From the team behind The Pelican and The Hero (Public House Group), Canteen is a minimalist, New York-style Italian on the top of Portobello Road that has quickly become one of Notting Hill's hardest walk-in tables. Headed up by Jess Filbey (ex-River Cafe), it turns out thin, crispy wood-fired pizette, daily-changing house-made pasta, and antipasti that punch well above their price point — think a smaller, cheaper River Cafe with a cooler crowd.
Ex-River Cafe chef turning out daily-changing wood-fired pizette and house-made pasta on Portobello Road — walk-in only, worth the wait.
It's walk-in only and gets packed — go before 6:30pm on weekdays or try a weekday lunch to skip the weekend crush.
A smaller, cheaper River Cafe with a cooler crowd
Canteen is the kind of place that makes you understand why Notting Hill locals don't bother crossing the park for dinner. It's a walk-in only operation on the top stretch of Portobello Road, brought to you by the Public House Group (the same people behind The Pelican and The Hero in Maida Vale), and it hits a very specific sweet spot: Italian food that's simple, ingredient-led, and genuinely good without the fuss. Head chef Jess Filbey came from the River Cafe, and you can feel that pedigree in the restraint of the dishes — nothing overwrought, everything letting the produce speak.
The menu changes daily, which keeps things fresh but also means you can't always count on your favorite. What you can count on: thin, crispy wood-fired pizette that are among the better ones in west London, house-made pasta that's properly al dente, and a rotating cast of antipasti and larger plates. The Times called it "a smaller, cheaper River Cafe" and that's about right — the quality-to-price ratio is genuinely impressive for the neighborhood. Grab a seat at the bar if you can; watching the chefs work is half the fun, and several reviewers have called it the best seat in the house.
The catch? It's walk-in only and it's popular, so timing matters. Weekend evenings can mean a serious wait, and the minimalist space doesn't have a huge amount of standing room. Go early or go off-peak. They do group dining for parties of 8-10 if you plan ahead. It's not perfect — the Tripadvisor average sits lower than the hype might suggest, and service can be rushed when it's packed — but when it's on form, Canteen is exactly the kind of neighborhood Italian you wish was on your corner.