donnaS, there are Pizza Express everywhere.

I also like Prezzo:
http://www.prezzoplc.co.uk/locations.html#london

Any suggestions on good value cafes with great coffee would also be helpful. Cafe Nero is usually where I head to when I come there. Hold the cinammon - I'm not American. Any new tips. Thanks

"Hold the cinammon - I'm not American."

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I've had a couple thousand coffees in London I suppose, and I've never even heard of cinnamon in one of them? For that matter, not in the US either -- unless it's something you might add on your own at the counter afterwards.

I like Pret and Manger even more than Nero now that Pret has added an offer for each of their coffee drinks to be a "strong" with an extra shot of espresso. And I could become addicted to their hot cheese/ham/tomato croissants.

Will try Pret a Manger again - did so a few years back - I am sorry that cinammon and a diversion to coffee seems to have brought exhaustion to this thread NeoPatrick.

It is very clear that our experiences of American coffee culture are somewhat different.

I can confirm that nobody, repeat nobody has ever placed cinammon on the top of a capuccino in London or Sydney and I want to make absolutely b sure they never do.

Any coffee in cafe suggestions in London greatly appreciated and particularly those who roast their own beans.

....well there's always starbucks all over the place.

Yes, I was amazed how many Starbucks have appeared in London in the past two years. They're everywhere! And suddenly I think I may know where the above cinnamon comments came from. At holidays I think Starbucks does do cinnamon on their "pumpkin lattes" or similar, and maybe something on their sweet Christmas drinks as well. I forgot about that. Just the thought that generally Americans put cinnamon on their coffee or cappucinos really threw me for a loop, though.

Masala Zone has already been mentioned for good cheap curries. The restaurants are modern and hip.

I also like Govindas on Soho St. It's a vegetarian restaurant run by Hari krishnas so no alcohol (automatically keeps the bill down! ;) )

Simply Food by M&S plus a good chippy or two rounds out my cheap eats in London!

Specialty coffee places (like Starbucks) in the U.S. often have shakers of things like cinnamon and nutmeg out on the counter (next to the milk and cream and sugar, etc.) for customers to add as they'd like. These shops typically sell lots of things other than coffee, specifically hot chocolate or cold chocolate ice-sorts of things, and some customers will sprinkle one or both of these on them. The combination of chocolate with cinnamon is especially common (Mexican hot chocolate is made with cinnamon), and you can also punch up the flavor of your chai (Indian-spiced sweet milky tea, served both hot and cold here). Some people may put them in coffee, but it's by no means common or expected.

I dined tonight at the Pizza Express in Soho on Greek street after seeing Jersey boys. It was excellent. The pizza was under 10 pounds and I had the baby figs in marscapone cheese dessert which came with my choice of coffee (decaf cappucino) for 3.20 pounds. The marscapone was divine.

I think there are tons of inexpensive places to dine in London; I am really quite shocked. Even a fancy Gordon Ramsay restaurant like Arbutus had a 2 course lunch for about 17 pounds. That is not cheap but I expected a place like that to be much more.

I went to the restaurant few days back with a group of office friends, the food is simply amazing and so is the service, as I found from OpenTable’s London restaurants. I promptly booked the table online as per our desired time. For your reference you can click on http://www.opentable.com/start.aspx?m=72&n=143

"Strada is my favourite pizza chain in England ( I know this is a little like being the prettiest girl in Alabama, but hey-ho) "

Or a little like having the best teeth in the UK....

which restaurant are you talking about, zachary76?

''I had the baby figs in marscapone cheese dessert which came with my choice of coffee (decaf cappucino) for 3.20 pounds. The marscapone was divine.''

That's my favourite too.

Pizza Express is one of the few chains I'd recommend.

"I know this is a little like being the prettiest girl in Alabama, but hey-ho".
Huh? I'm not from Alabama and have no personal stake in this, but are you kidding?

http://www.missalabama.com/index.cfm...tants-2009.cfm

I know you're on the other bus, but are you kidding?

That lot could munt for America never mind Alabama.

And there is such an outbreak of American Hair in there that they should be quarantined for the good of humanity.

And those fake teeth can be seen from space.

Assuming there may still be interest in reasonably/inexpensively priced food within walking distance of County Hall, there is a good Thai restaurant in Lower Marsh, and Konditor and Cook has inexpensive food in the Cut, right at the Young Vic. There are lots of other places to eat in this area, but these are two I have tried.

quiUK, we ended up getting the prix fixe pre-theatre supper at Brown's before seeing 39 steps, and they were both perfect. I recommend the chicken and leek pie, and my daughter's vegetable tart was also excellent. Very convenient to West End theaters and Covent Garden, and we got right in at 1745 without a reservation. Their afternoon tea is a good deal, too.

It was plenty that we shared the sticky toffee pudding, one rich and yummy dessert too much for one.

"And those fake teeth can be seen from space."

Except that they likely aren't fake, they're the real thing, the result of the very nearly universal application of orthodontal intervention here in the U.S., on top of generally excellent dental care and nutrition. They have almost certainly all been whitened, but that's just a matter of taste.

Women in the southeastern U.S. do, in fact, have a reputation for being pretty (as compared to women in other parts of the U.S.), not so much as a result of their genetics (which is the usual mix, though one could argue that hybrid vigor plays some role) but because it's considered laudable to be pretty and to make some effort in that direction.

Kaley's hair is frighteningly bouffant, though to be fair, most of the others aren't nearly as bad.

The teeth aren't just whitened. Most of them will have had veneers to get that eveness of size and shape. So the 'fake teeth' accusation is a perfectly fair one.

PS I love how the transatlantic bitch fest is neatly interspersed here and there with earnest postings on chicken and leak pie. :-)