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Best restaurants these days in London?
I'll be visiting London for the first time next week and am a serious foodie. Unfortunately, my husband is not. He loves great food but blanches at high prices and snooty service. We usually compromise and go to my kind of places half the time and then find less formal places for him. It works out very well. I don't know London at all and would love to hear which places are rated highest these days by gourmets, and which still have fantastic, innovative food and great ambiance, but don't break the bank.
Thanks so much! Teresa |
Clearly this will be your first visit to London. You said:
"which places are rated highest these days by gourmets, and which still have fantastic, innovative food and great ambiance, but don't break the bank." Unless you feel at least several hundred dollars for a meal for two is NOT breaking the bank, you can't have both of the above. If you are looking for some "nice" places with good food -- but not top notch places that will cost between $100 and $200 for two, let us know. |
Hi Teresa, can you give us an idea how much you would like to spend per meal for the 2 of you?
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Hi Teresa
I can't claim to be a gourmand but, like you, my boyfriend and I love great food reasonably priced, and, like your husband, can't stomach bad attitude! My favourite place is J Sheekey for top-quality fish and seafood in a super-central (Leicester Sq tube)location and really relaxed atmosphere that's posh enough for a special occasion and to justify the once-a-month price tag! Other good fishy places are Livebait and Fish. For something a bit different and a really friendly fun vibe is Sabor, a tres modern and chic Latin-Am restaurant on Essex Road (nearest tube is Angel). Nearby just off busy Upper St on Theberton St. is a modern 'proper' Italian called Metrogusto where we took my boyf's picky parents and they loved it! I'm a veggie (or pescie!) and a great place for proper veggie food - i.e. not vegeterian versions of meat dishes - is Carnivale a beautiful tiny little treasure 5 mins from Old St tube on Whitecross Street. Probably all the above can be found on this website: http://www.london-eating.co.uk/ I've always found it really useful and reliable and it's led me to some gems! I think the key is really to get out of central London and avoid anywhere that looks full of tourists! PS. If you're around on a Fri or Sat and love foodie markets head to Borough Market at London Bridge! Bon appetite! |
We loved Taz when we visited last summer. It's a small chain, several locations in London, of Anatolian food done wonderfully.
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"<i>which places are rated highest these days by gourmets, and which still have fantastic, innovative food and great ambiance, but don't break the bank.</i>"
I'm w/ neopolitan here. You do realize London is one of the most expensive cities and also has some of the best/highest rated restaurants anywhere. Where are you from? Is $50 per person a high end dinner? Or maybe $25. Or are you from a major city where $100-$200+ per person is common for top end meals? There are quite literally hundreds of good, moderately priced restaurants in London. But you ain't gonna' get the highest rated, innovative chefs w/ fab ambience w/o breaking most mortal's bank accounts. What price range are you thinking of? |
I'm the original poster. I'm afraid I wrote a rather confusing first post. I didn't mean that I wanted a restaurant with BOTH gourmet dining and reasonable prices. I meant to request two lists: one list with the top places, if price is not object; and another list of places that have great food at good prices. Sorry to have been so confusing!
Thanks so much for the rec's for Sabor and Taz -- they sound wonderful! Teresa |
See the current Michelin Red Guide to GB for the highest-rated gourmet restaurants (3 or 2 stars).
But you should have booked at least a month ago for the top places like Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road (booking 1 calendar month in advance) or the Fat Duck (booking 2 months in advance). Unless you're staying in one of the top hotels where the concieges seem to be able to fix this sort of thing ? |
One place I like is the GRILL ROOM AT CAFE ROYAL- I can almost guarantee that won't see any tourists here, yet this elegant dining room is one of the most beautiful rococco style restaurants in London, and for a 3 course meal, it's a downright steal, given the quality of food (the word quality, when applied to food in London, is of course always a protean concept). There is an emphasis on very fresh seafood, gourmet mains, great desserts, along with the mirrors, chandeliers, and its faded air of past century grandeur-this place is GREAT.
The Grill Room at the Cafe Royal, very centrally located AT 68 Regent Street. You can get a look at it here: www.viewlondon.co.uk/info_restaurant_2480.html |
I am afraid I cannot help you as a foodie, but for your husband I can copy a recent list from the Independent London newspaper of “Gastropubs”, good pubs which serve inventive and good food. I have also a list of pubs with restaurant areas upstairs where I like the food, and I can copy it to you if you like. Ben Haines, London [email protected] GASTROPUBS and other favourite pubs Fairly often forum readers ask for advice on pubs to visit. On 27 May 2006 the London newspaper the Independent published results of a survey of reader opinion on the best neighbourhood pubs and the best gastro-pubs in London (that is, pubs with lunch and supper at about ten pounds a meal). These notes combine their lists, and place pubs in a sequence, working clockwise around London. Copyright lies with the Independent • The Eagle Often hailed as the “original gastro-pub”, the Eagle in Farringdon steadfastly sticks to its roots of being “a good honest pub” that serves a combination of simple Mediterranean and hearty British cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. A large crowd of regulars won’t hear a word said against the place. Ales are by Charles Wells; there’s also a choice of continental white beers and a good selection of wines. Where: 159 Farringdon Road, Farringdon, EC1R 3AL 020 7837 1353 User reviews http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/review_1113.html http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...le/Clerkenwell • Holly Bush Built in 1643, this is one of the oldest establishments in Hampstead. Snuggle up by the Coffee Bar’s open fire in winter and, when the sun comes out, move outside to the seats on the street. The beer is good, the food is hearty and there are Tuesday night poetry evenings for the culturally-minded, it can be very crowded at the weekends but most don’t seem to mind. Where: 22 Holly Mount, Hampstead, NW3 6SG 020 7435 2892 http://www.pubs.com/pub_details.cfm?ID=197 User reviews http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...Bush/Hampstead http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/info_pubbar_1921.html • Wells Tavern The Wells in Hampstead has won several awards for its cooking, and offers imaginative, seasonal dishes in seductive surroundings A two or three course menu is served in the trio of intimate dining rooms on the first floor and in the spacious ground floor bar and sitting rooms, a shorter, simpler menu is offered featuring salads, salt beef with latkes, sausage & mash and salmon fishcakes, To keep beer drinkers happy there is London Pride real ale, Grolsch and Guinness on draught as well as a frequently-changed guest ale. Where: 30 Well Walk Hampstead, NW3 1BX 020 7794 3785; www.theweljshampsteadcouk User reviews http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...vern/Hampstead http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/user_pub...view_3987.html s• The Flask Known for its real ale, its speciality draft beers and its Sunday roasts, The Flask serves as Highgate’s very own “village pub”. Boasting a large beer garden that heaves with activity during the summer months - especially when serving barbeque food -the pub then transforms into a cosy local with log fires and hearty food over the winter. It’s the perfect place to revive yourself after a long walk on the Heath Where: 77 Highgate West Hill, Highgate, N6 68U 020 8348 7346 User review http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...Flask/Highgate http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/user_pub...view_6563.html • The LockTavern Slightly nervous of the “gastro-pub” name tag, the good people at the Lock in Camden would prefer to hear it described as “a pub that serves really good food”. Relax into a leather chair or sofa and enjoy one of their legendary pies supplied by the Square Pie Company. DJs play at the Lock Tavern Thursday through to Saturday nights and all day Sunday, with mixed sets described by the Lock itself as “generally not playing house music”. Where: 35 Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1 8AJ 020 7482 7163 User reviews http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs..._Tavern/Camden http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/user_pub...view_2282.html • Lord Palmerston How great must it be to have in Tufnell Park a local like this on your doorstep? The decor is simple and functional, the food is consistently good and the atmosphere laid back. The pub consists of the main bar, the Chapel (a converted stable) and the conservatory, which leads out onto a shady garden — and you’re advised to get there early to grab a table as no reservations are taken downstairs in the evenings. The menu is an eclectic mix of modern British food with a Moorish/Mediterranean slant and is revised twice daily. Where: 33 Dartmouth Park Hill, Tufnell Park, NW5 1HU 020 74851578; www.geronimo.inns.co.uk http://www.londontown.com/LondonInfo...lmerston/bd65/ User review http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...Dartmouth_Park http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/user_pub...view_2318.html •The Fox Reformed Described as the essence of Stoke Newington, this long-established and relaxed wine bar offers bistro food at reasonable prices. Opened in 1981, it is the only wine bar on the street and its owners Carole and Robbie Richards are always happy to entertain you over a glass or two of wine. There is a pretty garden, good service and a great atmosphere. Oh, and Edgar Allen Poe went to school on this site before returning to the US. Where: 176 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 OJL 020 7254 5975; http://www.fox-reformed.co.uk/about.html • The Approach Tavern Popular with the Bethmal Green locals, this may not look like anything special from the outside, but inside this handsome dark wood bar is worth checking out. Upstairs there is an art gallery showcasing some great new talent. Food-wise, the menu changes regularly and includes delicacies such as pan-fried red snapper and herb-crusted chicken, which can be washed down with a guest beer or well-chosen wine. It’s comfortable, pretty and well-organised. Where: 47 Approach Road, E2 9LY 020 8980 2321 Bethnal Green tube User reviews http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs.../Bethnal_Green http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/user_pubbar_review_187.html • The Dove The warm and inviting restaurant area of this pub in London Fields is like a rabbit warren with nooks and crannies aplenty, and serves a variety of hearty and nourishing food including fish stews, pies, sausages and mash and Sunday roasts. The bar room features classic dark wood with a hearth, and pew seating where you can settle down to a game of Scrabble while sampling one of their many unusual beers. Where: 24-24 Broadway Market, London Fields E8 4QJ 020 7270 3617 Train from Liverpool Street User reviews http://www.london-eating.co.uk/3731.htm http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/user_pub...view_1162.html • Coach and Horses This is a gastro bar, a pub, and a Greenwich market meeting place with its outside tables adjoining the nearby market stalls. Locals and visitors come for hearty ales, fine wines, a roaring fire and Mediterranean cuisine. If you just want to sit around and read the papers, head for the lounge area and settle in -- although you’ll need to get in early at the weekend. Babies and children are welcome until 9pm. Where: 13 Greenwich Market, SE1O 9HZ 02082930880. Train from Charing Cross User review http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...rses/Greenwich • The Gowlett A Peckham bar serving real ales, organic wines and handmade stone-base pizzas. At first glance you might not expect to find a decent pint here -- there are lots of children (the pub even has a supply of plastic toys), DJs on a Sunday and the aforementioned pizzas. But there are usually three or four ales on tap and lots of organic wines and the style, if a little familiar, has been done well, with its warm wooden panelling. In 2005 the Gowlett won the south east London pub of the year award of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). Tucked away in a back street, this little treasure of a gastro-pub has a pool table, friendly staff, and a convivial atmosphere, making it a secret most locals want to keep. Where: 62 Gowlett Road, Peckham SE15 4HY 020 7635 7048; www.thegowlett.com. Train from Victoria or Blackfriars User review http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...t_Arms/Peckham • Liquorish It’s a simple formula — part diner, part cocktail bar and some decks at the back for the late night music vibe. Regularly packed out, this place in East Dulwich welcomes babies and children at lunchtime and has a selection of board games for lazy Sunday mornings when you may not feel up to a conversation. It specialises in cocktails — try the Honey Pie or English Summer. The menu is short but interesting and well-produced. Where: 123 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, SE22 8HU 020 8693 7744: www.liquorish.com. Train from London Bridge User review http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...h/East_Dulwich • The Palmerston Worth a trip to Dulwich for the interior alone, the Palmerston boasts wood panelling, wonderful fireplaces, and an 1865 mosaic floor. The menu is classic gastro-pub with Sunday lunches that are great value, but because of this it can get very busy, so it’s wise to book well in advance to guarantee yourself a table. However, there’s more to this place than the great food and the decor - it’s still essentially a local with interesting wines and three real ales on tap. Where: 91 Lordship Lane, Dulwich, SE22 8EP 020 8693 1629. Train from London Bridge User reviews http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...n/East_Dulwich http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/user_pub...view_6288.html • Cooper’s Arms Bar This is the perfect Chelsea pub to spend the afternoon in. The bar extends right into the middle of the room, so there is plenty of space to sit, and it really is a pub used by its locals. Arrive early and bag a place by the fire with a: pile of papers, or sit by the old grandfather dock and gaze at the vintage travel posters decorating the walls. The wine list is short but well-chosen and the pub serves Young’sAles and Hoegaarden on tap. Where: 87 Flood Street, Chelsea, SW3 518 0871 426 3206. Bus from Sloane Square User review http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...s_Arms/Chelsea • Anglesea Arms An ale drinker’s paradise, the Anglesea in South Kensington serves Hogs Back Brewery TEA, London Pride Adnams, Adnams Broadside, Young’s and Barnsley Red Heart. The wine list is also extensive, and the food happily lives up to the same standards. Where: 15 Setwood Terrace, South Kensington, SW7 3QG 020 7373 7960 http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/review_1780.html User reviews http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...a_Arms/Chelsea http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/user_pubbar_review_180.html • The Builders Arms One of those pubs that is tucked away in a Kensington back street, the Builders Arms is hard to find unless you know about it -- which can be a great advantage. There is a room upstairs that can be hired for private parties and a small garden outside. If you like good beer in charming surroundings with a group of like-minded people, hunt this place out. Where: 1 Kensington Court Place, W8 SBJ 020 7795 4810. High Street Kensington tube http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...rms/Kensington user review http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/user_pubbar_review_573.html • The Idle Hour The Idle Hour is a modern and stylish gastro bar right by Putney Bridge. Lots of organic food and wine and cocktails are served in a room with exposed brick walls, candles and fresh flowers, frequented by a crowd of 30-something’s. If you want to sit outside, get there early as there are only four tables in the patio area. Where: 22 Putney High Street, SW15 ISL 020 8789 5995. Putney Bridge tube User reviews http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...le_Hour/Putney http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/user_pub...view_6552.html • Old Ship Perfect for warm summer evenings, the Old Ship in Hammersmith has an upstairs balcony and a ground floor terrace where you can enjoy stunning views of the Thames. It offers “fast bar food”, a sought-after Sunday roast and seasonal ales all served by friendly staff. Where: 25 Upper Mall, Hammersmith W6 9TD 020 8748 2593; User reviews http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...ip/Hammersmith http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/user_pub...view_6509.html • Ginglik A member’s club by Shepherd’s Bush Green, this fine establishment used to be a public lavatory. Its friendly staff, relaxed vibe and cutting-edge music are helping to spread the reputation of this welcoming watering hole. The walls are decorated by local artists and on Tuesdays it is transformed into an award-winning comedy club, Where: 1 Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 020 8749 2310 User reviews http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...Shepherds_Bush http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/user_pub...view_6295.html |
Ben Haines, thank you for the two websites. Always a treat when you participate.
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I have the same problem with my husband. We are headed to London in August so I bought the 2006 Zagat Guide.
It lists dozens of restaurants alphabetically & gives you an idea of the quality & cost of each. It also includes comments from diners. The Zagat guide also lists the restaurants by location, so if you're taking a flight on the London Eye you can find a place close by. My husband didn't think we should bother with the Zagat Guide, but London was just rated the most expensive city in the world, so now he sees the value of the guide in choosing a place with good value for the money. It's also really portable, so you can take it along in your purse/day-bag. It's hard to remember all these recommendations when you're on the go! There are restaurants with "Prix Fix" menues so that helps with cost. You can also try ordering off the appetizer menu (tapas style), and sharing an entree. I think the variety of London is so great that you can find good places to dine without going overboard. |
travelinsue -- the Zagut's is OK but you might want to get a copy of Harden's. Tends to have more realistic descriptions.
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I second the recommendations for Taz. And if you are a serious foodie, probably the very best advice you will get is to go the Borough Market at London Bridge. I'm not sure you understand that a "top notch" meal in London is going to cost you in the neighborhood of $300 for two.
The worst of it is that, when you try to economize a bit, a $150-200 dinner is usually not very memorable (except for the tab). My advice is to haunt the quality food shops to satisfy your foodie-ness but enjoy sitdown meals with your husband at funky restaurants with authentic ethnic cuisine at cheap to reasonable prices. I did very well with Time Out's Cheap Eats guide. (Was I just lucky?) |
PS: I ate at several gastropubs the last time I was in London, including the Wells, and I have to say that while the food was decent, it basically was unexciting and it wasn't cheap -- unless you consider $28 dollars for pasta with tomato and basil a cheap lunch (and after a few days in London, you might).
The gastropubs I was in had fairly safe menus of standard European choices -- fine if you don't mind salmon, mussels, fennel sausage, lamb chops, etc. But you probably cook the same for yourself at home. (I do.) Much more interesting (and usually lower priced) was the Brazilian, Indian, Turkish, Chinese and other ethnic fare I found in less tony places. |
Oh -- and one more thing! None of the Hampstead gastropubs mentioned in Ben Haines list are air-conditioned, and if the weather gets hot, those quaint old buildings with their low ceilings and tiny windows are like ovens.
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You might appreciate this article about London's hottest new chefs:
http://www.timeout.com/london/restau...rticleAfterMpu |
Thanks everyone for all the information!
I do have a Zagat's, which is a great starting point, but I don't always agree with their reviews, and find them rarely to be up to the minute with the most interesting places. Always best to get a first hand recommendations from Fodorites! Also, I do realize how expensive London is; I live in Washington DC where fine dining can also reach about $300, and travel extensively, so the prices will not shock me (my husband is a different story). The time out article is so helpful, thank you! One more question: I adore Indian food and am torn among these choices: Amaya, Cinnamon Palace (although the decor looks underwhelming), and Rasoi Vineet Bhatia. Any suggestions? Teresa |
"a "top notch" meal in London is going to cost you in the neighborhood of $300 for two"
That should be £300 for two in my experience. |
Amaya's good but my favorite Indian restaurant is Shezan in Knightsbridge.
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Scott's Seafood on Mount Street in Mayfair. If you've never had Dover sole, try it there.
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Thank you Ben Haines for that list! The Anglesea Arms in South Kensington would be great on a sunny day, sitting outside. I haven't been there for many many years, so don't know the food; will try it.
If you don't mind me adding to your post tmemedia; I was thinking of trying the Wolseley when I'm in London in August; have not been yet. Any comment on food quality? |
Caroline,
I don't disbelieve you - even though I've no personal experience with £300 dinners for two in London. I was going to up the price estimate in my initial post, but then I figured if people rigoursly stick to the 2-course menu of the day and pass on the £60 bottle of wine (just get the £11 glass of it!), they could squeak by with £150 for two in some much-talked about gastrodomes (if not Sketch). |
You could get a top-notch 3-course meal at Gordon Ramsey's at the Claridge for approximately $300USD (two glasses of wine). This also included 3 additional complimentary dishes from the chef. The food is execellent, the decor beautiful...the only thing that we felt was lacking was the ambiance -- too quiet, a little music would have been nice.
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nessundorma: we probably just drink more than you ! I've several times, even in Edinburgh, paid £60 or more pp for food (especially for a tasting menu) and then at least the same again on wine (not the most expensive, but plenty of it :-) )
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caroline,
It is hard for me, psychologically, to pay that kind of money for food. The issue for me isn't moral in any way at all and I don't think twice about other people doing it, anymore than I would sit still for a lecture about the way I spend money on renting upscale cars when traveling. It's just the legacy of not having much money was I was young and part of the fun of eating well was finding the cheap spot with the knockout, flavorful food. I think I do an "exchange rate" in my own head about what $600 is worth to me. I'd rather put $500 in the stock market and take the remainder and enjoy grilled sardines at Tas with a cheap red wine! seetheworld, For the kind of money some people are spending at Gordon Ramsay's, I'm surprised they don't ask the waiters to not only sing but dance for them. |
While it's not haute cuisine, we loved our dinner at Vama, a high-end Indian restaurant on King's Road in Chelsea.
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nessundorma : I do understand what you mean - each of us spends on what's important to us. Eating & drinking is actually our main interest - possibly sadly ! Of course we don't pay these sorts of prices all the time, only occasionally. In Edinburgh we've just paid that much to go to Martin Wishart for anniversaries, & we think it's worth it (and once at Number One, which wasn't). We've been to Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road and that was the main purpose of that weekend in London; but we saved money by staying at the Chelsea Arts Club (non en suite rooms, shock horror !). During a recent week in Naples, we lived on pizza.
OTOH we have no kids, I've never had a car... each to his or her own. |
The Wolseley is a place to go to see and be seen-not for its food. My two dinner companions, who are not complainers about food at all, and will eat almost anything, absolutely could not eat their steak-it was that inedibly tough. On the other hand, my pasta dish was fine, and the desserts were great-but a temple of high gastronomy-or even of very good food- it is not.
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Spygirl, I thought you said in previous posts you were only there once shortly after it opened...have you been back more recently?
I've been to the Wolseley many times, most recently about three weeks ago and it has always been fine. It's not a gastronomic temple, but the food is good (and well reviewed on the 2006 editions of both Hardens and Zagats), the vibe is excellent and the service has always been very good (at least to me...the last time I was there the manager and I talked about the possibility of adding pumpkin oil to the salad dressing, as we both love Austrian food. Austrian cuisine has had a heavy influence on the Wolseley's menu...one of the few places in London with a good selection of Austrian wines available by glass or bottle). Great pastries, again Austrian influenced. If you go, it's best to sit in the "inner horseshoe", that's where all the action is. When full (which is most of the time) it can be quite loud due to the building's acoustics. It's NOT the place to whisper sweet nothings to your dining companion! |
We had two wonderful breakfasts at the Wolseley.
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£300 for two at Gordon Ramsay's ? I think I'll have two return tickets to Naples for the Pizza instead :-)
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Funny story about the Wolseley. In June, we made a reservation for late supper after seeing Mack and Mabel at the nearby Criterion Theatre. We arrived. It was indeed jam-packed and very noisy -- but that's fine for us. The host took us aside and said they had a problem. Seems their gas had just been turned off. They doubted it would get turned back on that night. So they couldn't offer any food except some salads and desserts. We left. So we still haven't eaten there.
By the way, we decided to go try to get into Langan's Brasserie near by, and were successful -- but it too was jammed and noisy. Had a really good meal there, as we always do. |
>>You could get a top-notch 3-course meal at Gordon Ramsey's at the Claridge for approximately $300USD (two glasses of wine). This also included 3 additional complimentary dishes from the chef. The food is execellent, the decor beautiful...the only thing that we felt was lacking was the ambiance -- too quiet, a little music would have been nice.>>
Thanks for the rec! I didn't think I'd get lucky, but I went ahead and emailed the restaurant and have gotten a seating on Sunday at 7:30! I'm really looking forward to it, since the Gordon Ramsey Royal Hospital Road is closed until Sept. I'll report back on my experience. Thanks for the heads up on the Wolseley, it was one of the places on my list. We'll definitely try some of the gastropubs on Ben's list as well. Teresa |
as others have stated, it takes a lot of £ to have a top notch meal in london. of course, london has some of the best restaurants in the world but they come at a price. if you are a "serious foodie" then i think you might be disappointed in some of the midrange offerings. i love food but i would not classify myself as a "serious foodie", even as such, i have to adjust my expectations in london (i live there btw). The following comments do NOT apply to top priced restaurants but for places that would be under say £120 for two.
the much hyped ethnic foods are good (i enjoy as much as i can in this regard), however, they often fall short of the quality that you get in other cities. for example, the good chinese restaurant in london's chinatown is an exception, not the rule (and i know no GREAT ones). of course, curry is a big part of the story but the vast majority is just used as "fun food". restaurants know this and therefore, probably 99% gear themselves for anglo fun food seekers rather than indian or bangladeshi clientele...or "serious" anglos for that matter. there are some good vietnamese places in hackney. however, if you are from the US, it is likely that you can find better at your odd random vietnamese restaurant. i've found better in texas, for example. of course, there are many other ethnic choices such as the often mentioned TAS. honestly, i don't think this would impress a "serious foodie". it is OK and i have even recommended it here but even serious foodies used to finding cheap gems around the world would be disappointed. most people go there and enjoy the food and atmosphere but don't find the food anything special. the same goes for the persian and lebanese restaurants...good but probably not impressive to a "serious foodie". there are virtually no great italian restaurants that i would consider to be in the affordable category. i have recommended many restaurants over the years here so i'm not saying that there are no good places to eat in london. i'm just saying that a "serious foodie" with a mortal budget would most likely be disappointed with london's choices as compared to other cities where with a little hunting around, one can often find incredible (but simple) food for not very much money. |
I don't why you think big bucks is a requirement to be a serious foodie. Many chefs go to open-air markets/stalls and eat at homey, out-of-the-way restaurants. Great food isn't dependent on designer lighting and an in-house PR person.
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tmemedia, I hope that thanks for the "heads up" on The Wolesley didn't relate to my post. I didn't mean it as any kind of heads up. It was a fluke -- just something that happened that night. I still want to go there.
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Willit, there's a difference between 300£ and $300USD! Although I will say that most people around us had two or three bottles of wine, where we only had two glasses! So I'm sure there were some who did spend beyond 300£, just not us, lol. :D
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i agree, burqa. my only point was the the " homey, out-of-the-way restaurants" in london are not as good as i have experienced around the world. i have found delicious, very cheap gems all over the world but they are much fewer and farther between in london as compared to many other major cities. this, of course, is just my opinion. there is great choice but not great quality.
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caroline:
I don't have any kids either and my spending weakness is 5 times more house than other people think is appropriate for a couple to own, but I get my exercise walking up and down stairs. :-D (Did I mention I have no trouble with what foodies spend on food when they take me to dinner?) walkinaround, I agree with you totally that a "serious foodie" will most likely be disappointed with london's choices as compared to other cities, including the ethnic choices. But where I live (New York) we have a gap in some cuisines -- and earthy Turkish is one of them, which is partly why Tas turned into a favorite of mine. Also, we tend not to have the range of variety of Arab dishes one finds in London, and while I've had excellent Indian food in NYC (and better in New Jersey), you have to be precise in where you go for it, wheras I've just stumbled across it more than once in London. Sooner than spend 600USD for a dinner in London, I'd hop on a train in Victor and go to Belgium, have dinner and spend the night in a sweet hotel -- and probably still come out ahead. (Or easy jet to Napoli for a dinner plus a view of Vesuvius from my hotel window). |
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