Canal Restaurant

Enjoyed trying out Canal Restaurant - nice vibes, great service, good cocktails and wines and a very fun menu. The waiters were very attentive and friendly! Unfortunately some of the menu missed the mark - not all executed to the highest standard, some dishes were quite bland and underseasoned. The crab toast and the burger were both pretty average. The chicken schnitzel with caper beurre blanc, however, was excellent. Great Tiramisu too.

I had a wonderful experience at this restaurant. The food was delicious, and the overall atmosphere felt elegant and relaxed. We went for a late lunch on a Thursday, so it was quiet, just us and another table, which made the experience even more pleasant. The service was excellent, attentive without being intrusive. The only small downside is that, since the kitchen is open, you do leave with a fairly strong food smell on your clothes. Other than that, everything was truly enjoyable, and I’d definitely return.

We came here for my birthday and it was absolutely perfect. The food, atmosphere and service were incredible. Sitting at the counter was really special and a great spot for date night. Bavette cooked to perfection, the smoked mussels were so different and delicious, and the burger was a real highlight - one of the best I’ve had in London! They even gave us a free dessert with a candle which was a nice touch. A great addition to the local area, we’ll be back for sure.

I was in west London and I biked a table just for myself at 1 pm. I stubbed a bit earlier and the very nice Italian manager swiftly accommodated me in a very nice table. This place is beautiful, calm, relaxed, near a canal ( obviously ) and it really is perfect if you want to linger and enjoy a sunny Sunday treat with great food. I started with the little morsel of mussels sat on a little canapé, a fresh, fishy delight packing a punch. This was followed by a bream crudo on an apricot sauce, a delicious, light starter. With an incredible sauce that forced me to order the bread with cultured butter to mop it up! As a main I chose the tagliatelle with wild mushroom and Parmesan, the perfectly cooked al dente, homemade tagliatelle were incredible, the wild mushroom sauce was so earthy and perfectly balanced with the Parmesan cheese, a really harmonic dish that, in its simplicity, was phenomenal. When I had the starters I accompanied them with a nice and fresh Rioja, recommended by the very competent Italian manager ok duty. When the main arrived I, again, followed his advise, and had the Chardonnay, a full bodied white which was the perfect substitute pairing with this type of pasta dish. To end such a perfect meal I had the brine butter and sour cherries dessert, a marvellous finish to my meal. The staff were all very nice, smiley, competent, and efficient, the place is amazingly beautiful, the atmosphere is perfect for a sunny day. I can’t wait to come back. The only odd thing I noticed that I found very strange, was this lady with 2 small children that arrived shortly after I ordered my starters, and started being rude and argumentative with every single staff member she interacted with, from the moment she set four in the restaurant. I was in front of her table and noticed a cloud of negativity coming from that table. Luckily I was far enough not to hear what she was ranting about, but I noticed that, when she was joined by her partner/husband, she became even more angry, rude, and upset with all the staff members she talked to. I mention this because the atmosphere, the service, everything today was so idyllic that to observe something so unjustifiably rude and and odd, it almost spoiled my fantastic experience. Anyway, thank you guys you were all incredible, and I can’t wait to visit again.

We celebrated a birthday at Canal and had a wonderful experience. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. The food was delicious and beautifully presented, and the staff were attentive and welcoming. It was the perfect spot for a special occasion, and we’ll definitely be back.

We had a lovely dinner at Canal Restaurant and really enjoyed the experience. The starters were definitely the highlight of the meal – the sourdough with butter was simple but delicious, and the grilled peaches with stracciatella were outstanding (highly recommended!). The marinated tomatoes and aubergine were also fresh and flavorful, making the beginning of the meal really memorable. For the main course, we had pasta with chicken on creamed corn. It was well-prepared and comforting, though it didn’t stand out quite as much as the starters. For dessert, we tried the tiramisu. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to my taste as the alcohol flavor was quite strong, but others who enjoy that profile may appreciate it more. The atmosphere is beautiful – set right by the canal with thoughtful, stylish décor that creates a relaxed yet elegant vibe. Service was excellent as well; the gentleman helping us was attentive, warm, and made us feel very welcome. Overall, Canal Restaurant is a wonderful spot for a dinner out, especially if you love sharing flavorful starters in a gorgeous setting.

This place has the potential to be so great, but unfortunately it’s still a bit far from it. I heard they opened recently so I hope they’re open to suggestions and happy to make some changes. Most dishes were just missing something. They were well thought out but always falling behind just a little. For example, the bread should’ve been served warm, slightly toasted. The pea dish was too burned on the outside. The aubergines were too crispy, would’ve been nice to have more “meat” on them. The fries were covered in salt. That being said, the peach and straciatella dish, as well as the tomato salad were delicious. I just expected all the other dishes to be at a much higher level of quality for a restaurant like this. If they work on really elevating their food, it would be a great little hidden gem with a great view of the canal. However, they desperately need to work on their service. We had potentially one of the worst services in recent experiences. The server forgot our requests multiple times, and just seemed too inexperienced and unbothered. That would’ve been fine, until they complained about the fact that we didn’t want to include the optional gratuity, and just flat up became extremely rude with us. Canal, fix your staff, elevate on your food, and you’ll be a great spot.

I had a pleasant evening at Canal but I came away feeling it didn’t quite distinguish itself in London’s crowded small-plates scene. The aubergine stood out the most. Soft, meaty flesh with a nicely crisped skin - a well-executed dish. The mussels, however, were forgettable; enjoyable enough in the moment but already hazy in memory. The pasta with courgette and preserved lemon was simple, fresh, and tasty. The trout in tomato sauce was beautifully tender without being overdone and carried good flavour, but it still didn’t feel like the kind of dish you’d rush back for. What really elevated the evening was the service. The staff were warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. And on a sunny evening, the terrace is definitely the place to be, making the most of the setting. Overall, the cooking is solid, the flavours clean, and the atmosphere pleasant. But in a city where competition is fierce I think the restaurant would benefit from a real signature dish, something bold or memorable that sets it apart. At the moment, it feels more “nice” than “must-try.”