Gate Restaurant

The Gate, named after its Notting Hill Gate location, is both a bar and a restaurant; it is the area's underground chameleon for the local socialites. A quiet romantic little restaurant it isn't, but go there if you like the idea of some great cocktails at the extensive bar, before dining to the accompaniment of a different DJ every night.

The menu offers elegant homemade pan European tapas, and we were impressed by how innovative the selection is, it showed that there is clearly a chef that knows his stuff in the kitchen. We tried four different ones, priced between £6 to £7.50 apiece, which left us too full for a dessert, so portions are reasonably substantial.

These included cornmeal coated squid with a smoked chilli dipping sauce, the squid was beautifully tender, not chewy, and delicious handmade falafel with lime and mint yoghurt; while we also enjoyed the Indian spiced fishcakes with a caper mayonnaise.

The Gate Restaurant is baking some of the tastiest bread baskets in West London - offered complimentary to diners with an olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip - perfect for sparkling company and wine.

Then move onto the Gate Cinema next door. Or, stick around as the Gate kicks it up a notch with funky DJs and mellow seating for drinking, dancing and decadence. Cocktails are around £7.50, wines start from £13.50 a bottle and their pan European tapas dishes are around seven to eight pounds each.