Caia

Simple Ingredients, Elevated to Art. If you are looking for a spot in Notting Hill that nails the trifecta of incredible food, electric atmosphere, and genuine hospitality, look no further than Caia on Golborne Road,cool and sophisticated but completely unpretentious. What struck me most about the menu was how they took "usual" things and elevated them to a completely different level. It’s not about complex trickery; it’s about perfect execution and flavor. ​We started with the oysters, which were fresh and vibrant, the perfect palate cleanser. Then came the courgette. You might think, "it's just courgette," but trust me, at Caia, it is a star dish. The texture and seasoning were incredible. For the heavier plates, the Spanish ribs were a highligh, tender, rich, and falling off the bone. And I have to mention the risotto. It was creamy, comforting, and had a depth of flavor that you rarely find. Every dish felt like the best possible version of itself. Caia's "wine and vinyl" concept really sets the tone. The sound system is top-tier, playing a cool mix that creates a buzz without forcing you to shout across the table. A special mention must go to the staff. They were so friendly, attentive, and warm. They guided us through the menu and made us feel genuinely looked after all night. ​Go try it, you won't be disappointed!

This was a second visit to check out Caia 2.0 on the back of the new chef (John Javier) and all new menu that launched a few months ago. We were a group of 6 and we managed to go through quite a lot of the menu. We tried the flatbread, hamachi crudo, lamb chops, cacio e pepe cheung fun, octopus, leek gratin, prawn risotto, courgette carpaccio, trout menuiere, the ribs and some fries. We tried both dessert options as well - the chocolate cake (fondant) and the ube tiramisu. The food was generally solid without really standing out. Favourites were the flatbread and dip (more like a roti), octopus and the prawn risotto. The only disappointing item were the lamb chops which felt quite ordinary, and were also extra fatty. Portions sizes were decent, and definitely a lot bigger than Caia 1.0. Desserts in particular were huge, definitely designed for sharing. Service was friendly and the meal progressed at a good pace, however they did seem a bit aggressive on turning tables. When we wanted to order a few top up items they said they would “allow it” this time but usually everything needs to be ordered upfront. Towards the end of the meal we were told the table time limit was 1h45m, even though the booking email clearly said 2h30m for our group of 6 and we were well within that threshold. I know that every restaurant is keen to turn tables, but didn’t like the more in your face nature of it here (reminded me of Dorian). The bill for the group came to £647 of which £125 was spent on drinks. This was actually a bit cheaper than our meal at Caia 1.0. That said I did come away feeling it has lost its spark after the revamp. It remains a vibey spot and the food was nice enough, but not enough to tempt me to go back, especially with so many great options around Notting Hill. The table turning tactics also left a bit of a sour note.

Caia, a Notting Hill Restaurant & Bar. The menu features dishes cooked over an open flame. The menu is simple with one page only featuring a small bites, mains and sides. The restaurant interior features casual and cozy theme. Service was friendly and they could accommodate any tweaks we needed in the food.

Fantastic venue, downstairs turns into a bar / music record lounge. Amazing. Food generally good, often excellent. Pork ribs particularly excellent. One suggestion - chimichurri had some kind of anchovy or something in it, way too much and did not enjoy it.

The food was 10/10. We loved it. The waiter could’ve been nicer, however. He asked us about 20 times if we wanted a drink, even though we had told him we were sticking to water the first time. Music was way too loud. Other than that, great experience. Will come again :)

We loved the food - the simplicity of presentation made the depth of taste and flavour the absolute highlight. The size of the menu gives you enough choice and focuses on the quality of each dish. Not being a 'sashimi' fan, my standout dish was the Hamachi crudo, very closely followed by the Cacio Pepe! The ambience and service just completed a fantastic dining experience! Kudos!

A real hidden gem tucked away in the midst of London. Food is cooked on an open flame 🔥 and you can dine and watch the kitchen create their masterpieces. The food is simply scrumptious, the ribs were amazing, the tuna tartare was delicious, artichoke was divine, cocktails a plenty 🍹... I could go on and on...! The waiting staff were really friendly and relaxed and if you're in the mood for music, downstairs has a really great vibe with vinyls on the go. Highly recommended

After walking through Portobello Road Market, we ended up at Caia for a “quick drink”. When it started to rain, we quickly moved inside and were warmly welcomed by the staff. It was very quiet, which made it easy to have a chat with them. The bartender was experimenting with a few mixes and noticed my interest, so he kindly offered some explanations. He let me sample a Champs-Élysées cocktail and the Chartreuse liqueur used in it. I looked up the liqueur and found out it’s also used in a gin-based cocktail called the Last Word. Since I enjoy gin and liked the green Chartreuse, I ordered that cocktail along with a plate of Cecina de León. Both were excellent. We ended up staying for at least two hours—the atmosphere was very relaxed, and we felt genuinely welcome. Big thanks to the staff and especially the bartender (whose name I regret not asking) for the great experience. Caia is definitely on my must-visit list for the next time I’m in London.