Ffiona's

An institution on Kensington Church Street since 1993, Ffiona’s is suffused with the charm of its eponymous owner. Sheets of music adorn the ceiling & pictures of the lady herself with her dogs decorate the dining room, which is lit by flickering candles at night. The kitchen dishes up rib-sticking English staples such as steak & kidney pie, rack of lamb or pork & herb sausages with bubble & squeak, but also goes walkabout for the likes of watermelon & mint salad, king prawns with chilli & garlic, duck breast with apples & Calvados, & chicken Kiev (‘probably the best in the world’, according to the menu). Otherwise, buttermilk pancakes or waffles with bacon satisfy the weekend brunch crowd. It’s not cheap, but Ffiona’s is a bit like its owner: homely, genuine & welcoming.