Notting Hill Grill & Kebabs

Yeah. Take a pass. Like a gyro wrap chain in an American food court. Chips were more like French fries. Certainly quick food but not what you expect while in notting hill. Only grabbed a take away as it was late on Sunday night, everything else reasonable priced closed and my hotel was one block away. If you really want a kebab walk down to Queenseay area or take the the Tube east a ways…

I’m writing about the Gözleme Turkish Pancakes, I tried the cheese version.
It was simple and tasty, good size, and priced at 3 pounds.

‘Notting Hill Grill & Kebabs’ used to be a ‘Kebab Machine’ when I first tried it some 20 odd years ago as I went to school nearby.
I recall that it was lousy. It still is, despite the name change.
The shop itself is a dingy little place with a few chairs and tables if you wish to eat in.
A small Doner of either Chicken or Lamb will set you back £3.95. The server was willing to do me a small mixed doner for £4.50 which is nice as most places only do the mixed in large.
The meats were both taken from the Bain Marie.
The «lamb» had that stronger MUTTON taste and was very greasy. Some people actually prefer the stronger taste of the older sheep but this was a poor example of the cheaper meat in my estimation.
The chicken had an unusual taste. It was heavily spiced but exactly what spices I am unsure. It was also of inferior quality.
The Chilli Sauce was from a squirty bottle but was thankfully not a sweet tomatoey ketchup version.
The salad consisted of limp lettuce and some fresher looking sliced onions, cucumber & tomatoes.
A solitary pickled chilli pepper was also included.
The pita bread was fine.
The service was prompt & efficient but dour.
The value of a lousy small mixed donner at £4.50 compared to a great large one at £5.50 from my local ‘Acton Hill Kebab & Grill’ means a low score there as well.
The kebab did not «sit well» with me during the night and left me with a dodgy tummy all Monday morning.
If you are in the Notting Hill area seek out ‘Manzara’ instead.

I went to visit my brother who resides near by and we really fancied a Kebab, being Turkish, that quite often happens. There are a few Lebanese restaurants on Kensington High Street but thought to take a little walk up towards Notting Hill and try a the Kebab house that he recently discovered.
It isn’t that pretty from outside, nor inside, but that never puts me off when purchasing a kebab, there are plenty of shabby looking kebab house in green lanes but do a mean (as in good) kebab, but looking at everything, it didn’t really add to my appetite.
After eating, I have got to say that I am quite disappointed, baring in mind that it is also the only Kebab house around, they clearly have the market, but the standards are low in everything, no wonder why there was no queue. I think they get the majority of their custom when the pubs close and drinkers just want to eat, we’ve all had that feeling.

Notting Hill doesn’t really major in Kebab houses… you have to say that East London has the monopoly on them, and this attempt is half hearted to say the least. Being one of the only Kebab houses on this road, you have to feel a little bit sorry for them because the heart just isn’t in it. The food is well too expensive, for a start, seemingly that in West London, you pay more or you don’t eat. The choice is pretty limited as well, the most basic kebab/​burger/​fish/​chips on offer. Needs a lick of class, and an innovative touch to be better. Until then…