Our Review Of Chez Lui Notting Hill: Dreamy French Fare By Candlelight

Thanks to the 1999 film starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, you’d be hard-pressed to find an area more synonymous with romance than Notting Hill - outside of Paris, of course. Pair that with the saying 'the way to one's heart is through their stomach', something we all can resonate with, and you've got one hell of a love fest. Carrying on that theme, meet Chez Lui; a brand new, très chic French restaurant that's just opened in this West London hotspot... and we just had to drop by to find out more.

You can't deny the elegance at Chez Lui's restaurant, from the almost-too-pretty-to-eat starter to the oxblood-coloured interiors.

DesignMyNight's Review Of Chez Lui London

Around the corner from Notting Hill's iconic bookshop, parallel to Portobello Road Market and a short stroll from Ladbroke Grove tube, Chez Lui bistrot ticks all the right boxes in terms of location. The largely pedestrianised area was bustling with alfresco diners and we couldn’t help but get swept up in the buzz. Once inside, you’d easily be mistaken for believing you’d entered a stylish Parisian restaurant, from the tones of burgundy and gold to the hanging cream curtain by the window. Dark wood panels and off-white brick arches made the most of original features, while the long oval mirrors on opposite walls reflected the light. We took our seats at the peach-coloured velvet booths, contrasting nicely with the spherical lights and marble-topped tables flaunting flickering candles that ramped up the love factor. We also liked the cute rope detailing and floral French pictures on the walls.

As swaying jazz tunes provided the soundtrack, our order was taken by Fedele and the frankly incredible, attentive team. He recommended we begin with two cocktails. Firstly, my BBQ margarita (£11) blew me away with how amazing and unusual it tasted. Think tequila, mezcal and agave nectar, mixed with sweet pineapple. We were advised to make sure to take in the spicy pimento rim with every sip, and this definitely elevated the smokiness, which I loved. It’d be rude not to try a Notting Hill spritz (£11), because when in Rome, right? Prepare for a goblet-sized tipple with all the unmistakable Aperol flavours, but combined with gin, black olive tonic and a sprig of rosemary.  

The sunny outdoor tables are ideal for summer.

To start, or pour commencer (said in my best GCSE French), my date picked the sea bass carpaccio (£14) from the Chez Lui menu. Thinly sliced, the beautiful fish benefitted from a refreshing citrus and olive oil dressing, finished with chilli for that hint of fire. Vegetarians like myself are well catered for here, and I was recommended toasted quinoa (£14) to kick things off. Just imagine classic French gardens on a circular plate; salad leaves that looked like grass, whipped avocado, intricately diced carrot cubes and two-toned tomatoes that burst with every bite, all on top of a crunchy, nutty base.

Next, the mains. One of the Les Pâtes de Chez Lui, my Ravioli del Plin (£36), was a powerhouse of flavour. You could actually smell the truffle shavings as the dish flew out of the kitchen. We’re talking deliciously pungent parcels stuffed with castelmagno cheese and enveloped in an indulgent creamy, herby sauce. Oooh la la indeed. As for my other half, he smiled with joy as the beef steak (£31) arrived in front of him, remarking that you could tell that this would be absolute quality. Served medium-rare, the slab of mouthwatering, charred but pink-in-the-middle meat was surrounded by a moat of slightly sweet brandy sauce, topped with crispy kale. It goes without saying that the peppery, crunchy French fries (£7) were an ideal accompaniment here, but our steamed green asparagus (£12) particularly stole the limelight. The lemony mousseline was standout among the tree trunk-esque al dente spears, whereas the hazelnuts provided a different texture.  

The Chez Luii bistrot London photos above show handcrafted cocktails paired with one hell of a steak supper. 

We couldn’t (figuratively) go to France without tasting some wine, and after careful consideration, I was advised to try the crisp, refreshing Sancerre sauvignon blanc (£15), as it matched particularly well with my dessert. My date seemingly only had eyes for another zesty tipple, so Summer Spritz (£12) was an obvious choice, bringing together prosecco, elderflower, peach and mango with aromatic bitters.

As the lights dimmed, giving off a gorgeous, calming hue across the restaurant, we lapped up a duo of delicious desserts, dividing the crème brûlée (£11) and mousse au chocolat (£12) between ourselves. Now, be warned, the former is designed for that purpose, so was biggggg, like face-sized. Not a problem for us gluttons though, as we devoured the layers of caramel syrup, vanilla-infused custard (that had the right amount of wobble) and ever-so-slightly salty caramelised topping. Blood sugar well and truly spiked, we moved on to dark chocolate paradise. Served in a vintage patterned glass, this homemade, silky and downright decadent mousse was a bombshell of a pud, from the piped cream to the tiny chunks of chewy toffee.   

Chez Lui London Review: Overall

It should be pretty obvious by now that we were taken to culinary heaven via Paris and Notting Hill, courtesy of Chez Lui. Having opened early July, the debut in a new line of dining collectives by Bagatelle Group serves timeless classics but with really complex flavours. Honestly and truthfully, we had such a wonderful time at this neighbourhood gem, especially down to the friendly team here that are specifically trained in a bistro setting. Bravo.     

Keep checking back on our guide to the best new restaurants in London  - and keep your finger firmly on the pulse.