One look at Maggie Jones’s, and you’d swear you were out in the sticks.
Yeah but seriously, this isn’t actually in London, right? There’s no way this quaint, wooden, candlelit cottage could possibly secretly be a lovely Kensington restaurant? You’d better believe it, because charming eatery Maggie Jones’s sits just off a busy high street, offering diners a sense of pure escapism.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: this place was made for Instagram. Oodles of rustic charm make Maggie Jones’s a picture magnet, with punters irresistibly drawn to the lashings of wood, ceiling baskets, and wagon wheels. Charming cupboards full of crockery and candles on every table complete the countryside look, giving the impression of a Dorset farmhouse rather than a London restaurant.
It’s no real surprise to learn that Maggie Jones’s is the English sister of bucolic French spot La Poule au Pot, also kitted out with rustic touches. Still, the key difference lies with the food, as a menu of hearty British cooking awaits you here. Guinea fowl in white wine sauce, wild boar sausages with onion and gravy, and a medallion of venison with red cabbage and mash are just a handful of options from the dinner menu. Which, frankly, sounds absolutely scrumptious!
As you’d imagine, Maggie Jones’s do Sunday lunch rather nicely, again skewing heavily towards classic English, with an equally banging range of desserts to follow. Throw in seasonal game, and an ever-popular pie of the day option, and you’ve got a proper feast on your hands.
I can only imagine that it’s the cul-de-sac location that’s preventing the restaurant from being absolutely overrun with tourists. Seriously, if they could sell this rustic charm by the bottle, they’d make an absolute killing.
Just as surprising is the fact that Maggie Jones’s has somehow flown under my radar, despite having a good forty years behind them. Still, good things come to those who wait – and this is a very good thing indeed.
Location: 6 Old Court Place, Kensington, W8 4PL. Nearest station is High Street Kensington. See it on Google Maps.
Opening hours: 12-2:30pm & 6-10:30pm (Mon to Fri), 12-10:30pm (Sat), 12-10pm (Sun).
Price: dinner mains start from £15, desserts from £6, and Sunday lunch begins at £18.50.
More information: from their website.
Featured image: @sharonyws
Also published on Medium.