Small & Beautiful

Great place to eat and must visit whilst in Kilburn, great service and the prices are great, went here for a catch up with some old work colleagues and will 100% be coming back

I found this charming little place whilst strolling down the high street and have been visiting it ever since. I take all my friends there because the food is always wonderful, the ambiance is just perfect for day or night, the decor is quirky and its very clean and comfortable. I have never after about (300 visits) had anything to complain about, the food is just delicious, always freshly made and hot. Its so handy for the tube so friends who don't know Kilburn can find it easily after arriving by tube or bus. I cannot believe how cheap the special menus are, amazing.  Most certainly my first choice of venue for local good inexpensive food. The staff have always been warm and helpful and all my friends agree, when I take them there they all add it to their list of favorites and return with more friends.

My boyfriend and I strolled down to the next town along to check out this cute little restaurant that had been described to me as ‘Cheap & Cheerful’ by friends. However I’d read the online reviews and most shamed the restaurant for its poor service, cold food, and the hand written menu’s. But I completely disagree with the reviews. Firstly, I loved the hand written Menu’s, it was a very unique touch. And the food that was served to us – hot food may I point out – was absolutely scrumptious. I couldn’t fault it. We ate every last scrap. We each had our own starter and then shared some Potato skins, and all three were delicious. As for the mains, my Salmon was lovely, very large for such a small price (I paid £20 for a salmon last week that wasn’t nearly as nice, this was £5.95)). However, as delicious as my Salmon was, I felt incredible food envy when my boyfriends lamb was presented to him. My mouth actually watered. Upon tasting his, I knew I’d made the wrong to decision to go with the Salmon. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed my fish.
And finally the service- okay, so it wasn’t the most spectacular service I’ve ever had, but it was still service with a smile, and that’s all that matters right? Our drinks came quick, as did our food, so no complaints there. I was however disappointed to discover from the waitress that there was no Vanilla Cheesecake left, ten minutes after I had ordered it, and was waiting for it fork in hand. But I was so impressed with our starters and mains that I could easily let it slide (not to mention I would have had to unzip my jeans upon attempting to eat it).
The nicest surprise of all, was just how cheap Small and Beautiful is. And for such good food – it’s almost a wonder how they make any money. I’d definitely recommend it as a great place for a romantic date, or for a small group of friends. I can absolutely see myself eating at Small & Beautiful again. If only to order that lamb!
Notes:
- You can get a Pizza and a beer for £6
- Small and Beautiful serve Breakfast everyday till 5pm, ideal for late risers like me
- At Christmas time a set menu is available – a 3 course meal, £20 per person; perfect for staff parties
- Small & Beautiful only accept cash or cheques. They do not accept cards which is fairly annoying – however, it’s situated on the busy high street which has plenty of cash points dotted closely around.
allabouttink.co.uk

I live in West Hampstead and this little gem of an eatery at the top of Kiilburn is one of the best. My partner and I often go and eat there on a Friday or Saturday evening and have always found the food very good with lots to choose from. We have both tried several different dish's starters & mains and really cant' decide with is a favorite as everything is excellent. It is a quirky little place, very busy but comfortable, staff are lovely which is very important. It is a great place to go and I would highly recommend it. You can take a chance and just turn up but we always book a table to be sure as to get seated because as I said it does get very busy.....try it I'm sure you will love it as much as we do....

I live nearby and have now eaten in this place five times over the past year. At its best, it's cheap and tasty. At its worst, it's still cheap and tasty, but it's spoiled by not just poor service - but horrifically bad service. On Saturday night for example, we booked a table and turned up an hour later (on time!) to find it had been given away. Having been offered some complimentary drinks whilst we waited, we were happy - only to find them added on to the bill at the end of the meal with the manager having no recollection of having offered them whilst we waited! A large side order of amnesia perhaps!

Aside from this, the service is generally harsh at best. All of the tales of incorrect orders, surly service, and generally brusque behaviour are sadly true.

So, it's cheap and cheerful, but even the cheerful is hit and miss. To be honest, I'd avoid it really. The Little Bay in West Hampstead offers a similar proposition but with cheap and genuinely cheerful service to boot.

I visited here two weeks ago while staying in the area on business. The food was very nicely done-- I had a version of sausages and mash which was substantial and tasty, but I was a little disappointed in the attitude of the server-- somewhat disinterested in my dining experience.

A nice little bistro - nothing terribly sophisticated about the food although the mains are very hearty, homely dishes - there are always a whole raft of specials to choose from if you don't like the regular menu too.

As others have said the decor is really quirky, and the staff couldn't have been attentive enough I have to say.

Recommended

Small & Beautiful was the first restaurant I visited after moving to Kilburn and remains one of the best finds since.

It is extremely cosy, but this makes it ideal for a group meal - book in advance as it'll be busy - in one of two quirkily decorated rooms.

Candle lit and warm, the restaurant is perfectly placed next to Brondesbury Station, making it easily accessible from the north end of the High Road.

There is a small range of food on offer, but this does not detract from the dining experience.

The food itself is great value, but the staff could be a little friendlier and efficient!

This simple looking restaurant cooks how it looks- simple, but well made and homely food. I’ve been there for their Sunday roasts which are gorgeous and recommended and also on several evenings, when I’ve enjoyed dishes such as mussels and prawns in a tomato sauce, which was absolutely delicious. Small and Beautiful also has different specials on daily. The meals are very reasonably priced with mains starting at around £5.

I enjoyed Small & Beautiful, it is simple but very homely and cosy. The menu is simple but there are more than enough tasty and different dishes to choose from, I was most suprised by the prices, you definately get value for money here even more so I you go for the food and wine off the specials menu. The waiters were friendly enough but not particularly attentive and some arm waving was needed. Overall it was a good experience and I would definately go back if I was in the area. The Big Church organ on the wall gives it novelty points too!

I have to say I was a little disappointed by small and beautiful. And not in a daft way like 'well I thought it would be bigger.’ It was undoubtedly value for money, but the staff I found were barely pleasant with each little question you ask seeming like a pain in the behind.

I got the stuffed pepper starter which I really didn’t warm to. For mains I got the steak which wasn’t bad but yeah, I just thought with such quirky decor they could follow through with the staff and or menu. There is a nifty organ on the wall. Like church organ, as opposed to heart liver or kidney. That’s pretty cool. The rest could do with a bit of a pep talk.

Tasty food in a tasteful eaterie, I was very happy to have followed up a friend’s recommendation to eat here.

Lots of happy looking diners inside and I could soon see why.

As Danielle has already said, the stuffed red peppers were lovely and the Tiger Island (large prawns and calamari with a spicy tomato sauce on a bed of mussels) was mouthwatering.

The service was brisk and efficient and the only downer was that I didn’t see a notice saying that they don’t seem take cards. This may well have been my fault though. The staff were easygoing about it and rather than having to do their washing up, they let me go and get some cash out to pay.

Great variety and value for money.

Two cozy rooms make up Small & Beautiful, a cherished local NW restaurant.

It’s decorated to be comfortable and funky with bare wood furniture and a nicely tiled floor. It’s bright in the day, but the rich colours on the walls and candles make it romantic after dark.

The food is a mix of Mediterranean dishes (mostly Italian). Prices are very reasonable. I like the sausage ring, and their smoked chicken salad is nice. Nice bistro food and good service in a neighbourhood atmosphere and low prices: it’s hard not to like it here.

Note that there are some similarly-named restaurants in other parts of London; this one is on Kilburn High Road, near the train bridge.

This is a beautiful looking restaurant. The food is simple and good. It has lots of strange chairs with giant backs which give it a gothic feel as well as organ pipes along one wall. Its generally quite full but you normally can get a table without booking. A main meal costs from £5.

Small and Beautiful, which is a partner restaurant to the Little Star (in Willesden Green) serves more or less the same kind of mixture of British, modern European and Mediterranean dishes. The dishes are quite tasty, with Baked Red Peppers stuffed with feta cheese also being my favourite dish here. The chicken florentine is also appetising. Special offers include a 2 course lunch for £5.50, which is definitely a snatch! The candle decorated and dimly lit Small and Beautiful is preferable (to its sister restaurant) for those preferring a more intimate and relaxed atmosphere within which to dine in.

This charming addition to Kilburn High Road is a perfectly formed restaurant/brasserie with great food to match. The area has surprisingly good selection for dining out, but this is definitely worth a look.

Dimly lit and cosy, the decor is simple with candles, wall-hangings and lovely chairs providing a homely atmosphere. The staff are welcoming and friendly in spite of the bustle. The menu is varied, enticing and most importantly well-priced. There is a good range of specials too.

Nothing pretentious but certainly a good choice for a relaxed yet quality dining experience.