Crazy Homies

With its burgeoning number of decent Mexican eateries, Notting Hill is fast becoming London’s Little Guadalajara, but Tom Conran’s original still pulls in the crowds. Festooned with kitsch Mexicana, the colourful ground-floor bar/diner & basement restaurant look as fresh as ever & the enticing menu strikes just the right balance between authenticity & please-all popularity. The difference here is in the detail: a basket of crisp totopos (corn chips) comes with three perfectly pitched salsas & chunky guacamole; the burritos, enchiladas & tacos are generously stuffed with some fine spiced chicken, rare steak & picadillo pork, as well as interesting veggie combos. Enjoy it all in a spread of sharing platters accompanied by a few rounds of excellent (& suitably punchy) margaritas. On the downside, high prices can niggle – particularly in comparison with those at new ventures nearby – & easy-going service struggles with the no-bookings policy on busy nights.