The Pelican (Notting Hill)

Swish pub in the Notting Hill neighbourhood

The Pelican is a very good choice for a higher end pub in the Notting Hill area.  It has a main restaurant which I will get round to doing anon; my first two visits have been to enjoy the bar snacks which says something.  I do very much enjoy how this is one of the only places in London I am aware of that serves Krug by the glass (non-vintage) for £31 at time of writing.  The cheese fritters were fine,  the pork scratchings a little too tough for my taste and wouldn’t go for those again (you will need a mouth of Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me to get through these) and whilst I have a problem with the ‘Scampi’ being made from Monkfish (which it is not – true scampi is only from langoustine tail), the house mayonnaise with these compliments them well.  This is good as I actually found the ‘scampi’ as inherently devoid of much flavour on their own.  Where the bar snacks do shine I think are the very nicely judged spider crab on toast (plenty of crab and well done dressing, thick and good balance) as well as sumptuous Welsh rarebit finger bites.  This is another lovely option instead of a full blown supper and all in a gorgeously cosy environment with very pleasant front of house staff, but sadly on my second visit, I have to say, a mix of blasé and abrupt bar staff.  Hopefully this was a one off.

Food Grade: 66%

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