Ffiona's Restaurant, Kensington

The prospect of reviewing Ffiona’s Restaurant was an intriguing and appealing one: a restaurant with my namesake and a family run venture in Kensington.

An established venue for 20 years specialising in British food with a loyal following, I was hoping for some tasty comfort food that keeps the regulars coming back. And Ffiona’s doesn’t disappoint.

The chalk board menu keeps things simple and unashamedly declares the chicken kiev “probably the best in the world”.

Ffiona’s delivers just what the website promises: well selected ingredients and the best in home cooking, including classic offers such as steak, rump of Welsh lamb and fish and chips.

The starters are a particular highlight, including king prawns thoughtfully pre-peeled and served in a well balanced dressing of ginger, garlic and chilli. Desserts follow in the same tradition, with a satisfying sticky toffee pudding on offer amongst the bread and butter pudding and crumbles.

The service here is warm and friendly and there’s something reassuringly calming about the pleasant staff who are just as happy talking through the menu with you as leaving you to your own thing as you take in the eclectic and comfortable surroundings.

Ffiona’s has a number of curiosities and pictures from over the years which adorn the walls and give this place a distinctive and informal feel.

Venues like Ffiona’s Restaurant offer something entirely different to the stylised openings that dominate London today. The owner’s personality and passion for the restaurant over the years shine throughout the whole experience. It’s a bit quirky and it’s definitely got the personal touch.

Prices are very slightly above average, but you don’t stay open in a highly competitive location such as Kensington without having something worth coming back for.

The quality of the food is a testimony to this, as well as witnessing the other diners in the flickering candlelight cosily tucking into their food and enjoying a chat.

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