The best restaurants in Chiswick

Led by young chef Nathan Cornwell, The Silver Birch is home to some spectacular, playful dishes. There's Devon smoked eel with pink fir potatoes and pickled leek and rich, velvety parmesan sablés with blue cheese mousse. Or layered curls of delightfully bright green lovage butter embellished with purple petals to go with some Guinness sourdough. Come here for beautifully sculpted plates of fresh and contemporary British cuisine – locals should be proud to have it. 

The head chef at Napoli on the Road has been voted the best pizza chef in the entire world – and the pizza here really is very good, all light and fluffy crusts and fresh tomato sauce and delicious dollops of fior di latte. There are also some really out-there flavour combos and the fritti are a must-order: get the frittatina aka deep-fried cheesy bucatini. There's another branch in Richmond.

Established in 1970, this family-run restaurant has won a clutch of awards over the years for its dedication to authentic Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine. The menu features everything from murgh to balti via a large range of tandoori dishes.

Time Out tip: Try the tandoori masala with duck (but chicken is just as good). 

Chiswick’s favourite ‘posh’ neighbourhood restaurant still oozes understated glamour with its starched white tablecloths, gleaming glassware and impeccably polished service. It also has a Michelin star, of course. Locals with cash to splash come here for classy cooking with strong Gallic overtones – how about aged beef fillet with dauphinoise potatoes and pickled walnut purée? The whiffy seasonal cheeseboard with goodies from La Fromagerie and magnificent wine list are also real tempters.

The Art Deco interiors of this Chiswick brasserie where the historic Foubert’s Hotel used to be have enough polish to placate posh parents and would even make your nan feel born-again glam. There’s a rock-solid line-up of food with universal appeal. Dip into trend-weathering classics such as confit duck, with green beans and shallot or pork chop with mustard and apple sauce. Pitched somewhere between a noisy, chattering grand café and a swanky bar, High Road also pleases the drinkers.

This traditional pub dates back to the days of the Chiswick Empire, which explains both the ‘Empire Bar’ legend carved into the back bar and the posters and memorabilia in the back room. The interior is indeed a beauty, the three rooms kept in good shape by attentive staff but, most importantly, it serves incredible Thai food. Order the sizzling Panang Kung Yai – king prawns in panang sauce – and thank us later.

A short amble from the Thames, this long-standing Chiswick evergreen is big on quirkiness and romance, with its vintage rococo interiors, floral bouquets, twinkling fairy lights and flying cherubs on ornately framed mirrors. Families drop by early doors for breakfast and brunch, while the all-day menu brings eclectic brasserie-style options ranging from fish pie to crab linguine, minted pea risotto and a hearty house burger.

Like the original in Battersea, the Chiswick branch of this small plates joint and cocktail lounge is all about good looks and style – although the interior is a mishmash of succulent foliage, prints, junk shop kitsch and rattan furniture, with a suntrap patio garden for good measure. To eat, expect a roll call of crowd-pleasing global small plates along the lines of blackened cod with miso aïoli and truffle arancini – plus homemade mini doughnuts to finish.

It feels like you're never more than a few feet away from a branch of Megan's when in south London, but these jolly all-day dining joints always seem to hit the spot. Enjoy a few brunch cocktails and a Med-inspired menu in amongst the jaunty decor – including fairy lights and fabulous foliage.

Every London borough now seems fully caffeinated with sustainable, single-origin beans and cult blends, so any local contender needs to find a way to stand out from the crowd. Chief Coffee goes with... pinball machines. Load up on caffeine, cakes and pastries at the ground-floor café, then take that chemical high downstairs to the subterranean lounge and reacquaint yourself with old-school games such as Monster Bash or Cactus Canyon.

An Italian villa plonked in the middle of Chiswick High Road, this wide, imposing building boasts a grand frontage and a gated terrace – complete with a dapper gent waiting to greet you. Inside, it whiffs of Tuscany, and the cooking is true to the region – from properly sauced pastas to perfect melt-in-the-mouth grills. Choice picks from the Italian wine list will bump up the bill, but it’s worth the outlay for a taste of la dolce vita in W4.

A much-loved veteran of the Chiswick scene, Le Vacherin is as classically French and as temptingly indulgent as its name. Inside, it pays homage to the bistro genre with lettered mirrors, retro prints, white tablecloths and leather banquettes, while gastronomic luxury rules in the shape of butter-drenched escargots, twice-baked soufflés, saucy steaks and boozy chocolate fondants. Bring a date and enjoy the romantic, inviting ambience – with a bottle of decent French wine on the side.

This Chiswick indie gets its name from the process of packing down ground coffee before the espresso is extracted – although it’s not simply about cups of joe. Argentinian empanadas and pastries also feature on Tamp’s delish daytime menu.