Carvery in London
Oct 17th, 2011, 09:58 AM
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Carvery in London
My husband and I are heading to London/Paris in November and I'm just getting around to putting together a rough itinerary (I'm a bit of a procrastinator). I asked my husband for a list of what he wants to make sure we see/do, and he mentioned that the last time he was in London (almost 10 years ago) he ate at a "carvery" and really enjoyed it. I'm not very familiar with this type of eatery, but I'd love to hear if anyone has a suggestion for a good one in London? Thank you for your help!
Oct 17th, 2011, 02:42 PM
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Ah yes.....the carvery was once one of my favorite restaurants in London. The best one was at the Regents Palace Hotel just off Picadilly. There was also one at the Cumberland Hotel near Marble Arch. They would serve you a starter or as we Yanks call them an appetizer. Could be a prawn (shrimp) cocktail or a sald or whatever. Then yo were free to go to the carvery part and slice your own beef (prime rib), turkey or ham. There was somebody standing by to help you out. I loved slicing the prime rib which had a bone in. Yum yum. Finally after making repeated trips to the carvery, they brought around a dessert trolley. In later years, unfortunately due to Mad Cow disease, they no longer served the roast beef bone in and they no longer allowed you to carve your own meat. Also the one at the Cumberland had a sald bar (pretty bad by USA standards( and a dessert bar. Alas alas, the two I loked the best, are long gone. There was also one at the Strand Palace Hotel. It may still be operating. Haven't been there in a few years.
Also, the upstairs restaurant at the Albert Pub on Victoria Street, just across from Westminster Cathedra and a 5 minute walk down Vicdtoria Street from either end that is from eihter Victoria Station or Westminster Abbey has a carvery, not all that expensive but again no longer does the roast beef have bone in or do you slice your own or do they allow more than one trip to the buffet. Add on a couple of slicdes of Yorkshire pudding and it's very good and not all that expensive.
Also, the upstairs restaurant at the Albert Pub on Victoria Street, just across from Westminster Cathedra and a 5 minute walk down Vicdtoria Street from either end that is from eihter Victoria Station or Westminster Abbey has a carvery, not all that expensive but again no longer does the roast beef have bone in or do you slice your own or do they allow more than one trip to the buffet. Add on a couple of slicdes of Yorkshire pudding and it's very good and not all that expensive.
Oct 17th, 2011, 02:54 PM
#3
I'm not aware of any of these in London but there is a chain called Toby Carvery, very popular, which serves reasonably priced food. I just did a quick check and it does list one in Snaresbrook, London, which I've never heard of. My guess is it's way out of central London.
http://www.tobycarvery.co.uk/
For central London, you could check for a carvery on here:
http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/
Kay
http://www.tobycarvery.co.uk/
For central London, you could check for a carvery on here:
http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/
Kay
Oct 17th, 2011, 03:20 PM
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xyz123, your mention of the Albert brought back memories. Years ago, Ben Haines recommended that pub to my daughter and me for Sunday dinner after attending services at Westminster Abbey. We looked at the carvery but decided to eat downstairs because it was just too much food for us. It was a nice experience and when I thanked Ben, he said that he had found it after a mention from a Fodorite. I think he always checked everything out himself before making a recommendation.
Oct 17th, 2011, 05:16 PM
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Thanks for the help guys! You're right, looks like there aren't many left in central London - I found this one: http://www.strandrestaurants.co.uk/carvery/.
I was hoping I could find one as some consolation as the days we're in London we won't be able to tour Westminister Abbey and that's was one of the big things my husband missed the last time that he really wanted to see. Get there too late on Saturday, closed on Sunday, closed for some unknown reason on Monday, and then we leave at noon on Tuesday.
I was hoping I could find one as some consolation as the days we're in London we won't be able to tour Westminister Abbey and that's was one of the big things my husband missed the last time that he really wanted to see. Get there too late on Saturday, closed on Sunday, closed for some unknown reason on Monday, and then we leave at noon on Tuesday.
Oct 17th, 2011, 05:26 PM
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I think this is an idea left over from the 50's that has finally died out. (Went to one once- involuntarily - the food was poor - overcooked and underflavored - as any heated buffet food tends to be.)
Really you're missing noting.
If you want something really old-fashioned I believe that Simpson's in the Strand is still in business. (I had read about that in some VERY old british mysteries.) As is the Ivy.
Really you're missing noting.
If you want something really old-fashioned I believe that Simpson's in the Strand is still in business. (I had read about that in some VERY old british mysteries.) As is the Ivy.
Oct 17th, 2011, 06:15 PM
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Of course, everything is opinion based and people simply have different opinions.
Yes Simpson's in the Strand is still open but it is very expensive and not my type of restaurant....I mean I might actually have to get dressd up and change out of my official tourist outfit of blue jeans, t shirt and sneakers with a baseball cap (but my t shirts are clean and there are not holes in my blue jeans and I don't wear my baseball cap backwards)...seriously, Simpson's is just too expensive for me but I am sure the food is outstanding. Of course the OP is traveling with DH and might be looking for that special night out and it might suit them.Simpson's and the Strand Palace are both on the Strand and very close to each other so the OP might wish to take a look at Simpsons and if she doesn't like the price, she can always fall back on the Strand Palace.
Of course a lot of this is memory. As I said, my first experience at the Carvery was in the late 1970's at the one at the Regents Palace (alas no more). Prime ribs carved on the bone is one of my favorites and my favorite place for this is Lawry's the Prime Rib in Beverley Hills, CA. I do remember, but then again your tastes as a student are different from your tastes as an adult, that the prime rib I cut for myself with the bone in at the Carvery was very good and my recollection is that it was almost as good as the slice I get when I get out to Beveryley Hills.
Then after a hiatus of about 15 years, I started going back to London regularly. And by then, of corse, they had the whole thing with mad cow disease and stopped serving the prime rib bone in and stopped allowing yourself to slice your own portion. It wasn't as good but acceptable. The one at the Cumberland in Marble Arch was fair. I tried the Strand Palace once and it was okay (this is about 10 years ago). My friends recommended the Albert Upstairs restaurant and it was good but I do admit I miss the bone in (when I need that, I get a fixing for Lawry's and a large cut).....like I say, everybody's tastes are somewhat different and their definitions of just what is worthwhile in terms of price the same.
I am sure the OP would not be disappointed with Simpsons and I don't think they would be disappointed at the Albert.
But I really do miss the concept of slicing your own rib roast and bone in. Those were the days my friends, we thought they'd never end.
Yes Simpson's in the Strand is still open but it is very expensive and not my type of restaurant....I mean I might actually have to get dressd up and change out of my official tourist outfit of blue jeans, t shirt and sneakers with a baseball cap (but my t shirts are clean and there are not holes in my blue jeans and I don't wear my baseball cap backwards)...seriously, Simpson's is just too expensive for me but I am sure the food is outstanding. Of course the OP is traveling with DH and might be looking for that special night out and it might suit them.Simpson's and the Strand Palace are both on the Strand and very close to each other so the OP might wish to take a look at Simpsons and if she doesn't like the price, she can always fall back on the Strand Palace.
Of course a lot of this is memory. As I said, my first experience at the Carvery was in the late 1970's at the one at the Regents Palace (alas no more). Prime ribs carved on the bone is one of my favorites and my favorite place for this is Lawry's the Prime Rib in Beverley Hills, CA. I do remember, but then again your tastes as a student are different from your tastes as an adult, that the prime rib I cut for myself with the bone in at the Carvery was very good and my recollection is that it was almost as good as the slice I get when I get out to Beveryley Hills.
Then after a hiatus of about 15 years, I started going back to London regularly. And by then, of corse, they had the whole thing with mad cow disease and stopped serving the prime rib bone in and stopped allowing yourself to slice your own portion. It wasn't as good but acceptable. The one at the Cumberland in Marble Arch was fair. I tried the Strand Palace once and it was okay (this is about 10 years ago). My friends recommended the Albert Upstairs restaurant and it was good but I do admit I miss the bone in (when I need that, I get a fixing for Lawry's and a large cut).....like I say, everybody's tastes are somewhat different and their definitions of just what is worthwhile in terms of price the same.
I am sure the OP would not be disappointed with Simpsons and I don't think they would be disappointed at the Albert.
But I really do miss the concept of slicing your own rib roast and bone in. Those were the days my friends, we thought they'd never end.
Oct 17th, 2011, 06:55 PM
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One of the worst meals I ever had in London was at Simpsons . and the friend who was with us and had been there many times growing up in London agreed. Over cooked , cold and when 2 of us ordered the same veg, we got 1 bowl between us while everyone else got there own dish. wHEN WE COMMENTED TO THE WAITER HE SAID THERE WAS ENOUGH FOR BOTH OF US!
Oct 17th, 2011, 07:08 PM
#10
It's not a carvery but you could check out Porters English Restaurant - not expensive and central.
http://www.porters.uk.com/
Kay
http://www.porters.uk.com/
Kay
Oct 18th, 2011, 01:56 AM
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I can only speak from experience of one Toby Carvery in Bournemouth near the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. A totally nasty experience from the food to the cleanliness (lack of). Waitress wore a filthy tee shirt, food scraps on the floor, over-heated and over-cooked food, just god-awful. Don't seek one out, you'd get a better roast dinner at a Wetherspoons'.
Oct 18th, 2011, 03:46 AM
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Well I was taken too Simpson's once as well - again about 20 years ago. Was underwhelmed with quality of the food,. but must admit the price quoted doesn't seem high for a decent piece of beef. Have not been to the Ivy - so do;t know how the food is. Is this a very oldie but a goody - or just propped up by the very aged?
Oct 18th, 2011, 03:58 AM
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"Is this a very oldie but a goody - or just propped up by the very aged?"
Neither. Though it's been around a while, it morphs every decade.
The Ivy currently sells comfort food to celebrity-gawpers, and to people you've never heard of but who the tabloids think are worth talking about. Footballers' floozies, panellists on Strictly Come Dancing and similar pond life.
Before it started treading the path to perdition, the Ivy sold well-cooked comfort food to anyone in the neighbourhood. Before that: well, even I wasn't around, but it was part of the theatre ritual for actors and their audience back in the days a box of Black Magic (or something special from dedicated chocolate box shops) was de rigueur and even Londoners wore suits for the theatre.
As far as I'm aware, it's never descended to a carvery. It might have done the beef trolley thing though at some point in the past century
Neither. Though it's been around a while, it morphs every decade.
The Ivy currently sells comfort food to celebrity-gawpers, and to people you've never heard of but who the tabloids think are worth talking about. Footballers' floozies, panellists on Strictly Come Dancing and similar pond life.
Before it started treading the path to perdition, the Ivy sold well-cooked comfort food to anyone in the neighbourhood. Before that: well, even I wasn't around, but it was part of the theatre ritual for actors and their audience back in the days a box of Black Magic (or something special from dedicated chocolate box shops) was de rigueur and even Londoners wore suits for the theatre.
As far as I'm aware, it's never descended to a carvery. It might have done the beef trolley thing though at some point in the past century
Oct 18th, 2011, 04:52 AM
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I'm so grateful for all of your replies!
Flanneruk - I think you have a good idea with the "comfort food" concept. I think that's probably what my husband is looking for anyway, he's always been a meat and potatoes kind of guy. He remembers the carvery from years ago when he visted a family friend in Birmingham and I think even without finding a specific "carvery" we won't have trouble finding a good "comfort food" type meal with a little research.
Thanks for all of your help!
Flanneruk - I think you have a good idea with the "comfort food" concept. I think that's probably what my husband is looking for anyway, he's always been a meat and potatoes kind of guy. He remembers the carvery from years ago when he visted a family friend in Birmingham and I think even without finding a specific "carvery" we won't have trouble finding a good "comfort food" type meal with a little research.
Thanks for all of your help!
Oct 18th, 2011, 06:47 AM
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Hi LNWC
You are probably best searching for a pub/restaurant which does a really good Sunday roast, which sounds like the sort of thing your husband would like (proper meat and potatoes). Just google "best sunday roast london" and I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions. Prices usually start from about £12 for a good non-chain pub.
A recommendation from my colleague:
http://www.thecrownandtwochairmenw1.co.uk/food/
You are probably best searching for a pub/restaurant which does a really good Sunday roast, which sounds like the sort of thing your husband would like (proper meat and potatoes). Just google "best sunday roast london" and I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions. Prices usually start from about £12 for a good non-chain pub.
A recommendation from my colleague:
http://www.thecrownandtwochairmenw1.co.uk/food/
