"Ffionas, Like Good Home Cooking (if I Was British)"

Another good review...

http://w8housewife.blogspot.com/

Customer Review : October 2010

Ffiona,

I wondered upon your place quite by accident this evening and discovered as many before me, a wonderful restaurant. Thank you for hosting so graciously. Service is often lacking in many places these days but not in your restaurant. I dined alone but felt quite comfortable and look forward to a repeat engagement. The music you play now, although not through ivory keys is still engaging and makes one want to "sing" along.

Regards,

Hadley McCann

ZAGAT London restaurants 2008

Owner Ffiona Reid-Owen “continues to be the star of the show” – “chatting to you at the table” – at this “rustic”, “romantic”, “candlelit” Kensingtonian that “feels like someone’s home”; the “simple, yet tasty”, Traditional British “comfort food” is pretty “ffabulous” too; N.B. dinner only.

Customer Review : 10/06/2008

Hi all

I hope everyone is well.
Apologies for the group email but I just wanted to share this with some friends that have a massive appreciation for a bloody good meal and a decent place to eat (that is of course if you have not discovered it before).
On Saturday night, I had the pleasure of dining at a restaurant that came highly recommended. It’s called Ffiona’s and it is on Kensington Church Street.
It was, by far, the most impressive, affordable and best restaurant I have ever been to. It has a delightful, warm atmosphere with a fabulous menu. The biggest attraction was the service. JJ and I knew it was going to be a winner the moment we entered.
There are only 2 people on the floor which is what makes this place very different. The service was outstanding! It was absolutely flawless. That is not an exaggeration at all! Ffiona, the owner, is the friendliest, most welcoming host that makes everyone feel as if they are dining in her cosy little cottage somewhere far away from the busy and stressful life of London.
Please do yourself the favour and check it out. Be sure to make a reservation first.
After visiting 35 countries (to date), I now regard this as my top Restaurant.
www.ffionas.com

See you all soon

Tess Carbone

British Heritage March 2007

Ffiona’s in Kensington

A Friend and I vacationed in England and Scotland this summer. Our last evening in London we walked a few blocks down from our rooms at Vicarage Gate in Kensington to a delightful bistro called Ffiona’s and we were warmly welcomed.
We live in southwest Washington state, where the Columbia River flows into the Pacific. Fishing has been a way of life for much of the population since the days of the Native American tribes. This is one area of the Northwest where wild salmon is a huge part of the economy. Habitat for the wild salmon has become an indicator of the condition of our costal environment. Finding new ways to serve the fish has grown to be a regional culinary art form. Without hesitation, we ordered Ffiona’s wild salmon dinner.
The aroma of our meal was surpassed only by the presentation. Each plate held a thick fillet of grilled salmon on a bed of sautéed julienne cabbage, surrounded by fragrant steamed fresh vegetables. On top was a mound of light butter that had been creamed with fresh herb. As the butter melted, it drizzled down over the fish and vegetables to create a delectable sauce. The salmon was so carefully grilled that it separated in moist flakes with just the touch of a fork. A crisp white wine provided the perfect complement to the meal.
As other diners arrived, they were greeted as warmly as we had been and there was soon comfortable chatting between tables. One of the things we enjoyed most during our visit to Britain was the way we were treated with courtesy and friendliness. When we remember this, we think of our evening at Ffiona’s. – Trish Garrett, Seaview, Wash.

Amercian Way Magazine July 2006 P.9
Kate Beckinsale interview

Okay, so outline the perfect Saturday night. There is a little place called Ffiona’s, and it’s on Kensington Church Street. It’s tiny and it’s run by this very formidable woman, Ffiona, who has a gigantic personality. All the tables are sort of scrubbed wooden tables, and the food changes every day. And none of the plates match. It’s a very sweet little sort of personal restaurant. It’s English based, so you can get various sorts of old-fashioned dishes. They have this thing called colcannon, which is like a mix of cabbage and mashed potatoes or something. But it’s really good. And then various English desserts – sticky toffee pudding and apple crumble and custard and all of that stuff. Then I would probably go to the theatre or to a movie. I love that when you get to London, you can go to the national theatres and kind of see what’s going on there, and there is usually a great new play and a revival of something really interesting. I would probably haul myself down there and go check it out.

Hardens London and UK restaurants 2006, P.97

"Ffiona is the key" to this "warm and cosy" Kensington bistro, whose "retro", "comfort food" adds to the impression of a "dinner party" ("just with someone else doing all the work").

Cheap Eats in London, P.76

If you happen to be dining alone, ask to be seated at the long table. I promise you it won’t be long before you are talking with your neighbours and making plans to return here as often as possible. That is how I met the two people sitting next to me. “How did you find out about Ffiona’s?” I asked. “Oh, friends from Chicago told us about it, and we live across the street. Now we eat here at least two or three times a week. It is wonderful.” They are right. Ffiona’s is wonderful, and if I lived in London, I would become a weekly devotee. The small restaurant is also casual, friendly, comfortable, and above all fun, and it’s run by Ffiona, who does the cooking, and her attractive red haired sister, who takes the orders and serves. Together they make everyone feel welcome and at home. It is said by her friends that Ffiona never met a stranger, and I believe it.
Before opening this restaurant a few years ago, Ffiona had quite a career. She sold investment bonds, managed the Chicago Rib Shack, and cooked at the Park Lane Hotel. Ffiona works hard, and it has paid off here. The inside is homey: fabric-covered walls match the banquette and chair cushions, sheets of musical scores line the ceiling, and there are bleached wood tables, three old clocks, a caricature of Marlene Dietrich, green plants, wine bottles with dripping candles, and soft music in the background. It’s a mixed approach to decorating, but it is pure Ffiona, and you wouldn’t want to change a thing.