First Floor

Not a great experience. I had read good reviews (granted circa 2009) and so my friends and I had high hopes. Food was reasonable, not outstanding. Lamb was so rare that it was slightly uncomfortable to eat (I like my steak rare so that's saying something). However, it was the managements reaction to our questioning of a mistake (their mistake) on our bill that took the biscuit. Over-reaction is not the word! I was shocked at the way we were spoken to over something that he admitted was the restaurants fault but was trying to charge us for anyway. Where has good customer service gone? The customer doesn't always have to be right, but how about when they are actually right, it's recognised and the issue dealt with properly rather than causing us to have to fight our point?! It's a pity because we were checking it out with the intention to hire the private room for a birthday party, which we're clearly not going to do if we have to deal with that. However, I'm sure that the Manager will sleep well tonight knowing that he needlessly antagonised four innocent customers who may have otherwise brought in a lot of future business.

CONTINUED.......
Decisions,Decisions-what an astounding selection.

For the main course,my guest chose Marinated Gigot Lamb Steak,with Garlic Roast New Potatoes,French beans and minted yoghurt.
It was cooked to perfection,tender and it was a definite and generously man-sized portion,which is what one definitely needs after a hard day at the office.
The vegetables were cooked nicely and were very enjoyable and fresh.
I chose,at the recommendation of our host david,the Seared Red Mullet with Potato Rosti,wilted pousse,caper berry and tomato salsa.
Again superbly presented,a generously sized piece of fish,cooked to perfection,tender and not a fish-bone in sight!
The potato rosti was superb,and again all the flavours and aromas worked together,the salsa and the fish,the delicious and tender caper berries and the fresh green pousse all complemented each other wonderfully well.
By now,feeling full,we were encouraged to be devils and choose dessert
from the six options.
In the end my guest chose,Mascarpone and Vanilla Creme Brulee with Chocolate Biscotti.The Brulee was deliciously creamy and rich,again a generously sized ramekin full--no titchy portions in sight,and the Biscotti had a fantastic cocoa taste-like the rich drinking chocolate type one could get years ago where it tasted like "real" chocolate.
I chose Coconut Pannacotta with mango.passion fruit and pineapple.
Delicious and creamy with just a delicate taste of coconut,complemented by
the fresh fruit arranged in a circle made up in mini-cubes of fruit.Fresh and fragrant.A great ending to a perfect meal.
I can whole-heartedly recommend the First Floor as a great,but "hidden gem" of West London.
It is generally a regular eating place and watering hole of the W10/W11 set,but it is definitely worth a look for anyone seeking a great meal from further out of the area.
By bus the 23 to Paddington stops but a street away (100yards) and the 452 and 52 to Victoria again is very close by.

5/5 Excellent
"Step up" to the plate at the "First Floor" in Portobello Road!"
Terence Jolley
Freelance Writer

FIRST FLOOR
186 Portobello Road, London W11 1LA

The eclectic and vibrant Portobello Road pays host to this delightful eaterie and bar and serves an amazing and affordable range of fayre.As one would expect the fully licensed bar carries an excellent choice of beers,wines and spirits.The venue not only comprises a bar, and the First Floor Dining but a room above for Private Dining which can be hired for birthdays,anniversaries and other parties and dining occasions.Also the venue can cater for receptions and parties by arrangement.Of course,our evening was to sample the delights of this gastronomic hub.I had visited some weeks before as a guest at a party here,and had been delighted by the superb catering and efficiency of the staff,and indeed the very attractive and decadent decor of the place.Huge rich velvet swag curtains,a collection of candelabras and glorious crystal chandeliers added a superb ambience of the venue.
We were looked after by David on the evening we visited and indeed he and all the staff who waited on us were excellent.
We chose a House White,Borgo Selene Bianco 2009,coming in at a very reasonable £14.50 a bottle.
A Two course Set Menu will set one back a mere £15,but why not go the whole hog and in doing so "ride high on the hog" and have Three Courses for £20 and really make a meal of it!
There are a dozen starters from which to choose,from Soups to Globe Artichoke,,pickled lemon and Feta to several Vegetarian choices
and Goats Cheese Galette.
From this mouth-watering selection,my guest and I both plumped for Seared Diver caught scallops,puree of Salsify and Vanilla,Micro-fennel Buerre-Blanc.
They were amazing,the sea-fresh aroma,beautiful searing and the moist tenderness was bliss on a plate!
The Salsify and Green strands of "fresh" vanilla,(something I had never seen or tried before),being used to the traditional vanilla pods were a wonderful complement to the scallops and salsify.The Buerre-Blanc with micro-fennel was also delicious.The taste of the scallops,vanilla and salsify with the Fennel gave a delicious rich mix of flavours and a really unique and delicious taste.

The main course comprises some thirteen choices of tempting fayre,choose from Fish,Pasta,Lamb,Chicken,Steak,Duck and Vegetarian options.CONTINUED