The Rum Kitchen, 6-8 All Saints Road, London. W11 1HH

After our recent trip to Barbados we all decided to get together and revisit the food and drink of the Caribbean.  Unbeknownst to me it was on the other side of London,  Ladbroke Grove.  I was reliably informed that Prince Harry had been spotted at the restaurant last week, which slightly dampened my enthusiasm for what had been billed as an authentic Caribbean experience. 

We arrived and my worst fears were realised, trying to get through the bouncer than door was not the relaxed eating style I was looking for.  However we were seen quickly and ushered to our table, thankful we weren’t stuck at the already rammed bar.  We were sat next to the kitchen and my anxiety levels started to rise; crowds, kitchen table and a cacophony of ‘made in chelsea’ wannabees not a great mix. The staff though managed to turn me around slowly but surely, firstly by getting our cocktails in a reasonable hour and them tasting pretty good.  My first cocktail a little weak in flavour it was a Sharman’s Cox Daiquiri, my next a Grog tasted twice as strong and lasted longer.

The Rum Kitchen - Sharman’s Cox Daiquiri

Rum Kitchen - Grog  When the starters arrived, I think everyone was slightly annoyed we didn’t get more; spicy chicken wings were spicy and crispy, the saltfish fritters tasted of fish but were light. We all enjoyed our mains and I was surprised how much flavour they packed into my perfectly cooked seabass. 

The Rum Kitchen - crispy chicken wing

As we left the downstairs bar was packed with ‘younguns’ and not our scene so left for a local pub. . It was buzzy without being unbearable; it just depended who you sat next to.  Overall great food and staff who coped admirably in the busy circumstances.

Talk Rating: 3.5/5