La Gaffe Restaurant

We stayed in the hotel for five nights and made it a point to eat in this restaurant on one of them. It was wonderful… the pace, the ambiance, the service, the wine, and the food were all top notch and yet at a reasonable price. When we return to the area we will be sure to come back to La Gaffe!

Wow! More than a restaurant, a transportive experience. It’s my favorite restaurant in Hampstead and one of my favorites in London… or anywhere. An intimate, family-​run place. super-​reasonable (most entrees under £10), and the atmosphere transports you to 1920’s Italy with large, Mucha-​like murals on the walls. The place is run by Lorenzo, the son of the Italian/​Corsican couple who started this Italian-​French fusion restaurant (which they called La Gaffe, or «the joke» because it’s funny that they started a French/​Italian fusion place). He and the staff are really warm and effusive. The father’s poetry is posted around on the walls and it’s just a great atmosphere.
My dad stayed in one of the guest rooms and it was very small (had to close the door to get around the bed to the bathroom), but it was tidy, quite cheap (£100/​night) and included a lovely breakfast in their beautiful dining room.

Great Italian restaurant located in a small hotel/B&B.
Good service at a real value for its location.
Its located on the walk up to the Heath. Its the last commercial building on the left as you walk up the big hill.

I’ve only eaten in La Gaffe a few times but will say this service and food are excellent a great Italian in Hampstead that’s not a chain! The Italian food here is delicious from typical pasta dishes to specials including fish. It’s family run and you can taste it in the preparation. The ambiance is spot on for this eatery. Again, if you’re looking for a special Italian meal that’s not a chain and upscale, you can’t go wrong. Note, it’s dinner only though and on some nights it can be busy so I’d recommend a reservation on a weekend night.

When I heard it was a restaurant of a hotel I had my doubts. But I guess things work differently here in Hampstead. Lovely little italian restaurant underneath a small hotel (but not inherently attached to a lobby with people walking in and out. Im looking at you premier inn). Kind of off the main road, a but up a hill, nice that most people probably don’t know about it.
I came here for late lunch/​early dinner… linner… and had the mushroom rissotto. Really good, but I got the large portion and couldn’t handle it so be warned.

5 Stars and it deserves every one and more of them.
I was given the task of organising Christmas team lunch and had the following criteria to work with:
*Caters vegetarians
*Based in or around Hampstead
*Maximum £30 per head
*No pub/​No chain restaurant.
I found this place while speaking to a work colleague who told me that she has booked rooms at the hotel for clients visiting and that they also have a restaurant.
At first i was like hmmmmmmm an hotel that has a restaurant… really.
But i kept an open mind and contacted Lorenzo, the manager who not only helped me with the above criteria but made sure that our visit was perfect.
The restaurant itself is a very cosy, family run business that shows through and through. The waiting staff were so sweet and made sure to bring our food out all at the same time even through some of us had ordered starters and some only mains.
Lorenzo himself came over and greeted us and recommended wine.
I took the Sea bass which was fresh and very very light, the sides of spinach and buttered veg were succulent.
I opted out of the dessert but did grab an eyeful of the tiramisu on the neighbouring table that was perfect in portion and texture.
This place itself is tucked away on heath street and would be quite a walk from the underground station for those who are not North London based but i can assure you the fresh food and impeccable service is well worth the little uphill walk.