Harden's survey result
Summary
Emily Roux and husband Diego Ferrari further burnished the credentials of the Roux dynasty in 2025 with the “final, well-deserved recognition of a Michelin star” for their “lovely” destination towards the edge of Notting Hill (“at last, after six years the excellence has been recognised but we regulars have long known about its merits!”). Everything about the place is unflashy but “spot on at every level” – “precise”, “subtle and complex” cuisine “with great flavours is delivered with elegance and savoir-faire” in a “modern” environment that’s low-key but “lovely and cosy”. “The menu changes every month and always offers a tasty mixture of French and Italian inspired dishes, beautifully presented and served by the knowledgeable staff. The Italian sommelier is wonderfully enthusiastic and always steers you to something interesting and not too outrageously priced on the wine list”.
Summary
“Combining the best of French and Italian gastronomy” – Emily Roux and her husband Diego Ferrari continue to put in an assured performance at their “lovely neighbourhood restaurant” in Notting Hill. The cuisine is of “excellent quality”, yet not particularly striving for its own sake: aptly described in one report as “enjoyable fine dining, comfort dishes”. You can either opt for à la carte – three courses for £92 per person – or go for a five-course ‘Build Your Own Tasting Menu’ option at £120 per person. “Simply divine: expensive but worth it!”
Summary
“Run by Michel Roux’s daughter” Emily and her husband Diego Ferrari (former head chef of Le Gavroche), this Notting Hill five-year-old “gives us the best of two culinary worlds: French and Italian”. The “precise, thoughtful and delicious dishes (celeriac, crab, turbot, veal)…” are “real high-end comfort food” and the “dining room is cool and buzzy without being overly formal”. “Both wine list and cheeseboard are on the conservative side, but none the worse for that”; and “the Italian sommelier has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Italian wines and will always steer us to something new and unusual”. Some reports note a “post-Covid blip amidst staff changes”, and a slip in ratings generally backs up those who feel the experience is “not bad, and better than average, but not quite the quality it was previously”. Top Tip – “lunch is particularly good value”.
Summary
“Bringing the expertise and professionalism of Le Gavroche to a more local setting” – Emily Roux (daughter of Michel) and her husband Diego Ferrari’s (former head chef at Le Gavroche) Notting Hill four-year-old has become one of London’s more notable destinations. It’s “an excellent combination of gastronomic dining in a relaxed and civilised interior with just the right balance of buzziness” that provides “understated luxury, but without an eye-watering price tag”. The French/Italian menu “changes regularly to show off seasonal ingredients” – “slightly quirkily presented” and with “thoroughly enjoyable” results. And the experience is buoyed by “excellent attention to detail from arrival to departure” from its “skilled and friendly” staff. Top Tip – “divine” lunch menu, which is “brilliant value”.
For 35 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Caractère?
209 Westbourne Park Road, London, W11 1EA
Restaurant details
Caractère Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Amuse Bouche impressive "
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £65.00 |  |
|
|
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 100.00 | Always available | 5 |
Traditional European menu
| Pudding |
|---|
| £0.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £40.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £6.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.00% |
209 Westbourne Park Road, London, W11 1EA
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 6:15 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:15 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 6:15 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑1:45 pm, 6:15 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑1:45 pm, 6:15 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
Best Mediterranean restaurants nearby
Middle Eastern restaurant in Notting Hill
Italian restaurant in Notting Hill
British, Modern restaurant in Kensington
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
Japanese restaurant in Kensington and Chelsea
British, Modern restaurant in Westminster
British, Modern restaurant in Mayfair
