Kilburn’s newest bar serves up a compelling mix of food and fun, with a dash of royal glamour

Located at the top of High Road, just a stone’s throw from the over ground station, The Betsy Smith has brought quirky dining to Kilburn.

Decked out in faux Regency furniture, and with an assortment of period pictures hanging form the walls and bird cage light fittings suspended from the ceiling, The Betsy certainly stands out from the crowd.

Drawn to the fashionable cocktail bar / restaurant by its newly launched King William cocktail (after all, what better way is there to celebrate a royal engagement than by sipping on an exquisite cocktail, fittingly served out of china tea cup?) my companion and I swung by for an early evening dinner on Friday night.

And by 6.30pm this fashionable eatery was already bustling with the chatter of friends enjoying the luscious drinks and food on offer.

For start I ate the butterfly King prawns served on a bed of wild rocket with garlic and herb dressing. The prawns tasted fulsome and fresh and were beautifully offset by the peppery salad leaves.

My companion opted for the bruschetta with vine tomatoes, garlic and basil. The tomatoes were beautifully sweet and seasoned perfectly, while the garlic and basil added heat and depth to the dish.

For mains we both chose pizzas. Feeling hungry, I ordered the Fantasia which was topped with cherry tomatoes, parmesan, mozzarella, aubergine and parma ham. The topping was plentiful, and the cheesy base blended beautifully with the salty ham and the soft aubergine, which melted in the mouth.

Not to be outdone, my companion went for the classic Napoli pizza, which came with anchovies, olives, capers and mozzarella. The strong, vinegary capers were matched by the salty, fishy anchovies.

To accompany our food, we both shared a (quintessentially English) tea pot of freshly mixed cocktail. And with discussion of the Royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton reaching feverpitch, there really was only one option – the King William.

The scrumptious drink is made of Evan Williams bourbon, rhubarb liqueur, lemon juice and camomile tea. The result is a gorgeous drink with strong, floral flavours beautifully complemented by the sharpness of the lemon and rhubarb, and fiery taste of the bourbon. The perfect partnership of flavours for the perfect couple.

Prices are very reasonable with light bites including crisps and dips from �3, starters begin at �4.50 and mains, including pizzas and roasts price at between �8 and �12.

Breakfast is served until 4pm daily and includes the classic egg and bacon combinations, while the drinks menu has a great choice old and new world wines, and a compelling array of freshly mixed cocktails.

For more information visit wwwthebetsysmith.co.uk