Kensington’s Michelin starred neighbourhood restaurant
About us
Kitchen W8 is that rare thing – a genuinely relaxed and friendly Michelin starred neighbourhood restaurant. Our chef since launch has been Mark Kempson whose exceptional cooking along with his team won us our first Michelin star in 2011, an accolade which we have retained each year since then.
When we launched Kitchen W8 in 2009 we intended it to be a home from home, something which we strive to achieve year after year. Along the way we have made many great friends and loyal customers. Our benchmark for success is to send you back out into the world feeling better than when you arrived.
Philip Howard & Rebecca Mascarenhas
Co-owners
Food
Food Style
Our style is modern English with a French soul. It is about integrity, simplicity and conviviality. Ingredients are centre-stage and we source them carefully from a short list of trusted suppliers. Menus change with the seasons to celebrate the arrival of new produce.
Neighbourhood Feel
As a neighbourhood restaurant getting our pricing right is key. We want our guests to use us regularly for both impromptu visits and special occasions alike. The restaurant has no dress code, so please join us in whatever feels comfortable.
Special Events
Throughout the year we produce one-off menus to celebrate special occasions, from Valentine’s Day to the arrival of autumn truffles.
Set Menu
Available from January to November, our set menu offers one of the very best deals available in London
Lunch : Monday to Saturday £49.50 for three courses
Early Evening – Monday to Saturday £49.50 for three courses
(6.00pm-6.15pm, Saturday last order at 18:30)
Evening reservations for our set menu will be for one and a half hours.
Tasting Menu
This five course tasting menu showcases seasonal produce with consummate skill. The menu costs £120.00 per person or £180.00 with wine flight.
Lunch – Monday to Saturday available to order from 12.30pm-1.30pm
Evening – Monday to Sunday available to order for all reservations
Wine
Great wines and no corkage on Sunday night
We have a carefully chosen list with both great value and special occasion wines to pair with any dish. We understand that you may occasionally wish to bring your own special bottle with you. We offer corkage at £30 per bottle, with a limit of one bottle per two people, up to a maximum of 4 bottles per booking. We do not allow corkage on Saturday evenings. On Sunday evenings we offer free corkage (with the exception of special events, Valentine’s day and NYE) with the same limit of one bottle per two people, up to a maximum of 4 bottles per booking. We may have limitations on glassware, so please discuss any intention to BYO with the team on reserving.
Reservations
Reservations Policy
Online reservations are for a maximum of seven guests. Please note that the largest table we can accommodate in the main dining room is for seven guests. To secure your booking we will need to take details of your credit card. Please be aware that we have a 24 hours cancellation policy and if we are unable to rebook the table a charge of £50 per person will be made and donated to The Fulham Palace Gardens charity. For larger groups please email your enquiry to [email protected]. Our Private Dining Room can accommodate up to 14 guests.
If you are unable to book at your preferred time, would like to change your reservation or have any other queries, please call us on +44 (0)20 79370120, or email us [email protected] and we will be pleased to help. Occasionally we do have more availability than our online booking system will show so it’s always worth contacting us directly if your ideal date/time appears unavailable.
Our People
Mark Kempson
Head Chef
Mark Kempson has been at the Helm of Kitchen W8 since the opening. His phenomenal skills, drive and passion for food add talent and strength to the team. His calm demeanour is inspirational in the kitchen and he shows a real understanding in providing food that people want to eat rather than just marvel at. Mark previously worked at The Square with Phil Howard and also The Vineyard at Stockcross with John Campbell.
Phil Howard
Co-owner
Philip Howard has always been a “chef’s chef”, quietly notching up years of service and influencing the industry immeasurably. Formerly Head Chef and co-owner of The Square for twenty five years, Phil is now chef and co-owner with Rebecca Mascarenhas of Elystan Street in Chelsea. Known for his delicacy of touch and his emphasis on seasonality and flavour Phil held two Michelin stars for 17 years of his tenure at The Square. He has spent much of his career nurturing chefs and enjoys showcasing his protégés. He remains a partner in three restaurants; Kitchen W8, Church Road and Elystan Street.
Rebecca Mascarenhas
Co-owner
In 1986, she opened the definitive neighbourhood restaurant and proved that it was possible to have delicious food locally. Sonny’s Kitchen, in Barnes was a pioneer, and the restaurant is full of residents who are delighted that they do not have to trek into the West End for a good night out. Thirty years later it continues to be a success. Continuing her passion for high quality neighbourhood establishments, Rebecca also owns HomeSW15 in Putney.
Allegra Morelli
General Manager
Allegra’s journey into hospitality was probably inevitable, having been steeped in it from an early age in her family’s restaurant in the Piedmontese Alps. Despite starting a degree in Business & Economics, she was lured away to study for a diploma with the Italian Sommeliers’ Association. She cut her teeth in renowned restaurants in Tuscany, Alba and Lazio before heading to London in 2019 and a job as a Chef de Rang at Kitchen W8. Her understated confidence, charisma, collaborative drive and knowledge all contribute to her success as a manager.
Accolades
We have held one Michelin star since 2011.
The Michelin Guide says:
“Using top quality ingredients, dishes with distinct flavours are carefully prepared to a consistently high standard.”
Kitchen W8 is in the SquareMeal Awards 2023: The 100 Best Restaurants in London
SquareMeal says:
“This Michelin-starred restaurant in Kensington continues to turn out refined, uncomplicated, perfectly cooked plates in its elegantly understated dining room”
Reviews
It’s the sort of restaurant every neighbourhood should have because it succeeds on so many levels.
Kitchen W8 is a Michelin-starred neighbourhood restaurant that isn’t to be missed. Warm, welcoming and unforgettable, the dishes all pull from ingredients that are both local and seasonal.
Kitchen W8 is that rare beast – a neighbourhood restaurant offering a menu of metropolitan sophistication in a room that oozes buzz, yet feels serene.
For the quality of food, flawless service and its upmarket postcode, Kitchen W8 is one of the best-value Michelin-starred restaurants in London.
Kitchen W8 shrewdly delivers a winning neighbourhood-cum-destination format.
This restaurant has everything I love about eating out. Atmosphere, location, deliciousness, newly discovered wines and a chance to talk and talk.
A quiet sense of luxury. Absolutely brilliant!
The food is not just exciting, it’s approachable.
When everything works, when the stars align and it all comes together, it is something very special indeed, and that was exactly what we experienced at Kitchen W8.
Gallery
Private dining
With its close proximity to the entrance yet separated from the main dining area, the private dining room at Kitchen W8 remains very much at the heart of the restaurant. It’s the perfect place to host an entirely bespoke event for up to 14 guests. Be it a special family occasion, a formal business lunch, a casual dinner or a structured wine event we can deliver a truly exemplary experience.
Contact & Info
You will find us just off High Street Kensington and close to Holland Park and the Design Museum
Kitchen W8
11-13 Abingdon Road
London W8 6AH
Reservations: 020 7937 0120
Lunch
12.15-2.30pm Monday – Saturday
12.15-3pm Sunday
Dinner
6.00-9.00pm Monday – Saturday
6.30-8.00pm Sunday
Nearest Tube
High Street Kensington
Earls Court
Bus routes
No. 9, 10, 27, 328, C1
Parking
There is pay and display (2 hour max) on Abingdon Road, directly outside the restaurant as well as residents’ parking. There are also car parks nearby.
For all enquiries please email [email protected]
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From time to time we send out emails about special events and offers at Kitchen W8, please click below to sign up for our email updates.
Careers
We are always on the lookout for talented, friendly individuals who are keen to learn. If you are thinking about the next step in your career, please send your CV to [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you.
Our Sister Restaurant
ELYSTAN STREET
43 Elystan Street, London, SW3 3NT
When it was launched to huge acclaim in 2016 Elystan Street was named London’s best new restaurant. Critics described the food as ‘sublime’ and ‘thrilling’. It showcases the cooking of Phil Howard, one of Britain’s foremost chefs in a relaxed and contemporary environment.
