Golborne Road is often described as Notting Hill’s more bohemian answer to Portobello; peppered with boutique shops and delis, it's become a go-to for dinners, brunches and finding a vintage bargain. Nestled on its modest stretch is Caia, a restaurant with a ‘food, wine, and records’ ethos - my kind of place.
I confess, my first time at Caia was two years ago when I was tasked with curating a West London date itinerary, and I’d spied its Kuzma R record player and a bespoke sound system on social media. However, today was my introduction to the eatery since it's been transformed, by executive chef John Javier, into a modern bistro. The Australian-born chef now puts an Asian twist on classic dishes.
Vinyl and beef tartare (pictured right) are on the menu at Caia.
DesignMyNight's Review Of Caia In Notting Hill
Need To Know:
- Address: 46 Golborne Road, W10 5PR
- Area: Notting Hill
- Cuisine: modern bistro with an Asian twist
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: the ground floor provided a warm, candle-lit space for counter dining, overlooking the open kitchen and bar, before a spiralling staircase took us down to The Green Room, Caia’s cultural hub. The sleek subterranean space was accompanied by a vinyl collection spanning rare jazz, funk, tropical and disco, as well as more sophisticated soulful selections
- Perfect for: a dinner with the girls or a date - there were a lot of couples eating alongside us when we visited (though you must prepare to get messy if you order the ribs)
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: £143 for two, excluding service charge
Courgette carpaccio (pictured left) and ube tiramisu (right).
Menu Highlights
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Courgette carpaccio (£18) - the stracciatella worked as the perfect, creamy bed to cushion the delicate ribbons of courgette, and the pistachio pesto gave it a much-needed salty kick
- Cacio e pepe, cheung fun (£22) - using cheung fun (Cantonese steamed rice noodles) instead of the typical tonnarelli in Italian cooking gave this dish an airy and silky texture that made it incredibly hard to stop eating. The sauce was light, and I enjoyed a little heat from the pepper
- Tiramisu: ube, matcha and white chocolate (£16) - I was bemused to find this dessert had the consistency of a gateau when my spoon glided through it, and a deliciously sweet and earthy taste thanks to the ube. White chocolate was used modestly, which I appreciated, as it was an incredibly decadent but delightful end to the meal
The Long Count and Taoredor Del Diablo (pictured left).
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Long Count (£15) - despite its name, this drink was served in a tumbler, and the Banhez mezcal was the star of the show. Lemon and honey took the edge off the burn, and blackcurrant gave it a little body - it was smoky heaven for a mezcal lover like myself
- Toreador Del Diablo (£15) - poured into a dainty gimlet, Cazcabel Blanco, Campari, apricot, ginger, lemon and honey came together to create a citrusy, thirst-quenching cocktail with a slight tartness that was enjoyed by my partner
Our Overall Experience At Caia
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Caia undoubtedly knows how to set an atmosphere; the gorgeous walnut display unit filled with vinyl, armchairs, and elegant light fixtures came together to create the feel of someone’s living room you were eating in. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and found the fresher dishes to be a real highlight, coupled with some well-made cocktails. Two years on, it maintains its status as a brilliant date spot, with interiors that do half of the flirting for you.
