PAPA L's KITCHEN in City of London, Westminster

I was visiting London for a week with a friend and she fortunately found Papa L’s kitchen. It was our favorite meal our whole time in London! The food was absolutely delicious and the service was incredible. I mentioned spice doesn’t always agree with me and the wait and host staff both made sure to let us both know the spice level of each dish. For example we ordered the prawns starter and she made sure to tell us it was spicy (it was, but I was able to handle it by sharing the appetizer portion.) We asked some questions about how to eat the prawns and they happily told us to chew the shells and sop up the juice without making us feel foolish for not knowing. It was a delightful meal and I would strongly recommend it to anyone!

This is a great place for African fusion and the chef is very skilled. We had the tiger prawns and they were in a very flavorful sauce. Our server recommended the coco bread to go with it and we’re happy we ordered both. I had the chicken yassa with a side of Ma’s Benachin rice and both were wonderful. The staff was really friendly and if we lived closer we would go back in a second!

Food is excellent. I had the BBQ lamb (medium well); it had a lovely spiciness to it. Cocobread was amazing (portion a little small though!). Definitely going back!

First time trying African dish in London. We ordered 3 dishes, scallop (very good) and asparagus as starter. Sole and lamb cutlet as main. The sole is very well cooked with flavour, love it. the lamb is sweet and spicy. Desserts are average as compared to starter and mains. Service is friendly. Price is reasonable in this area.

Excellent food, excellent service and excellent atmosphere.

Wonderful food in a beautiful place. The staff were very friendly and professional - Thank you

A lovely restaurant Kudos to the staff

The food, dessert, and cocktails were outstanding. Everything from the starters to the main courses to the desserts were very artfully presented and too delicious to leave even a morsel uneaten by our party of 7.

The food was delicious. The lamb was moist and cooked to perfection. The prawn starter was worth the price and the lobster main tasty. I will be back for more desserts.

Had dinner for birthday celebration. The food is very nice and service is very good. The prices are comparable with other fine dine places in Central London. Food and drinks menu with prices for you to check included in this review. I like that they give free complementary cocktail to the birthday person and their dessert is also specially prepared to mark the occasion. My only critical observation on the day is that pork chops and broccoli were not available on the menu on this particular day.

Not my taste, most of the food is spicy. If you don’t like the spice, don’t go there

I have visited this restaurant on multiple occasions, each time bringing new people to indulge in the Gambian fusion experience!!! THE PRAWNS (chefs kiss) are superb and my go to every single time. Although the scallops are very tasty too! The care and attention Chef Papa L puts into every dish is second to none. I tried out the Lobster Tail followed by the Chocolate Brownie from the new menu and I wasn’t disappointed. The selection of cocktails and rum collection is top notch too. A great way to spend a Saturday - theatre followed by food from Papa L!! The

I had a birthday dinner with 12 friends and they loved it as much as I did. The service was really good and the food was amazing. Definitely coming back. Shoutout to Chef Lawrence he’s a cool guy and connects with customers.

Wonderful birthday dinner for a milestone occasion.

If you like great food and excellent service go here you will not be disappointed. We had the salmon, lamb cutlets with cassava fries and broccoli, the flavoursssss were there. Bussin.

Atmosphere, ambience and location are fantastic. We came for the new opening menu and were pleased to have complimentary cocktails. Service was great, and the servers were extremely kind and helpful. Our only issue was the wait to get our mains, it took quite some time. We got the fried okra to start which was crunchy yet soft- so good. We then got the lamb cutlets and salmon for mains with rice and cassava fries. Everything was fantastic and the flavours were just sublime. Our total bill was around £60 with the offer which is reasonable. Definitely hope to come back

Great place for snacks and drinks before a theatre visit! Lovely service...was shown around ...Great atmosphere and venue! All the best guys!!

The staff were very helpful and friendly, and service was excellent

We’ve had an amazing experience today in this restaurant. Staff were friendly and informative, the manager was very polite and went extra mile to make sure everything was good for us. Food was very tasty. We will definitely be back

I did not get to try as many dishes as I wanted to as I had a musical right after. However the food I did have was quite tasty and the staff very accommodating with my short dining stay. Would love to go again and try more things!

A group of us fellowshipped here. The manager was on point, the staff friendly and the food and drinks were good. I would return.

My recent visit to Papa L’s Kitchen was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment I stepped through the door, I was greeted with warmth and hospitality, setting the tone for a memorable dining experience. The culinary offerings at Papa L’s Kitchen exceeded my expectations. The starters, featuring the delectable prawns with bread roll and lamb sausages, were a perfect introduction to the meal. The main courses, including the succulent beef rib and flavorful lamb cutlet, were truly mouthwatering. Each dish showcased the chef's skill and dedication to quality ingredients. The service at Papa L’s Kitchen was outstanding. The staff, particularly the attentive and kind ladies who served us, went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and satisfaction throughout the meal. Their genuine hospitality added to the overall enjoyment of the dining experience.

I had a really lovely meal here. The food is gorgeous, with excellent vegan choices, and service was lovely. Such a gem in this very central location!

I had a great experience. The service was good. The food came quickly and was piping hot. I had the tempura okra, great flavour. The powdered dip it came with was a bit too salty for me. The Tempura okra was lovely on its own. Next was the vegan Coconut sweet potato and Lentil curry with a flat bread. Lovely and flavoursome. My friend had monkfish, mash potato. She complimented the flavour of this and how well it was cooked. She also ordered this rice, which I had a taste similar to Joloffe but as not that. Amazing flavour, spicy and the rice was cooked well. Last but not least they had a vegan dessert. Banana cake with chocolate and thinly sliced banana to top it off 😋. A great experience all round.

We came for an early dinner on Saturday night. The food was mostly good, the salmon was excellent. Unfortunately the service was very slow and the ambience was lacking. The place could benefit from some decorations and an upgrade of furniture.

10/10 for everything - service, food, drinks were exceptional. The flavours and taste of every dish that came out were so impressive. Our monthly supper club has tried a lot of restaurants over the last 9yrs but this is up there as one of the best. Highly recommend: Prawns, scallops, goats cheese to start; Lamb, chicken, short rib for main; and the banana cake has to be tried *chefs kiss*

Visited the restaurant a couple of weeks ago. Food was delicious and full of flavour. Service was fine. The staff took our photos for us. The cocktails were made so quickly which was great as we had a thirst on! The prices are what you would expect from a west end restaurant but I didn’t consider them to be excessive for what we had. The food came out fast. I will definitely visit this restaurant again.

"I dropped by Papa Kitchen with high hopes for a flavorful feast, but alas, it left me wanting. The African fusion lacked the punch I anticipated, and the prices seemed a tad ambitious. To add to the disharmony, I couldn't even polish off my meals, leaving me with both an unsatisfied palate and a lighter wallet. Papa Kitchen, a culinary reevaluation may be in order to ensure patrons not only savor but relish their dining experiences." 🍽️🤔

I was expecting African fusion, as a West African it wasn't what I expected. The food was nice but…… very expensive for what we received. The Service was spot on though. Needed better backgrounds music to create a vibe. Starters, mains and drinks came to almost £300 for 3 people. Would not visit again

We were looking forward to dinning here based on the cuisine and reviews. Sadly, the location is not wheelchair accessible from street level, no ramp to help, step entry, very tight doorway to manoeuvre. The downstairs seating is limited to a few covers, as there are steps to the raised section of seating at the back. This meant that my disabled guest was not able to use the restroom. Food was an utter letdown! Staff were friendly, however we were surprised to be informed that there are no condiments! No salt, no pepper, not even chill oil. Its not like we were having a Michelin tasting menu where adjustments would "break the balance of complex profiles and flavours". The mains were disappointing. The lamb, while cooked well, arrived drenched in what tasted like a shop brought sweet chilli sauce that made the dish inedible. Too sweet for a savoury course. We returned it, the waitress didn't ask why or if we had any issue with it. Sad, maybe it gets sent back a lot, so they didn’t ask?? Perhaps we ordered the wrong items or went the wrong day, but it was a waste of money. Disappointed and annoyed to level a horrible review of an African restaurant! Try Stork, its better food. Sorry N.B. Please update your information across all websites to state that you are NOT wheelchair accessible. Its very important for disabled people to be able to navigate and pre-plan where they can and can NOT dine.

This restaurant certainly qualifies as one of my favourites visited in 2023. Decadent African cuisine. The restaurant was a bit of a summer limited edition initially, but has since continued to be a West End main stay. The beef short rib hits the spot. So much flavour. I also tried the okra fries (tempura kanja) - bit oily. My friend had a steak, and it was a chunky portion.

10 OUT OF 10!!!! The food was absolutely amazing and the service was phenomenal. I wanted to kiss the chef

I went here last weekend and I can honestly say it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had! The food was perfectly cooked and it had all the right flavours. Great menu to choose from and the staff were all really friendly. I highly recommend this spot if you’re by Picadilly Circus, you won’t be disappointed!

I visited Papa El’s last night after seeing a review video on TikTok. The decor and ambiance is amazing. Unfortunately the service did let the restaurant down a little as we were seated without menus and had to ask several times for water for the table. There also isn’t any information about allergens, I did disclose that I had a food allergy but it was dismissed and not addressed any further. They were also missing most wines from the menu, and for a Saturday night, more than five bottles being unavailable is disappointing. It took 45 minutes from when we’d been sat for someone to take our order and with a 12.5% service charge added to the bill, we were prepared to ask for this to be removed. The food was the saving grace, the goats cheese starter and the prawns were so full of flavour. The pork cheeks were incredibly tender and the salmon was delicious. We could overlook the slow service because the wait was worth it. I’d definitely return again to try different things from the menu, special thank you to Aaron who made us feel very welcomed and did apologise for the wait.

I recently visit this restaurant for a birthday meal with my friend. I would 100% recommend. The food was divine. We had salmon and stone bass for main and it was cooked prefectly and the stew that it came in was so tasty. Honestly everything we ordered was so tasty. The cocktails were great too. The customer service was really friendly and service was quick. Would definitely visit again.

Absolutely faultless food and lovely waitress. Would definitely come again - the salmon was exceptional!

This was the best meal I have had this year. The food tasted incredible and the variety in the menu meant there was something for everyone. I had the pork cheek dish with the coco bread and it was an instantly comforting but luxurious experience. My friends believed the chicken was the best chicken they've ever tasted and the lamb cutlet special was amazing! The vibes are very comforting. We were served by Yeahlese who was so so so friendly and so welcoming. She made the visit so enjoyable and had amazing recommendations for the food. Was great to get to see the mastery of the chef, who is also very friendly and this is definitely somewhere I want to visit again. Need to get the chicken next time!

It was a wonderful experience with somebody that had a lot of knowledge about food and culture. It was also quiet and quaint which I absolutely loved.

Lovely meal tonight, would definitely recommend

Great mix of European and African fusion , right mix of flavours that enhance the food rather than overwhelm it. Even the desserts were faultless. Lamp cutlets , lamb sausages, tiger prawns ,chicken mains and beef ribs were the highlights

Hi I’m from Australia and I want to try this plssss

Good ambience. However, for the price, I would expect more flavoursome food. Cocktails were delicious.

Food was fantastic, service was fantastic, even the playlist bangs there. Make sure you save space for that Banana Cake. I can't stop thinking about it.

Our waitress subtly warned us several times that it’s spicy when we ordered our food at this African fusion restaurant “Papa L’s Kitchen”. Turned out to be very flavorful and delicious. Spicy but not overwhelming for our tropical buds at all. Even the rice is marinaded with so many interesting ingredients and spice. The coco bread is perfect with the grilled prawns (my fave dish). The waitress insisted we try this dessert called the posset even though we were full. We didn’t regret it! she explained how to eat it: take a spoonful of the lemony custard and place over the crispy fried batter (tastes like churros) and voila - heavenly mix of cold and hot, sugar and savoury, sweet and sour. 😛 My first taste of Gambian food and it’s so good. 👍

Overall experience was wonderful

The food at Papa L's was fantastic and the service was exceptional. We went there for our anniversary dinner and were impressed with every member of staff. From the waiting staff, to manager and of course the chef, they all helped to make it a special evening and the complimentary cocktails just topped it off! Thanks again!

All the dishes exceeded expectations. Friendly, efficient, caring staff and great atmosphere. We will visit again soon. Thank you!

I was treated to a birthday dinner at Papa L's Kitchen, and I can't find a single fault with either the service or the cuisine. I can sum up my experience in just one word: EXQUISITE. Without a doubt, I'm already looking forward to revisiting Papa L's Kitchen. A heartfelt thank you for making my birthday meal so wonderful!

Really really bad service by our waitress upstairs for dinner. 1: When I asked if one of the items on the menu can come without dressing she rudely said it couldn’t however one of my colleagues got the exact dish without it when they asked 2: Over 1 hour between starters and mains, this is not the end of the world but considering the restaurant wasn’t busy - this is bad. 3: Waitress practically accused me of lying when I said I didn’t receive all of my starters and then reluctantly brought it later. Must note that the receptionist/host was very welcoming and it was just that waitress upstairs in particular who was poor. The food when it came was not to spec and would have been better they could have accommodated a simple request. Having worked in a kitchen, I know that things like relish and dressing which are added at the end can always be separated/put on a separate plate. Also some service advice for the waitress when people say they don’t want a main don’t give them a dirty look or make them feel bad. Will not be going again.

Couldn’t have asked for a better spot to take my friend out for her birthday. The flavors were unmatched, the presentation amazing and the service a delight! We will be back.

Good food (though overpriced), but bad service. Our waiter confused the cocktails, so my 13 old daughter drunk a rum cocktail, the entire glass. All we got from the staff was an "oops", and not only we got charged for that cocktail, but they even had the cheek to put the service charge (tips) into our bill. Would not recommend this restaurant to anybody because of the bad management they have.

Absolutely outstanding! So so impressed with the food and the service. We tried a few dishes and I can’t honestly fault any. Everything was very flavourful and delicious. The prawns were just a treat and I could eat them all day long. A special thank you to our host and waitress for making it such a lovely evening. Highly recommend

Food, recommendations and service was faultless. Tiger Prawns & the rice was delicious.....will defo be back again.

Amazing food and atmosphere the honey glazed salmon was cooked to perfection. The lychee martini I highly recommend and great service from Myrtle. Would definitely come again

Awful food. Terrible Service. Bad atmosphere. I genuinely am astounded by the amount of great reviews that I read about this restaurant prior to booking it, that I must question if they are payed for. That's how bad it was. We arrived when they had seemingly just opened for the evening service as we were the only people there. The music was playing so loudly, almost akin to a bar or club, we had to ask them to turn it down not once but twice, and even then we still had to shout to hear one another over N Dubz which I must say is not appropriate for 5:30pm dining. N dubz fan and all. Next I asked if I could trade a side dish from another main to mine, a simple ask, which I was told was not possible because everything was pre made and pre portioned. This made me question the authenticity of the food before it even came and that suspicion was confirmed when I turned around, looked through the window into the kitchen and saw the chef taking pre cooked/pre seasoned and probably pre frozen lamb out of a bag and putting it onto the grill. When our starter of King prawns arrived, we requested for a small bowl of water for our hands to which the Waitress essentially refused and replied that they don't do that - we had to ask the manager to intervene. Again, a very simple and small ask. It was average and all I could think was that it was probably not fresh as I ate it. My main of Salmon was soaked in sauce that was too salty and too sweet, I literally took one bite and left the rest. Not worth a penny and I would never recommend this restaurant. I'm extra disappointed being African myself as I was excited to tell my friends and family to support the business. No follow ups about how the food was either and when we left after 6pm we were still the only diners. considering that when I booked it it was claiming that 5pm was the last table available, obviously that's a lie.

AMAZING ! First of all, this place has restored my hope in new restaurants. I’m a big food critique, and honestly, I couldn’t find a fault. Starters, main, drinks and dessert were all delicious. Cocktails were actually strong and delicious. Dessert was beautiful. Thank you so much for a lovely experience. The manager was so attentive, efficient and sweet.

Wow - fantastic West African cuisine, the dishes all had a great and different taste to them. Hard to describe, just go and try for yourself! The drinks are on the expensive side but the food prices are fair.

Great food (we had a three course meal because each course was better than the last), lovely wait staff (very accommodating about where we wanted to sit and just super friendly overall) and just an allround great experience. Highly recommend it for the incredible flavours in the food!

Fantastic food! The Chocolate Brownie especially is incredibly good

I came here for my birthday, had a really lovely time!! The food was lovely, the staff was great. Had a nice atmosphere, I noticed they played music from a mix of African musicans from the 90's. I have to come back here again!!

Really good food and service. I would go again 100%. Decor is sparse. But the food is great!

Excellent food and service. Planned a surprise birthday here and for all 17 of us the food was amazing and came out in a timely manner. Not a single crumb was left. Will definitely be back

Order Papa L’s BBQ Lamb Cutlets, and don’t think twice about it

Went to celebrate my birthday yesterday. Fantastic service from the moment we walked though the door. Great starters, mains and really enjoyed the cocktail selection. Next time will be coming back for the steak 😋

The food was extremely tasty from the lamb sausage (appetizer) to the freshly baked coco bread and desserts. Due to unusual circumstances, the wait was very long but worth every minute. I will definitely go back again before heading back to the USA.

Very authentic service. Delicious Cornish sole with garlic. Cassava chips delicious. Service amazingly friendly and attentive. They rent the restaurant on a short term lease so they might change location, though have been Jermyn street over a year. Worth finding them !!

Outstanding food and brilliant service from the Papa L's team. I have attended before, however I was looking forward to trying their newly launched spring menu, which did not disappoint! The tiger prawn starter, signature lamb main and the lime and coconut cheesecake were standout in my opinion. As were the cocktails on offer, and all at a great price point given the quality. Thanks also for accommodating a party of 9 to celebrate my aunt's 60th - we all had a blast and will be back again.

FANTASTIC FOOD! Lovely service and great vibe!

Recommended to us for great food and ambience, I wanted to try everything on the menu. Front of house made sure we were comfortable and happy throughout, and service was impeccable. Thoroughly recommend for a full belly of food!

I visited here based on all the great reviews, but I found it very disappointing! The service was super slow and disorganised. The restaurant is totally lacking in any atmosphere and is very basic canteen like. The food was just ok,. Both our fish and meat were massively overcooked, which when mentioned we were told that's how they were supposed to be! Not one to revisit or recommend! And pretty expensive for the quality of cooking.

Great place with a lovely atmosphere, hearty food and very friendly staff

I had a lovely dinner here. The food was filled with flavour and we left feeling full! The service is absolutely amazing and will be visiting again soon. Thank you!

Amazing atmosphere right in the heart of Central. Staff were attentive and food was delicious. Will definitely be going back as there were many other options on the menu I can’t wait to try.

Dear Lawrence and team, I myself Tanya and my guests who dined with you on Thursday 15th December would wholeheartedly like to thank your for our best Dining experience we have had as a group since 2014! The food was exceptional, exquisite, and absolutely memorable! We save our money for a whole year for our end of year celebration and have been previously disappointed with other establishments who do not deliver what they boast to offer. I would also like to extend my thanks to your waiting staff and bartenders and anyone else front or back of house who lifted a finger and extended a smile to ensure we had a fantastic dining experience. Please book you will not be disappointed

I have been several times now and Papa L’s always deliver, great tasting food and a friendly atmosphere with good background music.

Amazing food! We had the prawns, coco bread and sweet potato croquettes for starter. Followed by T-bone steak and monkfish. Food was seriously delicious, particularly the steak. We also had great cocktails and the staff were really attentive.

Visited for dinner. Service is extremely slow having one chef only at the kitchen. The food was ok but got allergic from one of the dishes since their menu doesn't state allergies information.

What a beautiful restaurant this is. Service, food, atmosphere, cocktails, location, Papa L's has it all. There was something so welcoming and warm about Papa Ls we felt so comfortable here, like we were home. The team are so professional and the food n cocktails make it a 10 out of 10. Its great to have a restaurant that serves Afro fusion food in the heart of Central London. Well done to the entire team. Defo coming back here.

Repas absolument excellent des entrées au dessert. Service chaleureux, plats très savoureux et épicés comme il faut. Un de mes restaurants favoris à côté de Piccadilly!

The food was great and everyone was friendly! We waited a while (30 mins) for our second round of cocktails but they were so good. The dessert wasn’t the best but the BBQ lamb was amazing. I’d recommend that people check this place out.

Been wanting to go to this place since it first opened and it was worth the wait, what a wonderful dinning experience. The table service was incredible friendly with a touch of homely. I love a expresso martini and very much enjoyed this one, the food had me blown away. I hadn't eaten that good in awhile and the fact it was African inspired high class cuisine in spired me and my future cooking. It was also a please to meet the chef himself, how the prawns are that juicy I have no idea and he wouldn't tell me. I don't want to give to much away because it was wonderful to experience for myself. #africatotheworld

I was expecting a lot more from the menu and experience. It did fall short for. The portions were small and the mains needed side dishes ordered to male it worthwhile. The service was friendly, the atmosphere needed some thought the space is small so it seemed we were all in competition to shout to be heard. My opinion only. I'm not sure if there was meant to be an obvious Italian/African fusion the menu offered was not obvious. A bit of fine tuning and it could be great!

Excellent tastes in an amicable atmosphere!

Great food, Papa La has some really wonderful food and ambience. Well worth a visit

The food was perfect and the service was great. The food was rich in flavour and tasty! Saw an advert of the restaurant on YouTube and decided to try it out. Looking forward to going back.

Food was good but a curry without rice and you have to order sides on top at £5+ each makes it on the low value for money scale with the size of bowls. Waitress was top notch in realising we were rushing for the theatre next door so was prompt with service. There are charging ports with usb ports for phone charging which was a bonus when in desperate need.

Attended a dinner event last night. From the mocktails to starters, mains to dessert, the experience was classy, delicious and memorable. Really enjoyed the vegan options. Wholly recommend the edible gold-plated avocado and chocolate mousse with fruit. Pure heaven.

Excellent food, cocktails, and ambience. Customer service is always faultless. My favourite west-end eatery.

Visited Papa L's as part of a birthday celebration. Great location and good decor. Staff on the door are friendly and welcoming. The cocktails are very tasty but also very pricey so care to be taken when looking at those. Alot of people rave about the prawns starter and from the reaction at the table it seems justified. The scallops were a little lacklustre. The menu needs to be read carefully as some items are described together but priced seperately, other items came on their own when it seemed sensible that they would be paired with other things. Most venues are happy to accommodate a private cake being brought in, Papa L's says they are but they aren't really and the chef seemed to berate the waitresses for even providing plates and a knife which was quite displeasing to witness. Most waiting staff were great but a couple really didn't want to be there and after that telling off I understand why. Overall, we wanted to love this experience but it didn't materialise.

Really delicious food. Tempura okra was really amazing. I really wish this was not a pop up. Staff is very friendly and honestly some of the best service in london.

What a fantastic restaurant. From the moment we walked in the staff were amazing. So friendly and attentive. The food was incredible, so tasty. I hope it stays in the location. Go there while you can!

Exceptional customer service! Went here for an anniversary dinner and was blown away by their friendly staff and amazing food. Couldn’t recommend the place highly enough

First time at this really good restaurant. Service was attentive and friendly. Food was excellent. Scallops were really well cooked and the grilled tiger prawns came with a lovely peppery sauce. Mains were grilled sole and roasted BBQ veg with a side of cassava fries. All ace.Their take on pavlova as a shared pud was enough for us. Couple of Jerre Jeff rum cocktails too. Pre theatre meal.

Fun. The quality of the food was superb.

Went there during happy hours, nice food but bad service.

Delicious food, attentive waiters, excellent service and nice atmosphere. Only downside was the Sea-bass portion could’ve been bigger and the music didn’t match the food or restaurant vibe at times.

Absolutely amazing food, lovely staff. The roast octopus and the prawns were truly delicious and the staff were friendly, attentive and welcoming.

Great little restaurant … fantastic food, top cocktails, friendly staff 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

Had an amazing time visiting for the first time yesterday. Service was excellent! Food was excellent! Atmosphere was excellent! Music was excellent! Got to meet the owner afterwards as well. Can't wait to be back.

Great food and service. Recommend the Chicken curry and the Steak