Launceston Place

1a Launceston Place, Kensington, London, W8 5RL - View on a map
Telephone: 020 7937 6912 (Special offers are available exclusively through online booking – see below for details)

BOOK NOW - Fast, Free & Confirmed

Number of people      
Date  
Room 
Launceston Place Restaurant In London
Details Image
Overall 3.9
Food 4.0
Service 4.7
Atmosphere 4.3
Value 2.7
Based on 6 reviews

special offers

3 course lunch £23

...from a set menu. Includes Vat, excludes service. Click for more details

Early Evening Special: 3 courses £38

...from a set menu. Includes Vat, excludes service. From 1st February. Click for more details

what the critics say

Guardian

Jay Rayner

Sunday, October 05, 2008 - Hanging on the walls of Launceston Place are sombre, brooding pictures of bare-naked trees in winter holding their own on a frosted field. The walls are dark grey and the carpeted floors only a slightly lighter shade of same. Even allowing for the backlit pieces of colourful glassware propped up here and there, the effect is serious and concentrated...

your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne

We went to Launceston Place following chef Tristan Welsh's appearance on the great british menu. his recipes looked so inviting...we went there in sept. 2009 for the first time and the interior as well as the food, presentation and staff was excellent. I could not really say anything negative abt it. the food was not only great to look at but the taste was beyond expectation. Our second visit was in march this year and again a fabulous experience. We will certainly return on our next visit to London. Menu is priced at 46 pounds now and worth every penny. Great compliments to Tristan Welsh and his crew. Treat yourselves to a culinary delight.
Comment on this reader review

Michel Bentein
Overall rating 10 stars
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, May 25, 2010

I was there lst year 2008 when stating at the Holiday Inn. I had booked it pre flight to London. I found the food very very good and the people that run it to be a A+++++. I am going back to London Sept 2010 and will make sure I eat here again. Looking forward to it.

I would recommend this place to anyone who want A++++ food and a relaxing dinner

Remember right around the corner is great shopping.
Comment on this reader review

PBK
Overall rating 10 stars
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, April 10, 2010

i have been to this place a few times. It used to be good but service and menu have deteriorated considerably. Not worthy of michelin star...
Comment on this reader review

lucas
Overall rating 1 stars
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Monday, March 22, 2010

I visited Launceston Place for lunch and found the staff welcoming and attentive, not as pretentious as anticipated. The decor was crisp, the food fabulous and with an extensive wine list, I was more than happy. The food arrived promptly and although we were the last lunch sitting at 2:30 we werent rushed and were able to take our time with all the courses. I found the sorbet a little too bitter for my palate and commented to the waiter who said he would pass on my comments. As this was a special birthday I was very impressed when I was serenaded at the end of the meal by several staff holding a birthday iced muffin! I look forward to my next visit alas minus the birthday muffin!
Comment on this reader review

Lorraine Lee
Overall rating 10 stars
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, February 19, 2010

We went here on the Evening Standard offer - 3 courses and a glass of champagne for £30. No complaints on the champagne - that was cold & fizzy. My gripe with the restaurant is two-fold.

First, the service was overbearing - every third mouthful it seemed that someone was hovering over our plates wondering whether or not to take them away. Once they had, the next course arrived in an instant - far too quickly in fact. Plus, they brought us the wrong bill mid-dessert when we hadn't requested ours yet.

Second, the food. Although it tried hard, every course had way too much salt in it - tragically so. The cep risotto made me wince, the trout was swimming in the stuff; similarly the suckling pig was awash with salt. The dessert of rice pudding souffle and raspberry ripple ice cream thankfully didn't suffer the same fate, but the damage was done by then. Oh, and the amuse bouche pre-main and dessert were not great either, the latter being so bitter I almost spat it out. Shame, because this is a well laid out, spacious restaurant with nice loos. But I don't go to restaurants for that and the food needs some attention. I won't be back.
View/Add comments (1)

Clare Lydon
Overall rating 4 stars
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Thursday, February 18, 2010

i took my now fiance there for a special meal and it did not let me down!

the receptionist that took my booking was curteous and listened to my requests, each of which were met and i had the secluded table i requested as well as the champagne on arrival chilled at the table.

the service was professional and warm yet discrete.

the food was so clever, interesting and very very tasty. i highly recommend the tasting menu, the value of which is fantastic. do not feel the pressure to have the matching wines, as the sommelier there is very knowledgable and can recommend wine by the bottle to match the whole menu, he did a great job - and i am a fussy wine orderer!

i will definitely be going back to take advantage of the great lunch offer and we are thinking of taking the whole family back for sunday lunch!
Comment on this reader review


Overall rating 10 stars
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, December 07, 2009

I have been reading some of the reviews on most top ten restaurants and was not happy with some reviews as this is one of my truly favourite restaurants in London...to break it down in simple terms...

a) food is fresh and cooked to perfection (tristan welch experienced 2 * chef)

b) the service is slick, polite, and almost watching a ballet perform

c) the menu and wine list are priced perfectly 20pound lunch menu almost too good to be true!

now we brits are becoming very critical about food and service above all the main factor "value for money"... we hunt for bargains and we always feel we have a right to give our point across....yet in the same time we can be hipacritical...

so all in all if a restaurant can achieve all the points above and im sure its not always perfect, but still having to get to where it was and now, they have to be doing something right! So if you all dont mind show them your support and believe they desrve to be No1 on the list, rather than some other names on there! (me being a brit)

PS: book way way in advance to avoid dissappointment or if you know the maitre'd he might just do magic and have a table for you especially if your local!
Comment on this reader review


Overall rating 10 stars
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, December 04, 2009

we went for lunch as we have heared so much about it, when i got there i was thinkning i wasn't dressed for the occasion did not think it will be so formal, anyhow they did not stop and search me at the door they actually welcomed me with huge warm smiles and clearly they were going to eye me up and down, and think i was this tramp but they didnt! the staff are so so friendly and warm they dont intimidate you at all, we were asked for drinks and menus arrived after, i had the crab risotto which was so cool and funky served in a crab shell head!!! i was laughing my head off but in the same time was thinking what a genius idea. the food was great the service was fautless and they did make you feel welcomed . i am definalty coming back of course a bit more glammed up and for dinner as it was a steel 45 3 courses, you get the same food at Waering at the berckley or the square. I do dine out a lot and on this occasion the 20 pound lunch menu is an incredible bargain as you get pre starter dessert and canapes

All i can say is my hat off toall of you, well done!
Comment on this reader review

Kerri Lee - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 10 stars
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, December 02, 2009

This old restaurant has turned into something very special a hidden gem in the crown, from entering upon arrival we were greeted with warm smiles and what looked like the barman from behind as well, almost as if we new them. Our coats were swepted away and we were taken to our table from there the excitement began from the kind waitress who took our apperitif order to the sommelier choosing our wine and also i thik which was the maitre'd taken our food orders, very charming i must say he was! we had some beautiful parsnip crisps wrapped in Launceston Place ribbons, how cute! A pre starter which was this silky velvety smooth leek soup followed by the scallops which were heaven and my partner had the sardines, not really to my taste buds but he liked them however the scallops where huge and so so succulent! mains where even better i had the piggy and crackling, partner had the lamb which had its own crackling as well, that made me really happy i did not have to share mine...hehe. the ambiance started to pick up and there was a great buzz to the place , however we did not feel rushed nor did they ask us to have coffee in the lounge or anything like that. it was a truly great experience, service was fautless and the food was sublime. what more can i say, go hunt down that jewl for yourself as it is well worth the money!
Comment on this reader review

yasmina
Overall rating 10 stars
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Simply put-the best food in London! Innovative, delicious and beautifully presented. The staff are so lovely-we have taken our daughter before and they did all they could to entertain her. More like it certainly needed in London!
Comment on this reader review

hh
Overall rating 10 stars
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Saturday, November 14, 2009


what the bloggers say

An American In London

An American In London

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - My starter of potted foie gras consisted of a generous portion of the most velvety foie gras pate, ever. The quince puree added a touch of sweet lightness, and I didn't even mind the dark slate serving slab (it's so 1990s, no?)...As a main, I chose the suckling pig, whose bit of crackling-topped belly was superb, but amazingly, even better than the slice of belly were the tender loin medallions encased in unctuous, flavor-soaking pig fat. There were accompanying bits and bobs for color and crunch, but the piggy stole the show for me.

Gourmet Chick

Gourmet Chick - 8/10

Monday, November 02, 2009 - The pie itself was served in a small copper saucepan topped with golden brown piped mash, while pieces of crustacean along with a smear of broad beans and peas sit on the plate. This dish was whimsical and fun while still delivering a hearty serve of creamy pie. More allocades, this time for the Salt Marsh lamb which was served in slices of blush pink fillet topped with generous pieces of fat and accompanied by some slightly bitter red cabbage. It was a simple dish but still satisfying and well executed.

World Foodie Guide

World Foodie Guide - 9/10

Wednesday, August 05, 2009 - Crab risotto, garlic, parsley - beautifully presented in a large crab shell, it was a rather substantial portion. Creamy and full of flavour. It would have been my first choice. Potted foie gras - as my friend wanted the crab risotto, I chose the foie gras served with warm toast. The pot was empty in about five minutes! Braised beef chop, Isle of Wight tomatoes, basil - the beef literally fell off the bone, it was so incredibly tender...I'm adding it to my very short list of favourites in London. Highly recommended.

+ Show more bloggers
You may also like these restaurants:
quick search
user tools
latest blog entry

Coming Soon

Be The First To Know About Restaurants Opening Soon
london tweeting

@hungryhollowaii How's it looking? #snowedout

save this page
special offers
best for...
special offers
cuisine
our sites
city eating