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The New Angel - Removed April 2018 Permanently Closed - Notting Hill, London

Fantastic fine dining in Notting Hill

Category : Bar, Restaurant Cuisine : Modern European
Address : 39 Chepstow Place, Notting Hill, London, W2 4TS, UNITED KINGDOM
Web : www.thenewangel-nh.co.uk
Opening Times : Tues-Sat 12pm-2.30pm & 6pm-10.30pm
Closest Tube : Bayswater, Notting Hill Gate


  • The New Angel - Removed April 2018 Permanently Closed  one of Innerplace's exclusive bars in London
  • The New Angel - Removed April 2018 Permanently Closed  one of Innerplace's exclusive bars in London
  • The New Angel - Removed April 2018 Permanently Closed  one of Innerplace's exclusive bars in London

Anyone who has followed John Burton-Race's bio will know that he lives a life less ordinary. Following a childhood in Singapore, an early ascendancy in the kitchens of some of Britain's best restaurants, winning two Michelin stars at both L'ortolan and The Landmark Hotel, and becoming a well-known fixture on television with a flair for the dramatic, he opened The New Angel in Dartmouth, which was similarly awarded with an accolade from the Michelin Guide. Now, for the first time in twelve years, Mr Burton-Race has returned to London to open The New Angel in Notting Hill, and has created a neighbourhood fixture and destination restaurant that stands up to his storied past.

Nestled along leafy, tranquil Chepstow Place, The New Angel is situated in a converted pub and brings to mind another Notting Hill gastro-temple - The Ledbury. The reasons for this are readily apparent. The 54-cover restaurant is light and airy, perfectly suited to spending a long, indulgent summer evening in Notting Hill.  Guests will be met by a convivial, competent front of house who redirects diners past the bar to the tables. It's easy to see that Burton-Race has orchestrated an approach that favours relaxed fine dining over the stuffy, buttoned-up approach one encounters elsewhere. However, that isn't to say that service isn't attentive, it was top flight. Shortly after taking our seats a Laurent-Perrier Champagne cart was wheeled over, a nice touch and an effervescent beginning to a first-rate meal.

Burton-Race has turned to long-time collaborator Stephen Humphries to captain the kitchens as head chef. Humphries previously plied his art at Sanctum On The Green and Le Gavroche, and brings an expert's hand to the table. Shortly after the cart disembarked, we were presented with the amuse bouche, a poached quail egg immersed in a cauliflower cream. It was simultaneously buoyant yet richly flavourful, and went nicely with a flute of Brut.

For starters, it was difficult to resist the signature New Angel steak tartar. Undercutting the traditional preparation, Humphries aimed to let the constituent ingredients do the talking. Tender finely-chopped beef filet was bound together with oyster rather than egg and sat upon endives, with capers providing the saltiness and a dollop of horseradish cream sauce set aside it to cut through. This was accompanied by an excellent Malbec from the Chateau Lagrezette selected by sommelier Csaba Adamy. Scallops were a little less traditional, having been given more of a subcontinental slant. The big opalescent muscles were touched up with a golden crust on either side, then served with curried cauliflower, pickled vegetables and onion bhaji rings. A Tedeschi Soave from Veneto mated well here.

The main courses lived up to the promise of the starters. A fillet of Dutch Veal was served with cepes, sprouting broccoli, goats curd, truffle tortelloni and a lovely, mauve wild mushroom cream. The veal and the sauce were so toothsome that it was easy to ignore the rest of the plate. We also relished the line-caught sea bass, another Burton-Race specialty, which was poached and served aside spritely baby fennel with a crunchy oyster beignet perched on top and a delicious champagne caviar sauce.

The New Angel cheese cart is really something to be marvelled at, with nearly two dozen different types of fromage available, primarily from France but with a few choice native blues. It feels a bit like Sophie's Choice attempting to get the right one on your plate, but the waiters were skilful at steering us in the right direction. For dessert, we opted for yet another signature, the raspberry soufflé. It was accompanied by white chocolate mousse and a raspberry sorbet and was truly sumptuous, worthy of foodie adulation, as the restaurant is sure to be.

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