our review
A gastropub in Notting Hill Gate wouldn't usually make it on to our 'To Do' list. You can find tarted-up boozers dishing up 'Brit classics' all over London now and with the exception of a few stunners, they're all much the same. The Mall Tavern, however, sounded promising. It's a new project for the Perritt brothers who own The Regent, Kensal Green, and The Stag in Belsize Park. The latter boasts one of North London's best beer gardens and the food we've had there - excluding one questionable Sunday roast - was rather good.
At the new place, they've drafted in rising star Jesse Dunford Wood, whose CV includes stints at Kensington Place, Balthazar (NYC) and, more recently, Hix Soho. We arrived for a mid-week visit to find him working front of house in a panama hat, dishing out drinks and bar snacks to well-heeled locals. With every seat taken and most tables groaning with grub, we propped up the bar and crunched our way through a pint of parsnip crisps. There's plenty of choice on the drinks front, from cask ales to wines, whiskies and a handful of cocktails. The Earl Grey fizz wasn't a great choice, the lemon zest overpowering both the Champagne and the delicate tea syrup, but a classic Dark 'n' Stormy (at just 7 quid) was much better.
The interior has been ripped straight from The Big Book of Gastropubs - earthy green walls, fringed lamps, leather banquettes and a handsome wooden bar dividing the room into two cosy drinking and dining areas. There are eccentric touches like the Prince Charles & Di china, quirky portraits painted by Jesse's dad, and glass cases full of culinary oddities that might otherwise be cluttering up his home. (Creme brulee iron, anyone?) Out back, there's a small but sunny garden and upstairs there's a surprisingly smart private room (complete with its own jukebox) where you can host roast chicken and suckling pig parties. There's even a rustic 'chef's table' in the kitchen - all bases covered for foodie functions, then.
The menu is, of course, British. Don't panic, there's not a Scotch egg in sight - just decent bar snacks like pork crackling, lamb scrumpets, pate and cauliflower fritters. The reassuringly short list of mains leans towards retro classics like chicken kiev, cow pie, and mac 'n' cheese. Pork belly came with creamy colcannon and more of that excellent crackling while my fish fingers - flaky white fish in a crisp, well-seasoned crumb - sat on top of delicious pea puree. A generous pot of tartare sauce was, I think, homemade and well balanced but with a zingy kick. We polished off a basket of freshly baked soda bread, which got a grunt of approval from my Northern Irish companion, and we also shared some chips that sadly weren't. If you cut a potato into four pieces and leave the skin on, that's a wedge my friend. These rarely manage to cook all the way through to the desired level of carbo-fluffiness so we left them unfinished.
After two good puds (a rich chocolate fondant and a fruity cheesecake pot), we waddled out into the night. The place was still as busy as it had been when we arrived and the locals seemed happy with the newcomer. This isn't destination dining, but it is a welcome addition to an area crying out for a decent pub. The staff are clued-up, the bar is well-stocked and the menu's full of childhood favourites that taste better than you remember. If you're local or you'd like to be, pop in for dinner or get a group together for a porky blow-out upstairs. Just don't fight over the crackling.
KP - April 2010
what the critics say
Tony Turnbull
Andy Lynes - 2/5
your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne
The Chicken Kiev is one of the trademark dishes at the Mall Tavern and is an exciting variant on the classic from the good ol days!
We ate here for lunch on a pleasant Saturday after having a nose on the high street. Staff were very polite and the courses came through at a well above average rate without compromising flavour.
Favourites on the day included, piggy terrines, chicken kiev, wild sea bass and the T-Bone Steak.
Highly recommend and will go back in a flash!
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Nomez
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, July 10, 2011
The restaurant was full on a Thursday evening. The chef Jesse welcomed us personally and when we sat down at our table, a carafe of water appeared immediately and delicious soda bread with butter.
The service was ab fab, with a plus on small details like more water, even bread if you wanted too and the food scrumptious. Amazing down to earth dishes with Jesse's own signature creations. Bravo for his imagination.
It is a lively, young place, plenty of atmosphere and we certainly will come back.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, February 28, 2011
Yesterday we were having a big sort out at home. Baby G is now crawling and climbing so we urgently needed to tidy the numerous bits and pieces he might want to eat. He was round a grandma's for the day and after a hard morning sorting we thought we would make the most of it and head out for a quick baby free lunch. As it turned by chosing the Mall Tavern we had found the one of the most baby friendly pubs in the area. It was busy with families enjoying Sunday lunch, in fact the dining area was fully booked so we are in the bar. The Mall Tavern has for many years been a bit of a white elephant, I remember going when it had a good wine list but a largely egg based menu. It is slightly tucked away behind Notting Hill gate but it is near the main bus stop so plenty of people pass by. I was always put off in the past as when sat on the top deck of the bus you could see into a very grim kitchen above the pub. However last year they had a complete refurb and the new place looks spotless from the top of the bus. I'd been in for a beer on a few occasions but this was my first time eating.
The bar itself is traditional with a good selection of beer, I had a bitter (Wandle) shandy and my lovely wife a Bloody Mary. They had a good selection of quirky bar snacks which the girl sat next to us was enjoying. We had to get back to our house jobs so we just ordered a main. I had the cow pie whilst my lovely wife had cock a leeky pie, so basically a beef pie and chicken pie. We also ordered some chips and cabbage. The food arrived and the pies were huge. Unfortunatly my wife's chicken pie was not warmed through properly so it went back upstairs for longer in the oven. I tucked into mine which was very nice but I could have done without the bone marrow stuffing in the middle. It was really oily and detracted from an excellent meat pie made with succulent pieces of beef. My wife's chicken pie re-appeared properly heated through and with a bowl of roasted veg by way of apology. She enjoyed the pie a lot, I tried it and it was very tasty and fresh tasting. The sides were a mixed afffair the cabbage was lovely and perfect for soaking up the remnants of my pie. The chips were poor they looked rustic but tasted cold and uninsteresting. the bowl of roasted veg was very nice again all fresh.
The meal was very nice despite an early hiccup however we weren't wholly comfortable. With big dishes and sides were were struggling for space on our tiny bar table. They do seem to have crammed these in which may be fine for bar snacks but if you are having a proper meal you need some space. I think next time we return we will book a table in the back which looked a lot more spaceous. The service was nice and friendly. Our drinks and food were all ordered through our waitress and the drinks came very quickly. We were also give a carafe of tap water without asking, a real bonus. All in all a good lunch, quick and pretty reasionable. They were very accomadating to a couple next to us with a baby so I can definetly see us coming back with baby G. I'm glad to see this nice little pub serving some good food and obviously thriving after a bit of TLC.
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david ginsberg
- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, January 17, 2011
Went for dinner with my girlfriend and her family the week before Christmas. I chose the Mall as someone recommended it. I wish we hadn't chosen the pre-Christmas week As i have to say they don't seem to be cut out for 'rowdy' types. And fair enough. No- one wants to sit amongst a load of idiots throwing food around and shoving each others' faces in their dinner. But that's what we had to sit next to for a good few hours until eventually some manager came forward and put a stop to it.
We were amazed at how long these people were allowed to misbehave.
I would go back as the food was great. Too busy though. And the management seems to be sadly lacking. Appalling.
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B H
Overall rating 
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 5
Monday, December 27, 2010
Sunday lunch at 1.30 and the place was jammed with enormous groups-of which one was 20 people.We should have left as the noise level was incredibly high-what is it about the normally discreet English that when they have a drink their voices go up with each beverage?With such a large group,I also wondered about the kitchen's ability to deliver food to the rest of us on time.But we persevered.An hour and a half later,our food was served. His chicken kiev looked nice,but when he cut into it there was no stream of garlic butter .Rather the butter never melted so it was all basically stuck inside the chicken.This meant that it was obviously frozen and the cooking never got up to a high enough temperature to melt the inside blob of butter.Her cow pie looked fine,as did the roast pork shoulder,although the apple sauce was absent.My roast beef was very disappointing ,because the cut of meat used was all wrong.Roast beef from a silverside;topside;rib roast are all wonderful.But an eye-round is too small and too lean and too full of nerves.So ,while nicely presented and cooked medium,it was dry and stringy and terrible to chew.The 3 roast potato wedges were nice but hardly generous.And the Yorkshire puddings were overdone and dry. The waiters were pleasant.
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A.Befan
Overall rating 
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Monday, September 20, 2010
3 of us went for a saturday lunch.
The staff are kind,welcoming,and helpful.
The food was very good indeed.We started with a lightly smoked salmon which was served with excellent , freshly made bread and creamy butter-excellent!
The cow pie was a wonderful steak pie with marrow , served with a fitted top crust , piping hot.Creamy mash and simple greens were ordered separately. All of this was excellent. We had no room for desserts. Informal, and top notch, we shall return. Total cost including a half bottle of Montepulciano £68 plus service.
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C.Elder
Overall rating 
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, September 13, 2010
I LOVE this place, it is marvellous!!!! Thank you guys for the wonderful interior, super-friendly staff and excellent food and wine... it was great - thumbs up!!
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Anna von Saldern
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 26, 2010
Best Sunday roast I've had in London in quite some years. The crackling is the best bar snack ever. We waited a while for the food to come out but it was worth the wait. Glad to see they've kept the place as a proper bar as well. Nice retro Brit grub and some great whiskies. We're not often in the area but when we are, we'll be back.
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B.
Overall rating 
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Friday, June 11, 2010
what the bloggers say
@icecreamunion Oh HELLO! Sounds right up my street.
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