Seasonal Sparkling Lights In Hatch End - On Restaurants

 Lovely lights. Inside and outside.

Lights at Izgara restaurant.

Social Dhaba. Colourful baubles around the windows and doorway.

Doolchee Coffee & Dessert has a Christmas Tree.

Sea pebbles See a rheindeer.

On the door and windows of Tanna chemist.

Vra by Sarasas.

The Steakhouse has lights on trees outside and white trees inside the window.

The lights outside and inside Izgara restaurant.

Photos by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The street Tree lighting will be Thursday  Dec 4th at 4 pm. In the middle of The Broadway. With the mayor of Harrow. Carol singing.

If you want carol singing and seasonal festivities, the Rotary club will have a decorated float raising money for charity later in December. You can visit Santa with little kiddies at Headstone Manor.. For details see the Facebook page of the Hatch End Association, subscribe to its magazine. Also look at Pinner News, and the Metro given away free on Hatch End railway station.

Useful Websites

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hatchendassociation/posts

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Izgara Turkish Restaurant Whetstone

 We like all the Izgara Restaurants. The one in Hatch End is large. The one in Edgware served a great meal. 

But the one in Whetstone was our choice for a change. It seemed elegantly decorated .

But a plus point. A bit quieter so easier to talk.

We didn't order starters. The restaurant gave us hot bread, yogurt dip and olives.

I ordered a reasonably priced Prosecco.

I recommend the red fruit cocktail.

Main courses

I ordered meat moussaka. Good meat, and at the bottom hidden slices of potatoes.

Others ordered: lamb; kebabs; spinach pasta.

In a long street full of restaurants.  We might return, here or try another nearby.

Desserts

Baclava

Excellent. Moist. More-ish.

Coconut cake.

Turkish coffee.

The bill came with Turkish delight.

We were given foil takeaway dishes and pretty paper small totes.

Update on parking tickets November 15 2025

A short time afterwards we received a parking ticket. A parking ticket saying we had failed to pay the fine which had now doubled. We had not received the first supposed letter. We went back to the parking area down an alley. The signs did not make it clear that after eight pm you must pay. We photographed the signs and have appealed.

If I get a parking ticket I don't go back to the restaurant. Even if I forget about the parking fine, or don't blame the restaurant, somehow my memory of the occasion has moved out the section of my brain in which I store memories of places I must visit again. I can walk to Izgara in Hatch End. That will be my first choice of their restaurants. 

Restaurants and Food More About Kafe Ador, Izgara, Tesco

 

Kafe Ador drinks.

As you see, they have coffees, teas and infusions, smoothies, sodas and soft drinks.

Cafe Ador main menu.

Kafe Ador cute kids' menu.

Bring along your own washable crayons. Or use a pencil and pen and ask if your child can take it home to finish colouring it in later.

Kafe Ador is open early, from 8.30 am for breakfast. That's handy for people working nearby. Or a working breakfast.

Apart from the fabulous decor, what do I remember about my first visit to Kafe Ador? The tasty spinach in puff pastry tart. The huge croissant. 

Walking along The Broadway, to Tesco for yogurt, I pass the Izgara sign.

By lunch time you can find deals at sister restaurant Izgara, meaning grill, which has Turkish dishes, which runs lunch time fixed price deals in Hatch End. They have another branch in Edgware.v.

Izgara in Hatch End, showing board with lunch time deal. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Tesco

After five, when Kafe Ador is shut, Tesco express has half price deals on some of their bakery (not bread) to tide you over until you are ready for evening dinner at Izgara which is brightly lit at night. Izgara is owned by the same person as Kafe Ador. 

A Tesco almond croissant.

As I write this on December 20th I am thinking that here's the winter solstice, meaning the longest night, and winter dark evening in nroth west London when it is a pleasure to see lights in the restaurants along Hatch End as well as the street lights up the lamp posts.

Toast and fruit at Kafe Ador. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Hatch End was described in a local paper as the restaurant capital of north west London. 

Bus H12 from Stanmore to South Harrow stops a few steps from Kafe Ador and Izgara going towards Stanmore. Or the H14 to Northwick Park.

A pedestrian crossing takes you to the other side of the road for the H12 bus going towards South Harrow via Pinner.. And the H14 via Harrow on the Hill bus garage and railway station from Northwick Park Hospital.  

Walking back from Kafe Ador, passing Izgara, beyond the end of the shops in Hatch End rilway station. 

Bus Announcements

Outside the station is another bus stop for both buses - handy for getting off if you accidentally got the H12 bus going the wrong way, as I did yesterday on my way to a Toastmasters International meeting in South Harrow. Fortunately, there was a verbal anouncement, as I was in a seat at the front and could not see the direction board announcements.)

 Useful Websites

Transport and Transport For London

TFL

https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/

https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/h12/

https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/h14/

https://tfl.gov.uk/overground/route/lioness/

https://www.mylondon.news/news/transport/tfl-confirms-london-underground-trains-30612817

https://www.mylondon.news/news/transport/tfl-making-huge-change-london-30618454?int_source=nba

https://harrowonline.org/2024/12/20/festive-travel-and-roadworks-update-for-harrow-residents/

Kafe Ador

https://www.kafeador.co.uk/

Izgara

https://www.izgara.co.uk/

Tesco

https://www.tesco.com/store-locator/pinner/tesco-express

Please follow this blog and share links to your favourite posts.

Kafe Ador - Top Marks For Decor - My Favourite Dishes - Owner Revealed

 

Kafe Ador opening with balloons. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

I had my eye on Kafe Ador for some time, wondering when it would open and who were the owners. Now I know. Read on and all will be revealed.

Delightful Decor

Let's start with what I loved. The delightful decor. Jungle green. Flamingoes and parrots in pink on green. 

That's on the left, the side with a large plate glass window and lots of light. The tropical jungle theme is all over the walls.

A different decor feature is on the right. 

We chose a larger oblong table further in, conveniently nearer the food display. 

Croissants Or Spinach Pastry?

At the front on the counter top was a display croissant, the size of two or three loaves of bread. Also a semi circular concentric spinach pie roll in puff pastry. That was my choice. My husband wanted a croissant. I did not tell my husband, Don't.  I can get croissant from Tesco, cheaper, hot first thing in the morning. And yummy almond tart from Costa, which is fattening, in a more cramped place, or try Pastoluccio which is Italian which others like - for ice cream, which you also get in Minori next door. No, for me it is the unique and healthier spinach tart.

I was rewarded. It was superb. Moreish.

Coffee and Cake

My husband drank all his coffee in record time, without leaving me any, so he must have liked it.

Cakes

Angela with the tiramisu. Photo by Trevor Sharot.

We were given a little piece of chocolate cake and tiramisu 'on the house' which I shared with my calorie-counting husband. We agreed that the chocolate cake was not very chocolatey.  The outright winner in the cake contest was tamisu, moist and moreish. Yummy. 

My husband is a tiramisu fan. I follow chocolate desserts from place to place the way that some people follow football teams. Nope, not here. I have switched allegiance. I would order tiramisu next time.

Tropical Theme Toilet

Ladies Toilet in Kafe Ador.  Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The parrots and flamingoes are even making it a joy to visit the ladies toilet. Just one large ground floor wheelchair friendly area with which is huge, spacious. 

Everything is naturally brand new. But also well-thought out, welcoming with co-ordinated pink. Catherine Kidston hand wash. Gold easy to operate lever door handle. 

Swift Service From Staff

The staff were friendly and helpful. You only had to look up and somebody came over straight away. They helped us log onto their wifi. And answered all our questions. They are open from 8.30 am for early breakfasts until five. Seven days a week.

The little menu was on the table. But not the big menu. I was able to photograph the big menu. And the kids menu. Which I am sharing with you, and for my own reference as I plan to go back again, and the website hasn't yet caught up. The website seems to show coffee with a biscuit. Puzzling. We were not given a biscuit and I didn't see any to buy.

Who are the owners? The owner also runs Izgara along the street. Turkish. A big busy and successful restaurant with lots of lights and bright decor. Figures. No wonder. Ador means a perfume.

To sum up. Spinach in puff pastry is excellent. So is the tiramisu. 

The toast platter looks lovely.

My apple drink was insipid, not worth the price. I would not order that again. There is lots more to try.  

Merry Music

Background music of jolly Christmas songs was playing. Just loud enough to lift your spirits and keep your conversation private. But not too loud. Perfect.

Prices

The drinks are pricey. The fifty percent off the food offer lasts a month from the Monday when they opened. And they are open seven days a week. So now is a great time to go.

If you already love Izgara, here's a smaller place, a cosy cafe with a bright colourful decor. (More photos from Angela are being added shortly.)

Please follow my blog and share with friends and family the links to your favourite posts.

Open Air Dining in Hatch End, At Casa Mia and More Restaurants

Problem
It's too hot in London to eat a heavy meal. Holidays are taking up our budget on travel costs. How to eat in the open air and economically?

Answers
In London in July 2018 everybody is enjoying the heatwave. 78 F. 26 C. Light summer clothes. Light colours. Lightweight.

Easier to pack - sleeveless tops, shorts, bikis. You need sunglasses, sunshade or sunhat, and suncream. But in air con cars and hotels or hotel bedrooms you might want a long-sleeved night gown. You might also want a brimmed hat and long sleeves and leggings and socks if you are hiding your skin from damaging sunlight and mosquitos - or if you had to much sun yesterday and your skin now look like a pink and white cherry or a crumpled, wrinkled walnut. Now that we are dressed, let's take a stroll along the nearest High Street.

Indoor Open Window Eating
Hatch End High street (just down the road from Pinner and Harrow) is typically London, but more so, with about twenty eating places all in walking distance. The restaurants are on both sides of one short High Street. The two sides of the road linked by a pedestrian crossing in the middle, with lights to stop traffic. Along Hatch End High Street I found at least three restaurants with either windows or doors open.

Fish and chips, dine inside, dine outside, or take away, at Sea Pebbles. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

If you want to sit in the sun, try the sunny side:
Costa,
Mosfilo (Greek and fish),
Izgara (Turkish grills),
Steak restaurant (evenings),
Chuck (upmarket burgers and drinks);
Sakonis Indian, and on the corner
Porta Grande Italian in the former Fellini.

The front of Wetherspoons pub, The Moon and Sixpence, always celebrating something. I took this photo last St Patrick's Day.

Towards the railway station at the end, you will find outdoor seating at the front of the Wetherspoons pub. If you don't mind vehicles, you can watch passers-by and traffic. Alternatively, walk through the pub to the back garden for benches around tables amid grass and trees.

We sometimes have to yo-yo from one table to another to avoid smokers. We once swapped garden tables twice, then, having had enought sunshine, ended up inside.

Next door to Wetherspoons, a large pizza place also has a back garden often open (if they have enough staff).

Hatch End station with its clock and weather vane. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

On the other side of the road, you can sit in the shade indoors with cooling open windows and doors at several restaurants:
Black Pepper
Dona Teresa, Italian, or
Casa Mia, Italian.
For more on Casa Mia see my later post.

Useful Websites
visitbritain.org
visitengland.com
visitlondon.com
temperature in london
jdwetherspoon.com
casamiarestaurant.org.uk

Billingsgate Mural and Lunch Time Offers In Hatch End

Hatch End - restaurant capital of North West London. What's the latest. I noticed a mural of Billingsgate market inside Sea Pebbles which serves take away fish and chips as well as sit down meals. They are now open seven days a week and have a sign saying Gluten free Mondays.

From Costa, an offer of cake for £1 with certain drinks.

From Chuck, delivery from Deliveroo.

From Izgara, Turkish, and Mosfilo, Greek, more offers.

Finally, Fellini, open all day seven days a week.

And that's just one side of this section of The Broadway.

More restaurants further along the road past Grimsdyke Road towards the station. Cross over and more coming back on the other side of The Broadway.

Billingsgate Fish market
https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/business/wholesale-food-markets/billingsgate/Pages/default.aspx

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
type in Angela Lansbury, author or travel writer or poet. Fortunately there are only four people with my name. Most people I look up on Facebook and google and linkedIn have twenty namesakes worldwide. As for people called Patel, Cohen and Levy, Singh - several million of those.
Follow me on Facebook and like my pages here and there and everywhere including linking to me on LinkedIn, Watching me on YouTube

Sitting Outside A Restaurant In Summer

Izgara Restaurant in Hatch End, N W London, has decorated their seating area.Isn't this delightful, original, different.

Their phone number is clear on the awning:

tel: 020 8421 1525.

Booking email: info@Izgara.uk

More information from: izgara.uk

See my previous posts on Izgara and other restaurants in Hatch End. Izgara is Turkish for grill.

Photographs by Angela Lansbury 2016. Copyright.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Izgara Restaurant, Hatch End, address and postcode

I looked everywhere for their address and postcode. Their website is still under construction. Eventually I tracked down the phone number from the fascia and the address from the previous restaurant at that site.

So here it is folks:

Izgara Turkish Grill Restaurant
302 the Broadway,
Uxbridge Road
Hatch End
HA5 4HR
Tel:020 8421 1525
website: www.izgara.uk
The menu is outside so you can check it out earlier in the day before they open.
They are open seven days a week.

Lots of vegetables.

Clean new toilets.

Decor.

Winter lights.

See my previous posts for more details about the people and food.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Izgara Turkish Restaurant in dining capital of London

Izgara Turkish restaurant has opened in Hatch end. One of our local papers described Hatch End as restaurant capital of London. How many restaurants? About 18 and you can walk up and down and check the menus in the windows in a distance of about 500 yards in less than 5 minutes, if you are quick. Alphabetically: Ask, Casa Mia, Coriander, Fellini, Orama, Mosfilo, Sea Pebbles, Zia Teresa, and more, plus the places in the supermarket and arts centre. Cuisines are Greek, Indian, Italian and now Turkish at Izgara.

Will another rival restaurant cause any worries to the existing restaurants? I don't think so. The more the merrier. Another opportunity will attract more diners to the area, and offer more choice to those wondering whether to go elsewhere or stay nearby.

Izgara opens lunch time today (Monday 30 Nov 2015). It is open to the public every day including Monday when you struggle to find a restaurant open. Noon until 11.

Yes, it is a new addition to the Hatch End restaurant scene, Izgara, Turkish for grill. I confess I have struggled to remember and spell Izgara. At first I thought is a guru. Wrong.  Not two Us. Two As. Think A star, twice. The last letter is A.  So I made myself a memory aid (mnemonic). IZ G rill  A nd Really Appetising. I Z G A R A.

Izgara. Open noon Monday 30th November 2015. From noon to 11 at night. Run by the same owners as Izgara in Edgware and the team who operate the other two restaurants. 

The Hatch End manager told me his name is Shukur. Pardon, how do you pronounce it? He smiles because he's been asked before, and he has a ready answer. He says think of pronouncing it like sugar.

Where is Izgara? Two doors along from Fellini, the big indoor-outdoor Italian restaurant curving round the corner. Izgara replaces Zaza, another Italian restaurant, from the Italian group which has a restaurant in Pinner, if you are looking for them. I looked at the Zaza restaurant website to get the street number of Izgara for you but the Zaza restaurant website already says they've closed their Hatch End branch.

I'll send somebody out to stroll around Hatch End and get Izgara's street number, as I haven't time to keep researching restaurant numbers. Anyway, Hatch End is a small place. Just walk along the station side between Pickwick Walk on the corner towards the traffic lights where you cross the road and you'll find Izgara.

If you like Mediterranean food, you will like this. If you can't tell Turkish food from Lebanese, Greek, Israeli, that's fine.  You'll recognise kebab, cubed chicken and lamb, hummus (chickpeas), pink dip, tabouleh, rice, tomatoes, aubergine. 

Here's the owner  of Hatch End Izgara (right) with keen customer from Edgware branch who popped in to see the new Hatch End branch, as he was passing the night before the opening when the owner and his partner and their family were celebrating.

I'd been watching that sign, 'Izgara, Hatch End, coming soon,' for days. 

They serve Turkish coffee, Turkish wine, and a yogurt drink. I tried the Prosecco. In my opinion you can't go wrong with Prosecco.  (Ok. It's not Turkish it's Italian. But it's popular. Like cola.) Where wine is concerned, I'm not mad about dry reds and whites but if you are interested here's what the Turkish red and white wine bottles look like.

I love the lights and the ceiling.

Candles at night. Proper sea salt and peppercorns.

Here's a Turkish yogurt they use in their yogurt drink, which must be the same concept as lassi which I love in Indian restaurants. I'm always trying to add milk, yogurt and cheese to my diet to keep my teeth while and hopefully keep my bones strong.

Izgara Website

www.izgararestaurant.co.uk

And if you see what looks like a spring roll in Izgara, it's a blini, a rolled up thin pancake, with the ends folded in, filled with soft cheese.

See more pictures and facts about the food in my previous posts.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author, speaker.

See my other posts, always offbeat and entertaining, humorous, well-researched. Books on etiquette and comic poetry and more on Lulu.com and Amazon and ebooks coming soon.