I visited Ed Sheeran’s Notting Hill restaurant Bertie Blossoms to see if it was worth the high prices.
Celebrities are typically celebrated for their talent in entertainment and the arts, be it through music, dance, acting or other creative pursuits. However, when they venture into the restaurant business, it naturally piques curiosity. Are they genuinely invested in the quality of food being served?
Is the cuisine worth parting with your hard-earned cash? This week, I visited Ed Sheeran’s establishment, Bertie Blossoms, to determine whether it’s merely capitalising on his devoted fanbase and London’s tourist trade, or if it stands as a legitimate dining destination.
Bertie Blossoms launched in September 2019 on Portobello Road, billing itself as an intimate restaurant in the heart of Notting Hill. The restaurant’s website promises a fusion of “Spanish flair, British comfort, and a little bit of everything else from around the world. “Think crispy bites, bold flavours and dishes made for sharing.”
The menu features an array of tapas options, from meatballs and fried chicken to baby carrots, hummus, tenderstem broccoli and beyond.
These dishes are priced between £10 and £16. Upon arrival, however, you’ll notice the actual menu differs from what’s advertised online, with prices varying accordingly.
Take Bertie’s Fried Chicken: Tingly Ted’s, for instance — listed at £10 online but actually costing £14, meaning diners should budget for higher costs than expected.
What proved even more surprising was discovering the restaurant focuses on just two main courses: Ed’s Favourite-Rigatoni a la Vodka (£20) and Flat Iron Steak, Chimichurri, fries (£30).
Initially, I attempted to secure a table several weeks beforehand, only to find the restaurant fully booked. Ironically, when my reservation day arrived, the venue was surprisingly quiet. Nevertheless, booking is recommended to avoid potential disappointment.
Upon entering, a welcoming member of staff at the bar took my details before escorting me upstairs to my table whilst I awaited my companion. Water was promptly offered, and I opted for still bottled water at £5. My dining partner, fellow food journalist Ella Mapes, soon joined me, and our attentive server swiftly approached to collect our order.
Our visit focused solely on sampling their signature offerings — the two principal dishes — so we bypassed the tapas selection. I selected Ed’s pasta, though its arrival from the kitchen proved surprisingly lengthy.
The wait stretched to approximately 30 to 35 minutes. Whilst this delay might normally go unremarked, it seemed puzzling considering the dish’s straightforward nature and sparse clientele.
Restaurants sometimes coordinate table orders for simultaneous service; however, Ella’s meal emerged a further 10 minutes later, which proved surprising.
Beyond the timing, the service proved excellent. Staff members regularly attended to our needs, responded promptly to requests, and demonstrated considerable flexibility.
Was the food worth the money?
Spending £20 on a pasta dish devoid of meat, fish or vegetables seems rather excessive. However, if the flavour truly delivers, the price tag becomes justifiable… sadly, this wasn’t the case.
Whilst the pasta appeared freshly made, it lacked any real depth of taste. Swimming in sauce, Ella remarked it resembled and tasted like “Heinz tomato soup”. The disappointment extended beyond flavour to presentation as well.
A sparse sprinkling of grated cheese (which staff didn’t initially offer to top up) accompanied some rather dejected-looking basil leaves. The excessive sauce rendered the pasta waterlogged and too delicate to lift with a fork; it kept disintegrating and dropping back onto the plate.
Ed’s beloved pasta earns a modest four out of ten from me. Whilst not offensive enough to warrant spitting out, it certainly wasn’t enjoyable. At £20, expectations run higher, and I can say with certainty this ranks amongst the poorest restaurant dishes I’ve encountered.
Moving on, we sampled the steak, requesting medium rare, though it emerged thoroughly cooked. Rather than creating a scene, and considering the lengthy wait, we accepted it as presented (though personally, I favour well-done steak regardless).
The meat proved somewhat tough, though I’ve certainly experienced worse. The dish was disappointingly bland, with the chimichurri tasting solely of parsley.
Whilst on the pricier side, the generous portion of steak offered reasonable value for money, unlike the pasta. To enhance the flavour, we resorted to dunking the steak into the ‘tomato soup’ for improvement.
Ella swapped her chips for a tomato salad, describing it as: “plump, sweet with a little bit of acidity, and probably the best thing on the menu”. Her meal earned a respectable five out of ten overall.
The verdict
The restaurant didn’t quite suit my tastes. From the exterior, it resembled a traditional pub or bar, lacking visual appeal. Inside, the atmosphere felt like stepping into someone’s living room, albeit with a distinctly hipster edge.
Carpeted floors, walls adorned with paintings and photographs, shelves lined with books for browsing, and various homely furnishings created an unusual dining environment. That said, the soundtrack impressed with classic hits, including Elton John’s Bennie and the Jets, with surprisingly little of Sheeran’s own music.
Die-hard Ed Sheeran enthusiasts might find this venue worth visiting. Tucked away in a hidden room sits a peculiar shrine dedicated entirely to the singer-songwriter. The collection features everything from personal photographs and vinyl records to his guitar and books.
I personally wouldn’t revisit this restaurant, but I reckon on a bustling day, if you’re there merely for a drink, then this place might be worth a punt.
Do share your experiences and candid thoughts if you’ve visited.
