Restaurants
A melting pot of cultures, eating out in London is an
international affair. Renowned for its curries, there are hundreds
of Indian restaurants to choose from, from upmarket Mayfair to the
trendy Brick Lane. Head to Chinatown in Soho for Chinese, or
Brixton for African or Caribbean.
A city synonymous with celebrity big name chefs like Jamie
Oliver and Gordon Ramsay, visitors to the city can also sample some
of the country's finest cuisine, but at a price. For a special
gourmet evening out head to Mayfair, Covent Garden, Soho or
Chelsea, but expect to pay. For the ultimate English experience,
traditional fish and chips are the order of the day. Get it wrapped
up for take away and head to the nearest park for a greasy snack.
If the weather is doing its usual thing then head to a cosy
gastropub instead and sample some heart-warming English fare.
Eating out in London is expensive but a lunchtime sandwich and
soft drink shouldn't cost more than £5 and an evening meal at
a standard restaurant, excluding drinks should amount to
£10.
For a comprehensive list of London restaurants check out
www.london-eating.co.uk
The Avenue |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
A favourite with the inhabitants of St James, The Avenue
produces good Modern British and Mediterranean food but wisely does
not attempt to compete with its illustrious neighbours,
Pétrus and L'Oranger. As a result this minimalist restaurant
is good value and always packed, despite a sometimes patchy
service. The best tables are towards the back, on the mezzanine
level. Set menus are usually excellent, and competitively priced,
and quality wines are available by the glass. Open daily for lunch
and dinner.
Address: 7-9 St James's Street
E-mail: avenue@egami.co.uk
Website: www.egami.co.uk
Telephone: (0)20 7321 2111
La Poule au Pot |
$$$$$ | French |
Although only a few minutes walk from Sloane Square, this
charming restaurant could just as easily be in Paris or Provence,
rather than in Pimlico Village. La Poule au Pot is one of those
delightfully un-hip restaurants that guarantees a superb dining
experience. The restaurant is cosy and warm and the food is true to
traditional French cuisine - wholesome and unpretentious. The
portions are generous and their fragrance floods your tongue before
it rests on it. All this makes up for the absolute 'Frenchness' of
the service, whose arrogance is a reminder that, even in the most
pleasurable of experiences, we must endure a little pain. With its
chicken wire room dividers and huge baskets of dusty bread and
dried flowers, not to mention the chipped and mismatched crockery,
La Poule au Pot is a favourite with locals. Open daily for lunch
and dinner.
Address: 231 Ebury Street (Pimlico)
Telephone: (0)20 7730 7763
Star of India |
$$$$$ | Indian |
When in London visitors should experience the English national
dish - Chicken Tikka Masala - and there is no better place to go
than the Star of India, in the heart of South Kensington. Situated
on the first floor of a Georgian house, this small restaurant
has a pseudo-classical interior and continues to be popular
with locals, despite the price. For years the Star of India
has been at the forefront of modern Indian cuisine and it continues
to impress with innovative and interesting menus, with
specialities such as 'lusciously creamy tiger prawn casserole with
root vegetables' and 'boned quail stuffed with chicken,
quail’s eggs, pine nuts and sunflower seeds'.
Address: 154 Old Brompton Road (South Kensington)
Telephone: (0)20 7373 2901
1 Lombard Street |
$$$$$ | French |
Situated in the domed interior of an old banking hall opposite
the Bank of England, 1 Lombard Street has become a city
institution. The brasserie is always bustling with investment
bankers and offers a full á la carte menu for both lunch and
dinner with seasonal specialities and an extensive wine list. The
Michelin-starred restaurant, situated behind the brasserie, is a
better bet for discreet conversation and for enthusiasts of haute
cuisine. The formal dining environment provides a tranquil setting
for appreciating Herbert Berger's sophisticated cuisine. The
convenience of having Michelin standards in the heart of the city
makes up for the steep bills. Open weekdays only. Dress is smart
casual.
Address: 1 Lombard Street (Bank)
E-mail: reception@1lombardstreet.com
Website: www.1lombardstreet.com
Telephone: (0)20 7929 6611
The sister of the successful Nobu restaurant in Mayfair, Ubon
(Nobu spelt backwards) is generally for those with large expense
accounts. The restaurant serves the finest in Japanese cuisine
including 'yellowtail jalapeno' as well as all kinds of sushi and
sashimi, and offers wonderful views along the Thames - diners can
even arrive by boat. Some diners complain that the service is a
little rushed for a restaurant of this standard and price, but most
keep coming back. Open for lunch and dinner Monday to Friday and
dinner only on Saturdays.
Address: 34 Westferry Circus (Canary Wharf)
Website: www.noburestaurants.com
Telephone: (0)20 7719 7800
Montpeliano |
$$$$$ | Italian |
On a quiet side street just off Knightsbridge and a minutes walk
from Harrods, Montpeliano is a wonderful old-fashioned Italian
restaurant where the food is authentic and the service excellent.
The owner is always available, the staff are friendly and
welcoming, and the atmosphere has a feel of casual elegance. On
warm evenings it is possible to dine 'el fresco' on the outside
patio. The specials are always delicious, the portions generous and
the price reasonable.
Address: 13 Montpelier Street (Knightsbridge)
Telephone: (0)20 7589 0032
The Abingdon |
$$$$$ | Gastropubs |
The bar at this small but atmospheric pub is always buzzing with
locals, while the restaurant often draws visitors from further
afield. Set on a side street a few blocks from High Street
Kensington the eating area is awkwardly narrow but makes a good
spot for a private and romantic evening á deux, or with a
small group of friends. The food is simple, but guaranteed to be
good. Try the fillet of beef or the lamb cutlets with butter bean
stew, followed by sticky toffee pudding. Open daily for lunch and
dinner.
Address: 54 Abingdon Road (Kensington)
Telephone: (0)20 7937 3339
192 |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
Recently refurbished and relaunched by Tom Byng, who also owns
nearby Zucca, this legendary neighbourhood restaurant remains a
favourite among celebrities and the local media-types of trendy
Notting Hill, despite much competition. The modern British/European
menu is inventive and ever changing, and the wine list is
excellent. A great place for lunch or dinner, or simply for a
little people watching. Open daily.
Address: 192 Kensington Park Road (Notting Hill)
Telephone: (0)20 7229 0482
Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road |
$$$$$ | French |
Now established as one of London's finest restaurants, Gordon
Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road opened in 1998 as the chef's first
independently owned venture. Today it has three Michelin stars - an
honour held by only one other British restaurant - and was recently
voted in the top five restaurants in the world by a panel of
experts. Need we say more? With 14 tables seating 44 guests, this
exclusive venue has become a must for connoisseurs of fine
contemporary cuisine from around the world. Book well in advance.
Open for lunch and dinner Monday to Friday.
Address: 68-69 Royal Hospital Road (Chelsea)
Website: www.gordonramsay.com/royalhospitalroad/
Telephone: (0)20 7352 4441
Criterion Grill |
$$$$$ | French |
The Criterion Brasserie, in the heart of Piccadilly, is owned by
the celebrated chef Marco Pierre White, the youngest chef and the
first Englishman ever to be awarded three Michelin Stars. The menu
is dominantly French with Mediterranean influences and allows
exceptional food to be enjoyed in captivating surroundings.
Glittering mosaics adorn the whole ceiling, while the walls are
recessed with pillared arches decorated with motifs inspired by
ancient Constantinople. The soft lighting conjures images of the
Arabian Nights and creates a romantic atmosphere in which
to enjoy food of simplicity yet great quality, such as eggs
benedict with hollandaise sauce, followed by suckling pig garnished
in apple sauce and jus à la marjolaine, or grilled calf's
liver with bacon, pom puree, jus gras and sauce lyonnaise. Every
evening Wednesday to Saturday, a magician moves from table to table
entertaining diners. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Sundays.
Address: 224 Piccadilly (Soho)
Website: www.whitestarline.org.uk
Telephone: (0)20 7930 0488
Fire and Stone |
$$$$$ | Italian |
A cosy atmosphere with contemporary trimmings and the smell of
fresh oven baked pizza in the air, the new Fire and Stone pizza
joint in Covent Garden is ideal for a family outing or a casual
dinner with a friends or a partner. Boasting the largest wood-fired
oven in the northern hemisphere, the Fire and Stone produces a
large variety of pizzas, themed on the different flavours of the
continents and made with only the freshest ingredients. An
affordable Covent Garden restaurant, pizzas at the Fire and Stone
range from £7 to £12. Compliment your meal with some of
their quality red wines or try out an exotic smoothie. Open daily
for lunch and dinner.
Address: 31/32 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden
Website: www.fireandstone.com
Telephone: 020 7257 8625
Carnaby Restaurant |
$$$$$ | British |
Situated in the Courthouse Hotel, formerly the Great Marlborough
Street Magistrate's Court, Carnaby Restaurant is a decadently
decorated establishment, ideal for a light snack, afternoon tea or
full bodied evening meal. Noted for its reasonable prices and
attentive service, patrons at Carnaby Restaurant will be astonished
to find that the food is of a high calibre too. Sit back and enjoy
the view of attractive Carnaby Street through the tall glass
windows, enjoy the plush red furnishings and soak up the olde
worlde atmosphere. There are a variety of sophisticated meals at
the Carnaby Restaurant that are carefully presented and accompanied
by an impressive wine list. Open for lunch and supper, Monday to
Saturday.
Address: Courthouse Hotel, 19-21 Great Marlborough Street
Telephone: 020 7297 5568
54 Farringdon |
$$$$$ | Oriental |
A stylish but understated restaurant serving modern European and
Malaysian cuisine, 54 is the ideal place for a modest romantic
evening or dinner with a group of friends. Serving only free range,
organic and local produce, 54 tries to ensure that their cuisine is
environmentally responsible and retains the utmost flavour. Try the
smoked mackerel with horseradish cream starter and continue with a
lamb shank redang, the aubergine or pineapple curry or the belly of
the pork. Open for lunch and dinner Monday to Friday and dinner on
Saturday.
Address: 54 Farringdon Road
Telephone: 020 7336 0603
A highly creative contemporary Indian restaurant, Zaika offers
sensational Indian cuisine in a cool and vibrant setting. Situated
in trendy Kensington, Zaika won Best Indian Restaurant in the
London Restaurant Awards and holds three AA rosettes. Try the
tasting menu to get a fuller understanding of the extensive Indian
flavours. The Indian home-smoked salmon and Masala duck breast are
also favourites. With great service, plush interiors and excellent
cuisine, Zaika is a fail proof night out.
Address: 1 Kensington High Street, Kensington
Telephone: 020 7795 6533
Blue Elephant |
$$$$$ | Oriental |
A full throttle Thai experience, the Blue Elephant is a must if
you are curious about Thai culture or if you've visited Thailand
before and can't get it out of your system. Greeted with orchard
flowers and welcoming smiles at the door, the décor and
exquisite interiors will blow guests away. If you are looking for a
unique restaurant that has lost any hint of London, except maybe
the prices, head to the Blue Elephant. The lush indoor garden of
tropical plants, the flowing carp pond and the majestic Blue Bar's
Royal craft, which was carved out of a single piece of teak and
layered with 50,000 sheets of goldleaf, add to both the exotic and
luxurious in this renowned London restaurant. The starter menu
offers familiar fare such as satay sticks, dumplings and spring
rolls with the main menu displaying a broad range of dishes from
herb-marinated sea bass grilled inside a bamboo wrap to Massaman, a
typical Thai dish of slowly braised lamb in a medium spicy sauce.
Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Address: 3-6 Fulham Broadway
Telephone: 020 7385 6595
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