The Blurb
Fine dining meets fashion in the latest concept from vintage fashion designer, Sister Jane and Latin American restaurant, Cha Cha. Perched on the corner of Golborne Road, in West London’s opulent Notting Hill, the restaurant is open throughout the day serving a variety of dishes from brunch to dinner. Meanwhile, on the floors above, Sister Jane’s team are hard at work planning the next collection and there’s even a showroom with the latest products, which customers can browse during the day. There’s also a roof top and secret garden, perfect for pre or post dinner drinks. It’s the restaurant that keeps on giving – just when you think you’ve seen it all, they continue to surprise you.
The Style
Influences of the iconic vintage designer are obvious the minute you walk into the restaurant. High pink velvet stools with frills line the bar, bronze mirrored tables are dotted around the restaurant, and an array of seats are staggered between, from relaxed arm chairs to sofa-style seating. Colourful paintings hang on the wall and the unmissable hanging Cha Cha X Sister Jane print lines the back of the restaurant. It’s tastefully done, chic, with the mismatch of furniture and colours working harmoniously together.
The Crowd
You don’t have to be the next ‘Twiggy’ to visit Cha Cha, the restaurant welcomes everyone from couples and groups of friends to larger gatherings and business meetings. It’s destined to be the new go-to hangout destination for the locals, so expect a flurry of West Londoners enjoying post work drinks and weekend brunches. That said, it’s the type of place you’d go out of your way to visit, owing to its completely unique offering.
The Food
We visited Cha Cha for dinner, so of course began with a pre-dinner drink. While you can order any traditional cocktail, there’s also a signature cocktail menu featuring tipples like the ‘Cha Cha Margarita’, which offers a spicy twist on the classic, with ginger and cointreau. We enjoyed one of the cocktails with some nocellara olives, while we browsed the rest of the menu. Developed by Head Chef, Anthony Garlando, there’s everything from seared tuna to slow cooked meats, served in a sharing-style.
We started with the robata grilled octopus, with piquillo peppers and fried potato. I love anything cooked on a robata, as it offers a lovely smokey, charred flavour and this certainly hit the spot. Alongside this we had the beetroot carpaccio, featuring finely sliced pieces of beetroot, which had been soaked in campari, served with balls of melon and sweet, caramelised hazelnuts, as well as the tuna tiraditos (just like seared tuna), with a heavy hit of lime. After toying over the idea for a while, we then also ordered the beef fillet tartare, which came with pickled shallots and the famous Cha Cha sauce – it was perfectly seasoned and incredibly tender. For our main, we shared the dover sole, smothered in a burnt caper butter and accompanied by a side dish of tenderstem broccoli, with sliced almonds and a romesco sauce.
It may sound like a lot but dishes are quite small and delicate, each one delicious and unique. Compared to the main menu, the dessert list is quite modest, with just three to choose from: cookies and ice cream, autumn fruits and meringue, and manchego and quince. We decided to finish with the cheese, which was served in small squares, with the quince layered on top. Unfortunately, it was a little too sweet for our liking, with the amount of quince slightly overpowering the cheese – maybe the cookie next time!
In a Nutshell
This truly is a unique place to dine. The environment is relaxing yet upmarket, and it has the type of menu where you just want to try everything, meaning a return visit is undeniable. Whether you’re into fashion, food or both, Cha Cha X Sister Jane is a wonderful collaboration, which I hope graces Notting Hill for years to come. My next visit will undoubtedly be for brunch… and I may stay for dinner too.
The Details
Opening Hours: Monday 16:00-22:30; Tuesday 16:00-22:30; Wednesday 16:00-22:30; Thursday 16:00-00:00; Friday 12:00-00:00; Saturday 12:00-00:00; Sunday 12:00-21:00
www.sisterjane.com 36 Golborne Road, London W10 5PR + 44 (0) 2071480791
