Launceston Place used to be the late Princess Diana’s favourite restaurant, and its tucked away location down a Kensington mews and chintzy décor were certainly suitable for a royal once upon a time. Nowadays owned by D&D, it’s been modernised a little, and after decades of diligently serving the moneyed locals it finally received its Michelin star in 2012.
Chef Tim Allen joined the same year from Whatley Manor, and his menu is British and contemporary. It has bold flavours and wonderful textures like velvety Iberico pork paired with fresh ingredients and creamy purees.
Launceston Place
British Restaurant in Kensington
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9 / 10 from 2 reviews
Address
1A Launceston Place
Kensington
London
W8 5RL
1A Launceston Place
Kensington
London
W8 5RL
Telephone
020 7937 6912
020 7937 6912
Cuisine
British
British
Other Branches
Moving Images
Moving Images
Region
Kensington
Kensington
Opening Times
| Monday |
Open 18:00 - Closes 22:00 |
| Tuesday |
Open 12:00 - Closes 14:30 Open 18:00 - Closes 22:30 |
| Wednesday |
Open 12:00 - Closes 14:30 Open 18:00 - Closes 22:30 |
| Thursday |
Open 12:00 - Closes 14:30 Open 18:00 - Closes 22:30 |
| Friday |
Open 12:00 - Closes 14:30 Open 18:00 - Closes 22:30 |
| Saturday |
Open 12:00 - Closes 14:30 Open 18:00 - Closes 22:30 |
| Sunday |
Open 12:00 - Closes 15:00 Open 18:30 - Closes 22:00 |
Launceston Place Picture Gallery
All In London Review
Faithfully British ingredients prepared with great flair
Allen’s ingredients are seasonal and faithfully British, but there’s nothing predictable about his execution. Take the monkfish, a meaty fish that stands up well to bold flavours. Here it is poached in olive oil and coated in airbag pork, in other words crumbled crackling, adding saltiness and crunch. He pairs this with a chunk of juicy, smoked pork, caramelised onion and apple sauce. Another starter has quail roasted on the barbecue and stuffed with sage, served with charred cauliflower, giant raisins and a fruity Sauternes sauce.
Iberico pork tenderloin is very moist and velvety, its richness a contrast to the fresh flavours of cauliflower carpaccio, crisp apple, grilled tomatoes and celeriac purée. The new season English lamb is rare and bright pink, with wonderfully gamey lamb belly rillettes, and a very autumnal choice of veg: curried cauliflower, green beans and pumpkin seeds.
Desserts are a fromage frais mousse with plump strawberries, lemon curd sorbet, mini meringues and a chocolate and pistachio crisp, and a baked English custard which is slightly bland, with fresh pineapple as well as roasted in Pedro Ximenez, the only dish that falls a little flat.
We are fed so many amuse bouche throughout the meal that we are full to bursting by the end of it. Moreish little balls of choux pastry filled with rich, hot béchamel, curried lentils topped with a creamy cauliflower foam, a roasted scallop with glazed pork belly, and a pre-dessert of lemon sorbet and lemon cream with subtle hints of rosemary fill the gaps between courses. This exquisite meal doesn’t cost the earth either; we ate from the market menu (the alternative being the tasting menu) which offers three courses for £46.
Reviewed by Leila
Published on Oct 17, 2012
In The News
Valentine's at Launceston Place
Bespoke menu
Christmas festivities at Launceston Place
Christmas Market Menu
Best For
The best chef's tables in London
Be part of the kitchen action
Launceston Place has a modern twist on this most private of tables, the ‘Chef’s Office’, where diners can watch the chef at work via a large plasma screen. There’s a sommelier to hand and the room can be booked for sit-down meals or parties.
London's most tech-savvy restaurants
Grub for geeks
This classic neighbourhood restaurant in chic Kensington was Lady Diana’s favourite, and it’s certainly suitable for the aristos with its pretty fireplaces, pristine white tablecloths and charming white panelled windows. However there’s a nod to technology in the Chef’s Office, a private dining room where a giant plasma screen hanging from the wall reveals the goings-on in the kitchen.
User Reviews
Zikarg Burg
from London
from London
Jan 12, 2015
They are using technology and that is very much appreciated due to this everything is very easy and nice for the customers. I would like to mention that I've not understand the system but the staff there helped to understand it and guide me in a very friendly way to choose the right food n order it
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