I had a great meal at Notto Pasta Bar the other night. The food was delicious and refreshingly uncomplicated. At Notto, they make simple dishes stand out with bold, satisfying flavours. I started with the asparagus, followed by the beef ragù with pappardelle — and of course, I couldn’t resist finishing with the tiramisu. A good tiramisu is firmly in my top five desserts of all time, and this one did not disappoint. I can’t wait to go back — especially with such reasonable prices!

Dim Sum Duck is a very popular and unique place. It’s small and popular. You often have to queue to get a seat and so did I, for about 35 minutes even though j came early. The food is good, nothing spectacular but just very good. I had pork dumplings, crispy chilli beef and a hold of house red wine. I dined alone and shared a table with another sole diner. This place rocks!

Lunch at The Arts Club was a lively experience, filled with a buzzing, international art crowd. The setting was stylish and energetic, but the food, while mostly fresh, had its ups and downs. We started with bread and butter — a basic baguette, bordering on dull, though the butter was at a perfect temperature. The lentil salad was simple and well-seasoned. The sweetcorn salad was the highlight: fresh, vibrant, and full of flavour. The raw tuna and bass were very fresh but lacked imagination in presentation. The crab salad with vanilla was a pleasant surprise — subtle and well-balanced. The baby chicken with mash was disappointing. I’ve never liked baby chicken on a menu and this was no exception: too many bones, not enough meat, and it looked rather sad next to cold mash. The beetroot salad was okay but needed acidity — it tasted flat and uninspired. Pudding was a nice finish and rounded off the meal on a positive note. Overall, The Arts Club offers a great atmosphere and some well-executed dishes, but not everything lives up to the setting. Worth a visit, but not without caveats.

Brunch spot in Notting Hill. Very busy place but why? There are other places around far better.