The best restaurants in Hammersmith

Set back from the Thames Path, the Michelin-starred River Café is a riverside icon in its own right. Warm, buzzy and expensive (in a semi-casual way), it’s dedicated to serving unfussy yet stunning Italian food based on artisanal seasonal ingredients. OK, prices are excruciating, but portions are generous – go for a summer lunch, sit on the terrace and live it large like an A-lister.

In a striking, light-filled corner spot just seconds from the station, you'll find Faber. Coastal fish and seafood is at the forefront of a menu that prides itself on sustainability - but this doesn't mean that flavour takes second place. Far from it; exec chef Ollie Bass (formerly of Quo Vadis and Sessions Arts Club) is doing magical things in the kitchen, using day boat catches and changing things up regularly to reflect what's good (and ethical). Expect the likes of chalkstream Hampshire trout tartare with soya, keta caviar & nori as well as barbecued Orkney scallop, with cauliflower & patis puree, and the house Cornish cod cheek skewer with chunky, zingy tartar sauce, which is as pretty as it is tasty. 

A converted artist’s studio behind the Hammersmith Apollo provides the setting for the original branch of the Gate mini-chain, which opened way back in 1989. Expect colourful, nourishing, eclectic dishes with plenty of ambition and serious veggie and vegan cred, including globally-inspired big-hitters. Excellent puds too.

A welcome blast of subcontinental warmth on Hammersmith’s frenetic main drag, Shilpa quietly goes about its business, delivering south Indian and Keralan cooking at surprisingly low prices. The food regularly outshines the unassuming surroundings as the kitchen knocks out mouthwatering meat curries, deftly spiced fish dishes and plenty for veggies too. Dining here is also a bargain, especially at lunchtime.

The cooking at this no-nonsense Hammersmith establishment is largely from the Isan region of north-east Thailand and includes multiple versions of green papaya salad, embellished with anything from salted duck egg to sausage. Also expect various southern dishes such as sour prawn curry or turmeric-marinated sea bass cooked by Auntie Bee. Staff treat locals with congeniality.

Claudio Vescovo and Gianluca D'Angelo caused a stir when they opened Zia Lucia in Holloway. Like the original, their Brook Green outpost is a family-friendly joint with the emphasis firmly on delectable wood-fired beauties. Choose from four 48-hour fermented doughs (nutty wholemeal, vegetable charcoal, gluten-free etc) and pick from a host of classic and new toppings.

Hardly known for its fancy cakes, Hammersmith is moving into the fast lane with this Parisian bakery/patisserie/café. Retro-patterned wallpaper sets the scene, and there are a few tables inside (and out back) if you want to eat in. Top-rate crusty baguettes and soft milk breads host life-affirming fillings, while the patisserie includes the best tarte aux pommes we’ve tasted in London.

Popular with students and aficionados of south Indian vegetarian cuisine, Sagar has gained renown for its keenly priced homely cooking, with four outlets now running across the capital. The King Street original is an attractive, smart-looking venue serving a please-all regional menu spanning everything from steamed idli dumplings and bhel puris to dosas galore, uthapams (lentil ‘pizzas’) and assorted veggie curries.  

In a parade of shops near Ravenscourt Park, this friendly neighbourhood Japanese won’t win any prizes for sparkle or pizazz, but locals come here for the food, especially the flame-cooked skewers from the robata grill. Cheap sets and tapas-style combos are the way to go, and there’s plenty for fans of raw fish too (check out the range of nigiri, temaki and sashimi).

With its beach-style wooden bar, hessian cushions, beads and quirky curios, Potli has a tropical street-bazaar vibe. Locals visit for classic curries, smoky grills and regional riffs from all corners of the subcontinent – don’t miss the steamed banana-leaf packets stuffed with Gujarati-style prawns or the mega rogan josh lamb shank (enough for two). Drinks range from spiced martinis to bottles of Meantime IPA.

Many Iranian restaurants strive to emulate the informality of the dinner parties at which so much of their nation’s cuisine is served. Not so with Mahdi, a sprawling space exotically festooned with carved wood, embroidered fabrics and even a stuffed peacock in one corner. To eat, bypass Western dishes such as chicken caesar salad in favour of authentic meze, grills, kebabs, rice and stews. Portions are humongous.