Each month, we ask a food blogger to take us on a tour of their local area, telling us about the best places to eat out. This month, Snita from Her Favourite Food has written about Kilburn, an area of north west London and her top tips for a great meal.

over to snita…

Located just a stone’s throw away from central London, Kilburn High Street can look pretty unassuming to the untrained eye. However, nestled amongst the grocery stores, opticians and local fishmongers, there are also an array of fabulous independent restaurants which have been popular with the locals for many years. Here’s a rundown of just some of my favourite local eateries standing tall in Kilburn.

My favourite local restaurant

Little Bay – Open since 1992, Little Bay is a quirky Modern European Restaurant serving up delicious dishes from an established menu. The highlight of this restaurant is the prices, as Little Bay aims to offer the best value for money and considering the high quality ingredients on offer this restaurant is a total bargain. Little Bay also has a gorgeous opulent décor, which features lovely balcony tables situated above the other diners. Open until 12am on most nights, Little Bay is perfect for a relaxing three course meal in stunning surroundings well into the evening.

Best for a first date

Small and Beautiful – This restaurant does exactly what it says on the tin. Run like a family business, Small and Beautiful serves freshly prepared continental European cuisine at affordable prices. The décor is inviting with quirky touches like Botticelli posters and organ pipes dotted around. During the day they operate a Café Room open for anything from cups of tea to a full breakfast and this extends in the evenings to offer hearty dishes from a stunning menu offering enough choice to cater for different tastes. This is welcoming and comfortable restaurant perfect for a casual yet romantic evening.

Best for catching up with friends

Brondes Age – Located close to Kilburn station and walking distance from many key stations in the area this is the perfect, reachable, location for a gathering with friends. Entertainment here includes live jazz played at the bar on most weekends and there is also a lovely outdoor seating area in place for when the weather is right. Brondes Age also offers a Mediterranean food as well as snacks to go with the drinks menu.

Favourite place for a night out

The Good Ship – This is a bar, nightclub, music venue and even comedy venue all rolled into one. This means they always have an array of events on including bands, DJs, stand-up comedy and a free juke box too. With a well-stocked bar, this is also one of the few places in Kilburn that sells real ale after 11pm so for those looking for a proper night out outside of the standard venues in central London the Good Ship is ideal.

Best for Thai Food

Spicy Basil – This is a very small, very inconspicuous restaurant but it also serves some of the best Thai I’ve had in London. You may have to share a table as the waiters will try and sit diners in wherever they can and you can only pay by card, but the quality of the food more than makes up for this. Spicy Basil has a very good reputation amongst those in the know for its homemade authentic flavours. The satay dishes are their speciality and a must try for those who visit. In addition the portions are generous and the prices are immensely affordable making Spicy Basil my favourite local restaurant for a Thai meal.

Best for British food

North London Tavern – The décor in here is plush and classy which makes it a beautiful venue for the newly unveiled wholly British menu. This pub offers an extensive traditional menu featuring exciting twists using ingredients including rib eye, plaice and even pig’s head croquettes. The kitchen is open from 12pm and serves food right through to 10:30pm. There is also a lovely spacious bar area to enjoy a drink after your meal.

Favourite Italian

Sanzio – Although not located on Kilburn High Street, Sanzio had to feature on my list of favourites. This cosy rustic restaurant has a beautiful décor which they fill with fairy lights and candle lights in the evenings. They also have bay windows which can be opened out in Summer to let in a cooling breeze making it in all a very relaxing restaurant. Their traditional menu offers many Italian classics and includes a pasta, risotto and pizza section for main courses. They also offer stuzzichini, antipasti and contorni to accompany the meal.

Favourite Persian restaurant

Zeytoon – There a couple of Afgan/Persian restaurants in this area but my favourite is Zeytoon, which is located just off Kilburn High Road. Unlike some of the other restaurants on this list, Zeytoon has a very impressive interior based on Persian design. The customer service here is great and management make an effort to maintain these high standards. In addition the food is aromatic and well spiced, served as well-presented, good sized portions.

Best for a Halal feast

Woody Grill – This halal restaurant is ideal for a quick, substantial meal. Their kebabs have been described as the best in London and incredibly flavoursome. Woody Grill doesn’t used processed meats and their dishes come with Turkish naan bread, freshly made salad, hummus and an array of sauces, adding exponentially to the flavours. This is a busy restaurant and as a result service is fast and efficient, so don’t expect to have a friendly chat with the staff as they just don’t have time for that. 

Favourite Indian Restaurant

Bombay Flame – This restaurant opened in 2007 with the aim of providing authentic and innovative Indian cuisines in the local area. Despite the name of the restaurant their menu offers dishes from all over India including Goa and the Punjab. As a result the extensive menu has a good variety to it, yet it is the Tandoori dishes that are a must try. The décor is spacious and contemporary giving it an enjoyable and appealing atmosphere.

Snita SP has a London based restaurant blog called Her Favourite Food and also contributes freelance food and culture articles for a variety of publication. Follow her on Twitter at @herfavfood.

If you would like to take us on a tour of your local foodie haunts, email Alison at foodies100@fleaenterprises.com