Gordon Ramsay has named a London restaurant as one of the UK's "best kept secrets". Caractere Restaurant, located in Notting Hill on Westbourne Park Road, is run by husband-and-wife duo Diego Ferrari and Emily Roux. The restaurant's name translates to "personality" in French, a quality the pair say they showcase through their cooking. The venue, a former pub, was transformed into a stylish dining space.
First Michelin Star
Caractere recently earned its first Michelin star, with judges praising its "top notch ingredients" and "strong classical techniques" throughout the menu. Speaking to YouTuber Harrison Webb, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay named it his number one restaurant in the UK. He said: "There's this little hotspot in Notting Hill and it's run by this incredible husband and wife team, which you don't see today. It's called Caractère. Diego and Emily Roux, powerhouse. She just won her first Michelin star, she is the daughter to Michel Roux Jr, and I remember being in the kitchen at Le Gavroche when Michel and Giselle [Roux] were pregnant with her."
Location and Competition
Ramsay highlighted the restaurant's unique position: "A young incredible female and an incredible duo. Caractère in Notting Hill, it's one of the best-kept secrets because they're sandwiched between two three-star Michelin [restaurants]. They've just started and within 400 metres there's two three-stars and then Caractère sandwiched in between, it's really cool."
Accessible Dining
YouTuber Harrison Webb visited the restaurant and was impressed by the accessible lunchtime sitting, priced at £65 per person, compared to £125 for the evening meal. He explained: "This is the thing, if you want to try a Michelin-star restaurant, you see the dinner and think, 'Oh, I'm looking at £100, £150 sometimes per person, it's not really that accessible'. Lunch time, it's a little bit more accessible than £100 per person. So if you do want to try a Michelin-star restaurant, opt for a lunch sitting."
Dining Experience
Upon arrival, Harrison received canapés he described as "light and airy" and "banging", and found the welcome "super relaxed". His dishes included celeriac fettuccine, which he noted would be ideal for those with gluten intolerance, and a risotto. He commented that the food looked "like a piece of art" and said: "I feel like I'm in the Garden of Eden eating that. All of the produce is just ridiculous." He added: "I can understand why this is Gordon Ramsay's favourite restaurant. It's laid back, it's relaxing, the level of food is outstanding." Harrison concluded that the venue was a "great shout" from Gordon and joked he would message the chef to praise his recommendation.
