Last time I came to Notting Hill to check out a new place was when a Filipino place called Lakwatsa, roughly five years ago. Even then I remember walking past the Paul Smith store. Gleaming white.

Yet again I walked down the same road on a sunny day.

Orasay had been on my radar ever since their opening was announced. But I hadn’t made a concerted effort to visit. In all honestly I was more likely to end up at Brunswick House (owner and chef Jackson Boxer’s other place).

That was until a visiting friend suggested trying it out.

It was still around mid summer so the open windows allowed made it possible to al fresco. But given how busy the road was we opted to sit inside.

We ordered based on this being light and early first dinner. With options on the second.

Isle of Mull Diver Scallop, Shiitake & Vin Jaune

Key memory. Very meaty scallop. With a warming taste. The celeriac puree added to that. Comforting like the warmth you get from the radiators’ turned on, on the first day of autumn.

Fried Chicken

I forgot vis a vis what the additional ingredients were. But I remember the morsels having quite a sharp taste. In hindsight a doubling up of the portions would’ve helped calm my rumbling stomach.

Potato Flatbread, Smoked Cod’s Roe, Pomelo Kosho

I wasn’t too convinced. This is because the texture and consistency wise I’m more used to Arabic flatbread or naan. This was more spongy (polenta is that you?). Plus I felt the pomelo kosho slightly overpowered the taste coming from the smoked cod’s roe.

Fried Skate, Girolles & Grilled Corn

Skate perfectly cooked. But the corn didn’t add much for me. I yearn for the Taiwanese white sweetcorn, which even when eaten raw was bursting full of umami.

Brown Bread Ice Cream

In this case I’ll politely defer to the desserts at Brunswick House. Those were dreamy. Especially the mango one. Alphonso mango, chilled rice, almond and sesame. Dream.

All in all what were the lasting memory of Orasay. Solid, cooking with delicate hints of fusion.

Orasay, 31 Kensington Park Road, London, W11 2EU