Eat & Drink
Originally published on Thursday, 7th August 2008
Princess Victoria
Shepherd's Bush is not blessed with a multitude of fine eating places so it was a canny move of former Sommelier of the Year Matt Wilkin to refurbish the faded gin house the Princess Victoria and turn it into an above average gastro-tavern.
Although, perhaps tavern is too modest a name for this grand, oak-floored, light-filled bar and dining room - and thinking about it, I don't know of many taverns that have a former Greenhouse chef (James McLean) in charge of the kitchen.
The food here is a good notch or three above your usual pub fayre. There are classics like roast beef and Yorkshire pud but it's worth veering towards the slightly more precocious dishes like herring roes on toast or pan-fried trout with linguine, girolles and peas to sample what McLean can really do.
And with Wilkin, who was sommelier at The Capital in Knightsbridge before going it alone, in charge of the wine you can expect good things in that area too.
Uxbridge Road has never looked, or tasted, so good.
Hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-12am • Sun 12-11pm
Place: 217 Uxbridge Road, W12 9DH
Cost: £30
Web: princessvictoria.co.uk
Book: 020 8749 5886