Jade Burke takes a pew inside the recently opened Notting Hill restaurant, Uli, to try out its homemade Asian cuisine and find out how the venue can cater to corporate clients.
โHonest, clean Asian cookingโ is what Notting Hillโs latest haunt, Uli, prides itself on. Located a stoneโs throw away from the iconic Portobello Road, Uli fits in perfectly with the vibrant, trendy area Notting Hill is known for.
I head down to the restaurant on a weekday lunchtime with Sandy Chander, previous PA to Ricky Martin at HRS, and despite its recent opening it seems Uli has made its mark with the locals, as it is buzzing with guests dining on the varied lunch dishes.
Uli is located in a prime position, just a short walk away from Notting Hill Gate tube station, plus there are also parking spaces outside available for those who canโt face the hustle and bustle of Londonโs tube. My guest chose to drive and was able to find a parking spot with ease, for a reasonable hourly price in the centre of the City.
Inside, the restaurant offers a conservatory-style section with a retractable roof, which leads to more space inside. There is also a small private booth behind the bar that can be used for those diners seeking a little privacy over a business lunch or dinner.
Walking through the restaurant to take our seats inside, I feel as if I have travelled to foreign climes thanks to the tranquil blue and white colour scheme โ meanwhile, the smell of the Asian flavours alone makes your senses believe youโre not located within Central London.
After setting down inside, our waiter tells us that we must try a cocktail and that the Lychee Martini is a definite crowd-pleaser. A combination of vodka, vermouth and lychee, itโs deliciously sweet with an added kick.
Browsing the lunch menu, we opt for a bowl of edamame, soft shell crab with chilli and garlic and vegetable tempura to start. These dishes are ideal for sharing, making it perfect if you are seeking a new venue to take team members looking to get to know one another.
For our mains, my guest chose the pad thai with tofu, while I went for the chicken Thai green curry โ one of my favourites. My lunch date, Chander is a vegetarian and I was impressed by how attentive the staff were at Uli when putting her mind at ease with the non-meat dishes.
The portions certainly were filling at Uli, meaning youโre definitely getting your moneyโs worth here. Plus, with a takeaway option, staff members can provide diners with a takeaway box so no food is wasted.
After our generous-sized portions, we were more than full, however, we just couldnโt refuse the waiterโs suggestion to try the mochi ice cream selection โ little balls of coconut, mango and vanilla ice cream wrapped in rice paper. Admittedly, these were a little too cold to bite into, but the refreshing taste was just what we needed after our heavy meal.
Thanks to its central location, parking options and exciting menu, Uli certainly is one to watch. If your office is close-by and you’re colleagues are seeking some delicious food in a relaxed setting, make sure you head down.
What our PA Life reader, Sandy Chander thought:
A couple of minutes walking distance from Notting Hill underground Station, Uli is situated alongside a few restaurants just off the main road โย great if you’re looking for somewhere close to a tube station.
The soft tones of blue and white dรฉcor gives the interior a fresh and contemporary feel and creates the perfect balance of a pleasant dining experience with a intimate ambiance. With music playing softly in the background there’s plenty of opportunity to have a conversation.
The restaurant offers a cosy daytime setting, which is great for those one-on-one meetings or even informal interviews. Plus, the retractable roof overlooking the terrace is perfect for those summer months if you want to dine outside.
With a promise of music-filled evenings, especially on a Friday night, it’s also the perfect place to take a few colleagues for a dinner with a good Friday night vibe.
The drinks menu offers a good selection of cocktails, beers, champagnes, fine wines and rosรฉ along with a modest selection of fancy teas and soft drinks, so thereโs something for any occasion or mood.
The easy-to-follow lunch menu offers a variety of options encompassing dishes selected from Asia, all made from scratch. Among the menu choices were a good amount of vegetarian options, the staff were also extremely accommodating and were happy to make tweaks to some of the dishesย โ perfect for diners with specific dietary requirements.
The food itself was delicious and was presented beautifully. It looked as good as it tasted and the portion sizes were perfect for a lunch time meal โ great if you’re trying to schmooze a client.
So, if youโre looking for beautifully presented tasty Asian food, with excellent service, Uli is the perfect setting for an intimate meeting, or an evening out with a few colleagues. Although there is plenty of nearby parking, itโs only for one hour at a time, so itโs best to travel there by tube.
Good for:
Quiet business lunches
Homemade Asian food
Exciting vegetarian options
Takeaways
What we ate:
Edemame with rock salt ยฃ4.50
Vegetable tempura ยฃ7.50
Soft shell crab with chilli and garlic ยฃ8.50
Pad thai with tofu ยฃ8.20
Thai green curry with chicken or prawns ยฃ8.80
Mochi ice cream selection ยฃ3
