Caractère

Italian and French flair in Notting Hill

Seared mackerel, roasted gem, beetroot, parsley

Operated by the husband and wife team Emily Roux and Diego Ferrari, Caractere is a new restaurant that champions modern European cuisine, in the mood of French and Italian influences. Diego was the head chef at the legendary 2 Michelin starred Le Gavroche and Emily is the daughter of the chef-owner Michel Roux. So clearly they know a thing or 2 in how to run top restaurants. The restaurant has gathered some very positive media reviews since launching back in 2018, with a menu that has about 16 dishes on offer per day, using prime British ingredients from across the UK, such as Cornish fish and Lake District lamb.

Bread and canapes

Celeriac “cacio e pepe"

The first course I had was the seared mackerel, I was a big fan of it, The oily and smoky profile of the dish worked like a treat with the roasted gem lettuce and beetroot. The fresh taste offered a nice contrast to the richness of the mackerel. The second course was a "mock" pasta dish of celeriac “cacio e pepe”, the crispness of the celeriac worked well with the intense flavour of the cheese and black pepper, but I felt it lacked refinement and too simple for my liking. The main of roasted dry aged duck was heavenly, perfectly seasoned with had a wonderful tender texture. The turnips and potatoes absorbed all of the wonderful meaty taste of the duck, everything on the plate worked perfectly together as a unit and this is modern European cooking at the very best.

Roasted dry-aged duck, glazed potatoes, turnips

Banana tarte tatin, hazelnut praline

My meal at Caractere was very enjoyable, the quality of the ingredients was very clear, and the kitchen has showcased brilliant classic cooking techniques. Notting Hill is now loaded with so many high-quality restaurants, from The Ledbury to Core, Caractere is a great addition, not as expensive but still provide really solid, wonderful cooking at a reasonable price in a much more casual, relaxing setting. It is a shame it is so far away to where I live, otherwise I can see myself going there every once a while.



Food 3.5/5


Average cost without drinks and services:
£70

209 Westbourne Park Rd, Notting Hill, London W11 1EA

https://www.caractererestaurant.com/