Restaurant Recs for London

[msamyfarrahfowler]

I'm spending a few days in London and would love some recommendations, ranging from street food to fine dining.  The last time I was in London was 2006.  I was a poor college student and all I remember eating was Pret a Manger.

[mbcdefg]

We had a very good meat pie and chips platter at The King's Head Pub on Stafford Street, back in 2010: www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/thekingsheadmayfairlondon/

ETA: and we had good fish and chips from this place: www.seashellrestaurant.co.uk/

[Mushe]

I am obsessed with Dishoom! It's fantastic Indian food, small plate style. Their cocktails are also delicious.

[Deleted]

This may not be very exciting if you're coming from a place with good bagels, but a good bagel is impossible to get here, except: www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/brick-lane-beigel-bake

muhibindiancuisine.com/

www.thepigandbutcher.co.uk/

www.dinnerbyheston.com/

www.alainducasse-dorchester.com/

(If I had to pick between Dinner and Alain, I'd say I liked the atmosphere at Dinner better, but the food at Alain was better)

sloeberry.co.uk/

Jeremy Clarkson hangs out here sometimes: www.thecommanderbar.co.uk/

www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant.php?id=piccadilly

It's not a very good location for tourists, but they have an amazing truffle burger: www.boisdale.co.uk/

Best fish and chips I've found in London: www.thebullandlast.co.uk/

thehawksmoor.com/airstreet

I'm really picky about seafood and this is the best seafood I've found in London: www.thewrightbrothers.co.uk/restaurants/oyster_porter_house/

[chicago]

We visited some friends in London a couple of years ago and they took us to a favorite of theirs, Baltic. It's European/Polish food, but they also have flavored vodkas made in-house that they serve in ice cold carafes. We sampled quite a few. I'd go back just for all the vodkas!

[alleinesein]

Nandos. Its not fancy at all but its fairly inexpensive and they have locations all over the city. If you like hot and spicy you have to try the extra hot Peri Peri sauce.

[travelingturtle]

I did a food tour in London's east side. I felt it was a little overpriced, but there were some good dining options that I would go back to if I could:

- The Beigel Bake place mentioned above. Really freaking good bagel.

- Poppies Fish and Chips: 6-8 Hanbury St. I don't normally like fish and chips, but these were amazing.

- Pizza East, 56 Shoreditch: we didn't have the pizza there, but it was a cool trendy looking place. we had dessert and it was really good.

I still ended up eating at Pret a Manger (and EAT, which I preferred) a lot because, wow, London's expensive!

[mrsukyankee]

Borough Market for lunch any day of the week (other than Sundays I think), though I would go when the full market is open Wed - Sat.

If you want other street food, check out www.kerbfood.com/ - they have some of the best but they go all over London so you have to check out dates/times/places.

Fish & Chips - my favourite is also Poppies and it's in Camden so you can make it a full trip. I would suggest booking as they get packed a lot. If they are full, then my second favourite place is Seafresh.

Fine dining: my two favourites are Orrery in Marylebone area and Coq d'Argent  (yes, I love French restaurants)

If you are willing to go a bit outside of central London there are a bunch of places I can recommend:

- Little Bay: inexpensive but tasty food, I've gotten almost everything on the menu

- The Earl Derby (pronounced Darby): good food and good drinks

- Mill Lane Bistro: cute little neighbourhood French restaurant with fabulous authentic food

- Ottolenghi: unique but well known in the Islington area.  Worth it.

You can also do a search using OpenTable.  I use the site almost every time I'm making dining reservations to both find somewhere to eat and to make the reservation.  They have example menus, reviews and you can search by specific London locations.

Have fun and enjoy my city!

[frog]

There were two places I loved. The first was Busaba. It's a really great Thai restaurant.
busaba.com/

The next was near our hotel near the Earl's Court Station. It was a cute little family owned Italian restaurant. Bistro Benito.

[frog]

I also second grabbing lunch in the Borough Market. Delicious and fresh.

[chicago]

Yes yes yes, Borough Market!

[daphne]

Harwood Arms for dinner. Best gastro pub in London and it has a Michelin star. Amazing food. A bit of a trip since it's outside of central London but well worth the 20 pound cab ride.

You don't mention where you are staying but on Saturday and Sunday there is an outdoor market at Southbank (by the London Eye) which has amazing food. I highly recommend the roast hog sandwich.

[mrsukyankee]

As for lunch at Borough Market, I have three fav places to eat: chorizo sandwich, duck confit & soba noodle bar. You'll have a ton of choices there.

Ditto for Southbank market - it's a good alternative.

[frlcb]

May 10, 2014 4:15:10 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

As for lunch at Borough Market, I have three fav places to eat: chorizo sandwich, duck confit & soba noodle bar. You'll have a ton of choices there.

Ditto for Southbank market - it's a good alternative.

The chorizo sandwich is worth the trip to Borough Market alone. It is awesome.

[lolo]

I agree with @ukyankee on ottolenghi.

My #1 rec is to splurge at the Gilbert Scott. Its setting is gorgeous, there's live piano music at dinner, the food is locally sourced and an exemplar of quality British cuisine. Lunch is actually quite reasonably priced. Another option is to go for drinks and dessert--they will treat you to a complimentary palate cleansing beverage and posh popcorn and you'll have stunning views over the loveliest part of St Pancras station. Please get the snow eggs--they are divine.

ETA link: www.thegilbertscott.co.uk/

[lolo]

Also, if you want a good Sunday roast:

The draper's arms (my favorite pub that was my local in London) in Islington (barnsbury)

The Albion, great garden with a Willow tree

The Holly Bush in Hampstead

[mrsukyankee]

May 13, 2014 0:22:17 GMT -5 lolo said:

Also, if you want a good Sunday roast:

The draper's arms (my favorite pub that was my local in London) in Islington (barnsbury)

The Albion, great garden with a Willow tree

The Holly Bush in Hampstead

LOVE the Holly Bush - such a funky old pub

[klingklang77]

DH and I love Kennington Tandoori and go there every time we are in London (2 times a year or so).

I also had a fantastic Sunday roast at The Grazing Goat (by Marble Arch).

[lolo]

May 13, 2014 2:58:09 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

May 13, 2014 0:22:17 GMT -5 lolo said:

Also, if you want a good Sunday roast:

The draper's arms (my favorite pub that was my local in London) in Islington (barnsbury)

The Albion, great garden with a Willow tree

The Holly Bush in Hampstead

LOVE the Holly Bush - such a funky old pub

We first found it on a rainy November or early December day, and sat right by the coal stove. I also love that this is where the first discussions of protecting Hampstead Heath happened.