Dorian’s Recipe for Success: Authentic Dining and Community Roots in Notting Hill
Restaurateur Chris D’Sylva has built a local culinary empire, catering to Notting Hill’s desire for authenticity. We sit down with the man behind cult-favourite restaurant Dorian
Ask anyone in Notting Hill where to eat and sooner or later they’ll mention Dorian. A modern bistro on Talbot Road, it’s the flagship of restaurateur Chris D’Sylva’s growing local food portfolio, which also includes the Notting Hill Fish + Meat Shop, Supermarket of Dreams and Eel Sushi Bar. Despite the acclaim and the Instagram queues, Chris’s ambition has always been simple: to serve his neighbours well.
“I chose Notting Hill because it’s the place I know,” he says. “I’ve lived here for over 25 years. I could see what was missing, where the gaps were, and decided to build for the community first . These businesses only work because the people who live here want them to.”
This local-first ethos is something Chris sees reflected in Knight Frank’s own Notting Hill team. “When my partner and I were looking to buy our place, we almost didn’t view the flat that Knight Frank wanted to show us. But as soon as we stepped inside we knew it was the one. They just got it. They understood the feel of the place. It wasn’t transactional.”
The flat they now own is just around the corner from Dorian. “We walk to work, we know the neighbours, our customers are our friends. It’s a real community,” Chris adds. “I’m proud to live here, not just trade here.”
This is a view shared by Arthur Lintell, Head of Sales in Knight Frank’s Notting Hill office, who was born and raised in the area. “What Chris has built is a brilliant example of the kind of authenticity that defines Notting Hill,” he says. “He understands his audience, just like we do. Clients here want more than four walls and a postcode. They want to feel part of something. You can’t fake that. You have to be embedded.”
“In what we do, it’s all about trust and consistency,” adds Chris. “People come back to our restaurants because they know what they’re going to get: great ingredients, treated simply, served with care. That’s the philosophy. No fluff, no ego.”
Arthur applies this principle to the best client relationships too: “The lettings and sales market here is fiercely competitive, but what sets us apart is our long-term view. We’ve been in the same office on Westbourne Grove for 25 years. That consistency matters. It builds trust – and it means we often work with clients across generations.”
Chris agrees. “What Arthur and I do isn’t so different,” he says. “He deals in homes, I deal in food. But at the end of the day, we both believe in showing up with quality and putting people first.”
Book a table at Dorian at dorianrestaurant.com, or explore Chris’s other businesses at nottinghillfishshop.co.uk and instagram.com/supermarketofdreams
