The Portobello Gold has just re-opened having been re-furbished. It claims to be the first ever London gastropub. The pub out front is a fine one with an eclectic mix of punters ranging from trustafarians to a few old Notting Hill 'faces'. The restaurant part is round the back in what amounts to a large conservatory. A skylight in the big glass roof can be moved back in warm times to give a comfortable feel to proceedings and the room is decorated with a lot of yucca plants and white brickwork, which together with a large mirror that covers the rear wall, and chairs with wicker backs gives a bright, spacious and idiosyncratic feel to the place. There are also contemporary paintings, which are for sale, dotting the walls. A large empty bird cage (at least I think it was empty) hangs near the entrance. Customers were young-ish and seemed to be a mix of Notting Hillers and tourists. Whoever they were, a pleasant civilised atmosphere prevailed.

I had some dips for starters with a range of things to dip with - bread, pitta and crisp-like objects. Probably crisps, in fact. The dips were guacamole, humus and olive tapenade and were good. She had Moules Mariniere and said that they were good too. We then both had guinea fowl with smokey bacon, Portobello mushrooms (morning picked on the Westway?) and Madeira which came with veg and potatoes. This was excellent. Really excellent. The best guinea fowl I think I have ever had. The vegetables were also stylishly and imaginatively done. Other menu highlights included rib eye steak (£12.95) and roast seabass (£11.55). Starters of smoked eel fillets (£5.95) and chicken liver and pecan nut pate (£4.50) looked interesting too. Service, however, could have been better. They forgot to give us any menus for a while and also brought the wrong wine. Prices are the top end of average - a bowl of soup will set you back £4.50. It's worth going for the guinea fowl alone though - and of course knowing that you are sitting in the first ever London gastropub. The place mats are rather unusual too - make sure you take a look at them...
Harry