The Barbary

Worthy of its spot on the Michelin Guide and the best meal we had in London! JC was wonderful and gave us great recommendations. Here are some of my thoughts on the dishes we tried. Mushroom parfait: I could have eaten so much more of this. Smooth, with an umami flavour and a subtle sweetness. Probably our favourite dish. Burrata with chilli oil: An unusual combination, but we were pleasantly surprised by how good it was! The mild, creamy flavour and texture of the burrata really complemented the distinct flavour and crunchiness of the crispy chili oil. Bavette steak: Tender pieces of steak served with buttery tallow and an extremely rich, flavourful sauce. Sweet corn with brown butter soft serve: The only thing I wasn’t completely crazy about, but that's really just a personal preference. Brown butter is a very mild flavour for ice cream and it just wasn't my cup of tea. Chelsea tart: Every bite is of the most decadent caramel tart. It has a very slight bitterness that helps to balance the sweetness perfectly. We loved this one.

My feelings are mixed but leaning positive > The service is phenomenal and it doesn’t seem forced. The staff seem to genuinely care and act like people, not machines programmed to serve which is a good representation of how the company treats them. Makes you feel happy. The food is overall good and solely depends on personal preference. I came specifically for the corn ribs I’ve heard much about. MUST GET!! I practically vacuumed them off the plate!! The portobello mushroom burger was nostalgic and exquisite ! Reminded me of my teenage years in Notting Hill. And all the desserts lived up to expectation. The only negative I have was regarding the burrata- the seasoning tasted foul to both our taste buds, but hey I’m not an avid food connoisseur so what do we know. To your average person it tasted a little too salty and way too overstimulating. They provided me a charger and it saved my life ! They take very good care of you

The staff were super friendly and helpful with food recommendations, which made the experience feel welcoming right from the start. Service was impressively fast — the dishes came out quickly without feeling rushed. The mussels were a real highlight: fresh, tender, and swimming in a rich, buttery sauce that was perfect for dipping. Honestly, I’d go back just for that. The corn ribs made for a fun, crunchy starter, and the beetroot salad was a surprisingly strong contender too — the crispy seaweed on top added this brilliant textural contrast that made the dish pop. The burger was a heavy-hitter: juicy, flavorful, and the blue cheese brought just the right amount of punch without overpowering the beef. Properly done. The only miss? The drinks. Way too sweet — like someone dropped a packet of candy into a cocktail shaker. Not a dealbreaker, but next time I’d probably skip them and stick to the food.