First a big thanks to those who helped me with my request regarding boat trips in London. Now on to food! <BR> <BR>We're staying in Bloomsbury and, because of the conference we are attending at the Univ. of London, will probably not range far. What would be your recommendations within a couple of blocks of Russell Square/British Museum? We do know about The Museumstreet Cafe. [We ate there a few years ago and liked it a lot!] We also know about Wagamama if that's the name. We like tasty food well-prepared in the mid-range price-wise. So wise fodorites -- can you help us?

<BR>hiya!! <BR> <BR>i have the names of a few resturants i have eaten at in bloomsbury... sorry, no addresses to go along with them..my files are not with me. <BR> <BR>they are all within easy walk of the british museum.. and moderately priced. <BR> <BR>the lamb..pub food <BR>new rhodes cafe.. greek <BR>malabar junction..indian <BR>queen charlotte.. pub <BR>denises... french <BR> <BR>there is a lovely italian resturant close by as well..but the name escapes me this morning. <BR> <BR>i will post addresses for you when i get them <BR> <BR>enjoy your trip to london. <BR> <BR>lisa <BR> <BR>

Thanks lisa! I'll look forward to your comments too

you are staying in a great area for cheap eats! Recently returned from a London visit and stayed at Radisson edwardian kenilworth right by the british musuem. There is a fish and hips place right there called North Sea, greasy but great! You will find many plaes around university to eat. All are moderately priced for college students but no names stick out in my mind, sorry. we did have some terrific chinese food though one night.

Man oh man I do love those fish and hips...I used to like fish and chips but when they started using hips it made the dish so much better. I prefer the slim hips myself, but some folks like the fatter hips.

Hi Sally, I agree with Lisa about Denises, it was one of our culinary highlights in London in Feb....we had their special which was very good. My husband had the creme brulee(he ADORES it)....it was located 4 blocks from Russell Square on Southhampton. Did not do Waga, but should have. <BR>Have fun and good eating! Judy

I've eaten at Wagamama and enjoyed it very much. Tables are cafeteria-style, so it's more of a communal vibe, and the food is good too. Belgo Centraal in Covent Garden has a similar seating arrangement; the food is okay IMO but the HUGE list of beers (they have a separate menu for them!) more than makes up for it.

My husband also liked Denise's, where he went to drown his sorrows in food while a friend and I saw Mama Mia. It's on Southampton Row, west side of street, between Russell St. and Russell Sq., next to Bedford Hotel.

Hi Sally, forgot to mention how much we loved Pizza Express(near British Museum)! We got into London on Val. day and knew restaurants would be crowded, headed for Pizza Express and did not have long to wait. Delish pizzas, and I LOVE pizza. Judy

hiya!!!! <BR> <BR>i found some of the resturants i was looking for... they are as follows: <BR> <BR>konaki- greek <BR>5 coptic street <BR> <BR>malabar junction-indian <BR> <BR>queens larder-british <BR>1 queens square <BR> <BR>the plough-pub <BR>27 museum street <BR> <BR>denises-french <BR>79 southampton row <BR> <BR>dionysus-greek <BR>3-5 oxford street <BR> <BR>and the lamb is a fun pub to go into.. no food.. but good atmoshere. <BR>94 lambs conduit. <BR> <BR>there is also a place called garfunkels on oxford street..a chain i think... dont bother!!!! the food was dreadful. <BR> <BR>enjoy your trip to london!! <BR> <BR>lisa <BR> <BR>

Thanks for your suggestions! I've filed the thread for the trip. <BR>Re: North Sea -- it gets recommended as being one of the best fish and "hips" in London -- greasy? Or are all F&C greasy by definition? <BR> <BR>Can you believe I first ate at that Pizza Express on Coptic St. in the early 70s? <BR> <BR>Denises' sounds great! Any good italian in the area?

Hi, Sally <BR>We really like Dionysis on oxford. Try the spicy meatballs and sausages!!! My husband would probably drive the 7 hours to Chicago just to pick up any you brought back!!! I have eaten there many times and always had great food. <BR>We have been to the North Sea several times and never encountered greasy food. <BR>My favorite there is the grilled salmon or scallops. Sometimes it is very busy and reservations are a good idea. <BR>Have a wonderful trip! <BR>Gloria

Fodors <BR> <BR>Here are further thoughts. All are lower mid-range except MacMillans, the student refectory at SOAS, and Birkbeck College, which are cheap. <BR>At lunchtime any weekday, <BR>- the dining room of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), north west <BR>corner of Russell Square. Go to basement level and the dining room is <BR>straight ahead. The dining room now offers no tap water. <BR>- the upper central refectory in the main building of University College <BR>London. Nearest tube Euston Square. <BR>-one of the range of restaurants <BR>along Lambs Conduit Street, 400 yards east of Russell Square. These include The Lamb oub, already mentioned, which does weekday lunches <BR>- the self-service restaurant at MacMillans, ground floor, Senate House, <BR>west side of Russell Square, <BR>- the student refectory just beyond th SOAS dining room. Especially good at <BR>Mexican and Asian cuisines. <BR> <BR>- for weekday lunch and supper (to 7.30) the Senior Common Room, fifth floor, <BR>Birkbeck College, Malet Street, north east of Russell Square <BR> <BR>- for Indian meals at any time the Bengali restaurants on Drummond Street, just west of Euston main line station. <BR> <BR>Please write if I can help further. Welcome to London. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines <BR>

Thanks Ben! I imagine I will be exploring some of the student "haunts" as we will be with young balkan friends at this conference. I think you and I probably mean something different by "mid-price" though For me that means up to $50. USD for two, a glass of wine apiece included. I'm not looking for "cheap and filling" [and my apologies if your suggestions don't fall into that category], but for a little "chic" and good taste at [my idea] of a moderate price. But in London that may be a problematic as the chic little hotel for less than $100. USD. *SIGH*

What hotel are you staying in? Since I always thought I'd like to stay in Bersoly's in Paris, I figure we have similar tastes..so what's the good word about your London choice?

Just back from London last month, and enjoyed a couple of the places already mentioned. Also liked Amalfi (Italian), at 29 Old Compton Street W1V (Soho) Tel: 020 7 437 7284 <BR>Tube: Tottenham Court Rd <BR> <BR>and Townhouse Brasserie (French/Italian/Asian-influenced, with live jazz on Firday evenings) at 24 Coptic Street, WC1A 1NT <BR>Tel: +44 (0)20 7636 2731 <BR>

Besides the others already mentioned, there are a couple of Italian food restaurants in the the area that I like. I have forgotten the name of it, but there is one right next to the Russell Square tube station, but I do remember it was very good, at a good price. But my favorite is The Spageheti House, which is about 4 or 5 blocks from Russell Square & the Hotel Russell. It has an outdoor eating area. & the number of times we have been there, it appears to have been populated by many locals - the waiters are excellent & entertaining also. <BR>At the Russell Hotel there is the Virginia Woolf restaurant, which has decent casual dining.

Upsie-daisy

Yes, Denise's is great, but there is an Italian restaurant directly across the road from it (can't remember name) that is excellent. They have a small non-smoking section, and if you reserve, ask for the small table in the window. Great for people watching.(you can tell which of the men are Brits, their shoes are always highly polished -most of them anyway!) <BR> <BR>There are also two great deli restaurants one on either side of the Bloomsbury hotel =- super sandwiches. We did take-away a couple of times and ate in our room. With a bottle of wine we had a super dinner! <BR>

As I was rereading this thread prior to our departure on Monday I caught that I had not answered the question about hotels that carol asked. <BR> <BR>We're staying at St. Margarets on Bedford Place. It is a very simple, functional, threadbare but VERY clean hotel run by the same Italian family for the past 45 years for the Duke of Bedford who owns it. We got a double with facilities down the hall. We've stayed there before and actually the "down the hall" is better than that "plastic contraption in the corner." Bersoly's it's NOT -- but the price is right -- it's well run and it's just around the corner from the conference at the uni. <BR> <BR>The place we stayed at and adored in March 2000 was the Colonnade Town House Hotel -- it's pricey -- the cheapest rooms are $166. according to their website, but it is EXQUISITE. Penhaglion toiletries and a "house cat" named Mouse It is in sight of the Warwick tube stop and in the Maida Vale area -- nice little restaurants -- very upscale neighborhood -- including the houseboats Website is: http://www.etontownhouse.com/colonnade.html