Caractère

Notting Hill

Perched among the Michelin stars of London’s Notting Hill, Caractère is a restaurant where preconceptions are best left at the door. Yes, it has the name Roux behind it. Yes, it is but a stone’s throw from The Ledbury. But this place possesses the kind of relaxed energy that only a pair of young restaurateurs launching their first project could muster. Emily Roux greets diners at the door, while husband Diego Ferrari, the other half of Caractère, is in charge in the kitchen. Dishes fall under headings including ‘Curious’, ‘Robust’ and ‘Strong’. ‘Curious’ reveals a crispy veal sweetbread with heritage tomatoes, pine nuts and thyme jus, which is the star of the show. A crisp pastry tart filled with mushroom purée, roast ceps and the prettiest of salads
is almost too beautiful to disturb. Our puds of glazed dark chocolate bar with pecan praline and salted caramel, and strawberries with olive oil ganache and a mascarpone sorbet fall under the realm of ‘Greedy’. For a restaurant with such fine food, and a gloriously laid-back attitude,
we are guilty as charged.

caractererestaurant.com