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:04:49 +0000

Review by MartaZ

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7727 9011

as i became a health maniac not so long ago, this place is my regular stop. Anything from vitamins and food supplements to diet aids, dried fruit, nuts and organic food products - it's there.
Staff are very attentive and knowledgeable, very easy to talk to and to ask for impartial advice.as i became a health maniac not so long ago, this place is my regular stop. Anything from vitamins and food supplements to diet aids, dried fruit, nuts and organic food products - it's there.
Staff are very attentive and knowledgeable, very easy to talk to and to ask for impartial advice.

Tea Palace - CLOSED - Awesome place for Tea-Aholics by stantoncarlisle

stantoncarlisle — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:57:17 +0000

Review by stantoncarlisle

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7727 2600

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

Tags: afternoon tea, good value, family & home feel

Don't be fooled by the refined tasteful purple front, the freshly pressed table-clothes or the traditional look of the waiters. This a place of total, absolute indulgence - for any Tea Connoisseurs, that is. The prices are almost as high as the quality. Some of the Japanese Green teas trot out at over £10 a pot. There are some awesome Green Teas here - the White Monkey is subtle and excellent. Cheaper but robust and uplifting is the Iron Goddess of Mercy Oolong Tea - great taste, buzzy and fat-burning. Refined tea drinkers on a quest for the adventurous might enjoy the fruity but nifty White Snowbuds. The cakes are all homemade looking and I've seen Sloaney types munching their way through a two-tiered cake trays of them. The cafe has the feel of an old-fashioned english tea-shop, like the kind you'd read about in Somerset Maugham. Who-ever put this place together is a tea addict/fanatic with a discerning taste. The tea menu is amazing and wide-ranging. The overall quality of the brews is fabulously high - they follow rigorous Oriental methods. On the whole its pricey but well worth it.Don't be fooled by the refined tasteful purple front, the freshly pressed table-clothes or the traditional look of the waiters. This a place of total, absolute indulgence - for any Tea Connoisseurs, that is. The prices are almost as high as the quality. Some of the Japanese Green teas trot out at over £10 a pot. There are some awesome Green Teas here - the White Monkey is subtle and excellent. Cheaper but robust and uplifting is the Iron Goddess of Mercy Oolong Tea - great taste, buzzy and fat-burning. Refined tea drinkers on a quest for the adventurous might enjoy the fruity but nifty White Snowbuds. The cakes are all homemade looking and I've seen Sloaney types munching their way through a two-tiered cake trays of them. The cafe has the feel of an old-fashioned english tea-shop, like the kind you'd read about in Somerset Maugham. Who-ever put this place together is a tea addict/fanatic with a discerning taste. The tea menu is amazing and wide-ranging. The overall quality of the brews is fabulously high - they follow rigorous Oriental methods. On the whole its pricey but well worth it.

The Hummingbird Bakery - I will be back by spokane12

spokane12 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:42:03 +0000

Review by spokane12

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7229 6446

Website: http://www.hummingbirdbakery.com

Tags: cupcake, american, bakery

This place is yummy. If you take kids - they will absolutely go crazy for the variety. They are rich but not overly sweet. I think they are the right size - you want to enjoy and not gorge on these delights. Take your time when choosing. It is hard because this place always seems really, really busy. It is worth taking your time as you really can't eat two. Or take a friend and share two between you - or take four friends and share four. Even better. I remember they had a red velvet cupcake I think that was very good. This place really inspires you to check through your cookbooks for your old cupcake recipies and give it a go - can't be that hard (and will be a lot cheaper).This place is yummy. If you take kids - they will absolutely go crazy for the variety. They are rich but not overly sweet. I think they are the right size - you want to enjoy and not gorge on these delights. Take your time when choosing. It is hard because this place always seems really, really busy. It is worth taking your time as you really can't eat two. Or take a friend and share two between you - or take four friends and share four. Even better. I remember they had a red velvet cupcake I think that was very good. This place really inspires you to check through your cookbooks for your old cupcake recipies and give it a go - can't be that hard (and will be a lot cheaper).

Gail's - Bread, Cakes and Coffee by sue

sue — Sun, 18 May 2008 12:58:52 +0000

Review by sue

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7460 0766

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

Tags: cakes, bread, quick bite

After a visit to the very interesting Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising, a coffee was in order and the first place we came across was the inviting looking Gail's on Portobello Road.

Gail's is a bakery and cafÃ© which has a mouth-watering array of tasty looking goodies, along with a variety of fresh baked breads including the biggest loaf of sourdough I have ever seen!

The four of us took a while to decide what we wanted to eat with our coffee - everything looked great. In the end we opted for a healthy-ish muffin, a cute little pecan tart, a ricotta babka, and a mini maple cake. All were very good, apart from the maple cake which tasted like it had been sitting around for a couple of days. Plotting a return visit though for some of that sourdough.After a visit to the very interesting Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising, a coffee was in order and the first place we came across was the inviting looking Gail's on Portobello Road.

Gail's is a bakery and cafÃ© which has a mouth-watering array of tasty looking goodies, along with a variety of fresh baked breads including the biggest loaf of sourdough I have ever seen!

The four of us took a while to decide what we wanted to eat with our coffee - everything looked great. In the end we opted for a healthy-ish muffin, a cute little pecan tart, a ricotta babka, and a mini maple cake. All were very good, apart from the maple cake which tasted like it had been sitting around for a couple of days. Plotting a return visit though for some of that sourdough.

Melt - Willy Wonka Lookout! by belinda

belinda — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:59:27 +0000

Review by belinda

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7727 5030

Website: http://www.meltchocolates.com

Tags: expensive, chocolate, special

Unusual and yummy chocolates ( in this chocolate shop, they are not a cafe but they do have hot chocolate.

Its a "select your own" set-up but don't go crazy as these chocolates are very expensive. My husband went a tad crazy when we first went there and we ended up with a box of chocolates for Â£30 (thats after I made him put some back!). Luckily these chocolates are so divine that you only need a couple to overdose.

They do these chocolate hearts where you can put a gift inside and they seal it up, very cute!

They used to have the most amazing chocolate fudge cake but it was made by some woman not by Melt and she stopped making it, get it back! it was divine.

They package the chocolate very nice so it always makes a great gift and you can sometime see the chocolates being made as the shop/kitchen is open.Unusual and yummy chocolates ( in this chocolate shop, they are not a cafe but they do have hot chocolate.

Its a "select your own" set-up but don't go crazy as these chocolates are very expensive. My husband went a tad crazy when we first went there and we ended up with a box of chocolates for Â£30 (thats after I made him put some back!). Luckily these chocolates are so divine that you only need a couple to overdose.

They do these chocolate hearts where you can put a gift inside and they seal it up, very cute!

They used to have the most amazing chocolate fudge cake but it was made by some woman not by Melt and she stopped making it, get it back! it was divine.

They package the chocolate very nice so it always makes a great gift and you can sometime see the chocolates being made as the shop/kitchen is open.

Ottolenghi - Really yum (but helps to have deap pockets) by kellytron

kellytron — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:54:50 +0000

Review by kellytron

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7727 1121

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

Tags: expensive, pricey, lunch

Now the food here (mainly salad, breads and cold meats) is just amazing tasting and even better looking. But it really isn't cheap.

Four types of salad on a plate for Â£13 (i think) is a lot, even if they are the nicest salads I've ever tasted.

So until my pockets get deeper or my live of salad gets stronger I might stick to walking past, drooling and stealing ideas for salads to make at home!

NB: I have eaten at the one on Upper Street, Islington

Now the food here (mainly salad, breads and cold meats) is just amazing tasting and even better looking. But it really isn't cheap.

Four types of salad on a plate for Â£13 (i think) is a lot, even if they are the nicest salads I've ever tasted.

So until my pockets get deeper or my live of salad gets stronger I might stick to walking past, drooling and stealing ideas for salads to make at home!

NB: I have eaten at the one on Upper Street, Islington

Ottoemezzo Lounge - Informal, cosy and rustic Italian cafe by Hugo

Hugo — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:03:04 +0000

Review by Hugo

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7313 9866

Tags: cosy, italian, coffee

I used to go here quite frequently for a bowl of pasta or as a calming place to hang out for a coffee.

It has a great vibe, with a rustic/ laid back feel. This is no chain - every table has its own quirks and foibles. It is comfy, cosy and it works. If you are looking for somewhere unpretentious in the trendy Westbourne grove area then this is a good bet. I don't think you will be disappointed. Get ready to get on the Italian rythymn though...if you are in a hurry you may be frustrated.I used to go here quite frequently for a bowl of pasta or as a calming place to hang out for a coffee.

It has a great vibe, with a rustic/ laid back feel. This is no chain - every table has its own quirks and foibles. It is comfy, cosy and it works. If you are looking for somewhere unpretentious in the trendy Westbourne grove area then this is a good bet. I don't think you will be disappointed. Get ready to get on the Italian rythymn though...if you are in a hurry you may be frustrated.

Kingsland Butcher - by gilka

gilka — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 17:43:19 +0000

Review by gilka

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7727 6067

Tags: cheeses, organic produce

If you are in Portobello market and need meat, this is the place. The butchers have a very interesting characters. The senior looking butcher, looks like he has been doing this for all his life and has so much confident in the way he prepare the meat that you feel safe...
There is usually a queue so you canâ¬"t mess around- know what you want and be clear, otherwise you are going to get some nasty looks...If you are in Portobello market and need meat, this is the place. The butchers have a very interesting characters. The senior looking butcher, looks like he has been doing this for all his life and has so much confident in the way he prepare the meat that you feel safe...
There is usually a queue so you canâ¬"t mess around- know what you want and be clear, otherwise you are going to get some nasty looks...