good for eats and drinks besides the Thames?
Jun 21st, 2015, 04:31 AM
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good for eats and drinks besides the Thames?
For Dad's day, my daughters have treated me to an "on off" river cruise trip which we will use on our annual trip to Wimbledon for the tennis. Anyone recommend somewhere to eat and drink besides the Thames? Apparently, Somerset House has a nice courtyard with a Café that overlooks the river - is this a good choice for lunch?
Jun 21st, 2015, 04:02 PM
#2
There are several places to eat in Somerset House. Tom's Kitchen -- very good food by a michelin starred (not for this venue) chef - bookings recommended. He also has an outdoor (but covered) terrace over looking the river.
Then the Courtauld has a cafe. A couple of other cafes/bars. A new one I haven't been is Spring - the menu looks quite good but on the pricey side for lunch. May try it when I visit in August.
Then the Courtauld has a cafe. A couple of other cafes/bars. A new one I haven't been is Spring - the menu looks quite good but on the pricey side for lunch. May try it when I visit in August.
Jun 21st, 2015, 09:27 PM
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The only part of the Somerset House complex you could call "by the river" is Tom's Terrace (http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/plan...g/toms-terrace) - and even that's got a four lane highway between it and the river: you're well above he road, and it's not really noisy, but it's certainly not waterside.
As far as I'm aware, there are no river views from any other SH eating places, though it's a very pleasant place. There might be a couple of tables in Tom's Kitchen you can just about see the river from, but from memory that was possible only when standing up.
On the north bank in Central London, the only alternative is likely to be Northbank at Blackfriars. High Timber at Blackfriars has good river views, but it's as far from most people's idea of a riverside restaurant (or an affordable lunchtime treat) as it's possible to conceive. Some reviews of the Perkin Reveller (riverside by the Tower) sound promising, but any "modern day dining hall" calling itself "a fantastic restaurant experience" strikes me as potentially horrible, and I've never bothered checking whether my prejudices as well founded.
There's a wider choice on the south bank. The Blueprint Cafe has good river views and the most common solution people I know choose to questions like yours. There are a number of places inside complexes like the Shard, the OXO Tower and riverside at Sea Containers House. The Skylon at the South Bank Centre often gets good food ratings and has good river views: but, for all its fashionable minimalism, it still always reminds me of a tarted-up cafeteria in a 1950s Woolworths.
There's a cluster of free standing riverside-ish restaurants round the south end of Tower Bridge: Pont de La Tour is the other usual answer to your question, though I've never liked it. Butler's Wharf Chop House and Gaucho are a bit serious about large slabs of red meat.
The Swan restaurant inside the Globe has good river views, as does Level 7 at Tate Modern and many tables at Wahaca Southbank by the National Theatre (which would be my choice, but not everyone's). The buzz at most of the other river view eating places around the National Theatre and NFT may be a bit more intense than some people's idea of a weekend lunch.
As far as I'm aware, there are no river views from any other SH eating places, though it's a very pleasant place. There might be a couple of tables in Tom's Kitchen you can just about see the river from, but from memory that was possible only when standing up.
On the north bank in Central London, the only alternative is likely to be Northbank at Blackfriars. High Timber at Blackfriars has good river views, but it's as far from most people's idea of a riverside restaurant (or an affordable lunchtime treat) as it's possible to conceive. Some reviews of the Perkin Reveller (riverside by the Tower) sound promising, but any "modern day dining hall" calling itself "a fantastic restaurant experience" strikes me as potentially horrible, and I've never bothered checking whether my prejudices as well founded.
There's a wider choice on the south bank. The Blueprint Cafe has good river views and the most common solution people I know choose to questions like yours. There are a number of places inside complexes like the Shard, the OXO Tower and riverside at Sea Containers House. The Skylon at the South Bank Centre often gets good food ratings and has good river views: but, for all its fashionable minimalism, it still always reminds me of a tarted-up cafeteria in a 1950s Woolworths.
There's a cluster of free standing riverside-ish restaurants round the south end of Tower Bridge: Pont de La Tour is the other usual answer to your question, though I've never liked it. Butler's Wharf Chop House and Gaucho are a bit serious about large slabs of red meat.
The Swan restaurant inside the Globe has good river views, as does Level 7 at Tate Modern and many tables at Wahaca Southbank by the National Theatre (which would be my choice, but not everyone's). The buzz at most of the other river view eating places around the National Theatre and NFT may be a bit more intense than some people's idea of a weekend lunch.
Jun 22nd, 2015, 12:50 AM
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Thank you so much you two, fabulous advice, as always, and will hope to report back my experience. I have also been following the discussion on Indian and Mediterranean places to eat and got some good advice from there. Thank you again.
Steve
Steve
Jun 22nd, 2015, 06:10 AM
#5
The Swan at the Globe is a good choice for lunch as flanner says, but I always think that the food and atmosphere is a bit "cafeteria" style-good but not outstanding. You need to ask for an outside table on arrival, weather permitting, to get a better experience. There are only a few tables in the Globe Yard, so get there early.
On the other hand the Pont de la Tour is very good and has excellent food and ambience. We always have Sunday lunch there when in London, but again you need to reserve an outside table. Pricier but worth it.
On the other hand the Pont de la Tour is very good and has excellent food and ambience. We always have Sunday lunch there when in London, but again you need to reserve an outside table. Pricier but worth it.
Jun 22nd, 2015, 06:29 AM
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Many of the eateries along Shad Thames (the Butlers Wharf complex) have outside terraces overlooking the river and Tower Bridge. It's one of the best views (at ground level) in London. I always recommend the Chop House bar rather than the restaurant proper because it does a lighter and cheaper menu (used to be 3 courses for £15 in the evenings), and a decent brunch at the weekends, sometimes with a cocktail thrown in. That said, I have not been since the Conran days so whether the quality has been maintained, I couldn't be certain.
Jun 22nd, 2015, 07:24 AM
#8
Are you looking for a waterside place? Or just someplace near the River. I responded specifically re restaurants in Somerset House.
If you want a riverside terrace/wide river views, Somerset House wouldn't be my choice, but it is next to the river and there are good meals to be had.
If you want a riverside terrace/wide river views, Somerset House wouldn't be my choice, but it is next to the river and there are good meals to be had.
Jun 22nd, 2015, 08:26 AM
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Thanks All. Hi Janisj, regardless of whether I can see the river, I might just try out your suggestions at some point, so thank you so much. Just read about some pubs in Hammersmith - Blue Anchor, The Dove, and The River Cafe - can anyone recommend these? I am not sure whether my on/off boat trip goes as far as Hammersmith.
Jul 9th, 2015, 03:05 AM
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Thanks for your information and I thought I would give some feedback.
The river trip made it difficult to stop at the various pubs we saw en route but I made a note for later. The ones noted:
Prospect of Whitby
Captain Kidd
The Grapes
the Angel
t'other side ..... Mayflower.
The Saturday we arrived in London was glorious so we got the Tube and walked to the Dove and then the Blue Anchor. It was there that two unsuspecting locals picked us up and insisted on getting us drunk in the Crabtree. From what I remember it was all very nice; shame about the tennis ... very one sided affairs (but looked good on paper)Kyrgios v Gasquet; Berdych v Simon.
The river trip made it difficult to stop at the various pubs we saw en route but I made a note for later. The ones noted:
Prospect of Whitby
Captain Kidd
The Grapes
the Angel
t'other side ..... Mayflower.
The Saturday we arrived in London was glorious so we got the Tube and walked to the Dove and then the Blue Anchor. It was there that two unsuspecting locals picked us up and insisted on getting us drunk in the Crabtree. From what I remember it was all very nice; shame about the tennis ... very one sided affairs (but looked good on paper)Kyrgios v Gasquet; Berdych v Simon.
Jul 9th, 2015, 08:04 AM
#12
Over several years I've been to all 5 on your list -- a couple more than once. All definitely worth a look see.
>>It was there that two unsuspecting locals picked us up and insisted on getting us drunk in the Crabtree<<
We need a trip report
>>It was there that two unsuspecting locals picked us up and insisted on getting us drunk in the Crabtree<<
We need a trip report
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