The Ledbury

The Ledbury is an excellent choice for a special occasion, like a 10th anniversary dinner in our case. This Michelin-starred restaurant in Notting Hill is known for its exceptional cuisine, elegant atmosphere, and attentive service. The menu at The Ledbury features contemporary European cuisine with a focus on seasonal ingredients and innovative flavors. The service is impeccable, with knowledgeable and attentive staff who are happy to guide you through the menu. The only reason for my lower rating is that at the end of our dining experience, I noticed that one of the desserts of the tasting menu was never served to me. Which was very disappointing as their excuse was that because my partner is a coeliac, they didn't want to serve it to me, so he doesn't feel he's missing out!? What poor excuse, especially that throughout the tasting menu, they have adapted some of the dishes to his dietary restrictions while I was served everything as it was described on the menu.

My partner and I are both people who live to eat. In 2019 we back we had our first top tier dining experience at La Petite Colombe and it brought us so much joy and amazement that it became a priority of ours to save up for another special dining experience once every year or two. But then covid hit, many places shut down and I unfortunately got diagnosed with allergies to gluten, dairy, and soy. For years I really thought that my experience in 2019 would be my last chance to eat at a top tier restaurant. I couldn't imagine that any restaurant would be willing to work around my restrictions. Surely if they would, the versions they would create for me would be pale, tasteless facsimiles of the regular dish. That's why I was floored by how accommodating The Ledbury was about my restrictions. I gave them a call before booking and was greeted with pure enthusiasm and not a touch of judgment. The incredibly nice hostess even called me back to ask for a clarification which I very much appreciated. The evening and the food were wonderful. From the numerous amuse bouches to the last sweet bite of desert everything was beautiful and tasted great. Not only did they work around my restrictions, they created alternates that were just as delicious, interesting, and gorgeous to look at as the dishes from the normal menu. The food itself was incredible. Every bite was a journey of discovery - new combinations of flavors and textures that we had no idea existed. Delicate bright notes of citrus and salt swimming over scrumptious notes of umami and fat. For my partner's birthday they also adorned our table with a sweet card which was a great touch. I'd be remiss to not mention the friendly and warm staff who made us feel very welcome as they conducted us through a magical evening. I'm deeply grateful to The Ledbury, not just for the wonderful evening, but also for showing me realize that top tier dining is still possible for me with my restrictions.