My weary eyes have searched the Time Out magazine and a bizillion other places for that <i>one</i> &quot;special&quot; restaurant for our only Friday evening in London. Please save me from myself and help me, lol!

We are staying in Piccadilly but we are willing to taxi to that special place.

The max (including gratuity) for this special place should be no more than $250USD (but if I am &quot;off&quot; by a few, let me know).

We enjoy quality of food over quantity and the meal should be pleasing to both eye and palate. The atmosphere is important (do not need &quot;trendy&quot; or whatever that means). Service should enhance, not detract from dinner.

I am pressed for time making a reservation -- it may be too late for some of your suggestions (let me know that too).

Finally, are the Gordon Ramsay restaurants just hype or are they good?

Thank you for your continued assistance!!

Gordon Ramsay restaurants are actually very good (based on personal experience as well as trusted others), but you won't even touch a meal there for two with $250. In fact, dinner for one could exceed $250.

Were I you I'd pick either St. John or St. John Bread &amp; Wine. Food's excellent (depending on what you like, of course), very good value, service fine. Not particularly dressy.

You might also want to consider doing lunch instead of dinner for your special meal, as many of the really nice places offer lunch prix fixe that's much more reasonable than dinner, and it's every bit as nice.

The Greenhouse, in Mayfair, would be my choice. They have several prix-fixe menu offerings that will meet your $$ limit. Plan on spending at least two hours here; service is excellent but leisurely.

Thank you, Therese.

Yes, dinner for one could exceed $250 if we chose the &quot;menu prestige&quot;, but that's not what we are looking for.

I should have mentioned that I do not drink, so that would limit the bar tab to just my DH.

I would be willing to spend the 70pounds for the 3 courses at one of Ramsay's establishments, but which one? We enjoy seafood but are open to almost anything (unique).

I will check out the Greenhouse - thank you, oakglen.

Hi See,

&gt;We enjoy quality of food over quantity and the meal should be pleasing to both eye and palate. The atmosphere is important (do not need &quot;trendy&quot; or whatever that means). Service should enhance, not detract from dinner. &lt;

There are those who will call it fusty, but I think you should consider the Divan room at Simpson's.

http://www.fairmont.com/svy/simpsons/

Hi Ira,

Fusty? Now there's a word you don't hear everyday, lol!

Thank you. I will check it out.

Oh yes, Simpsons in the Strand would be great. Not trendy in ANY way, but beautiful surroundings, impeccable service, and very good food. You can't leave Simpson's in the Strand w/o feeling it was a special occasion . . . .

Plus the location is totally convenient close to Covent Garden and all.

Thank you, Janis.

I think that you are the first person on this board to agree with me about fusty old Simpson's.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson used to dine there regularly.

Yes ira, we are very refined

The thing about Simpson's (one thing anyway) is a visit there is all about you and your dining experience.

At some of the more &quot;in&quot; places - while really terrific food, the experience is more about the celebrity chef or the designer or the famous people who eat there.

I'm surprised that there haven't been more suggestions.

Or at least a little banter on the word &quot;fusty&quot;, lol.

Ira &amp; Janis, I also meant to add...

Will a table for two be as depicted in the online picture, so close together?

Any other suggestions?

I can feel your pain. I enjoy quality over quantity, too, but what I do NOT enjoy (perhaps you do) is paying a lot of money for some itty-bitty piece of so-called &quot;haute&quot; cuisine and going away looking for the nearest place to actually fill myself up with something besides ambience.

I've always enjoyed Simpsons...at least I came away feeling satisfied.

Anyway, have a wonderful trip, and meal.

The three times I've eaten there we've been in the booths/banquettes. I didn't notice the other tables being particularly crowded. Maybe the photo perspective is off. Perhaps you can reserve one of the booths - though they are large.

Hi See,

Couples are usually seated in booths.

Thanks guys! I'm beginning to think perhaps I smell fusty or something. I guess Brits don't have a &quot;special&quot; place for dinner, lol.

Dukey, I do like &quot;haute cuisine&quot; (bread is my husband's friend on those dinners).

Seetheworld

My husband and I were in London last weekend and we ate at Angela Hatnett at the Connaught (she is Gordon Ramsey's protege (sp?)). It was very, very good. It may be slightly more expensive than what you ideally want, but worth it. The service and food were excellent. We paid 210 GBP, but that included a &pound;50 bottle of wine and 2 cocktails. We got lucky, we made the reservation only 3 nights before hand.

Hope this helps.

Angela

Petrus is fabulous. Don't know that it would fit into your budget because I didn't pay that much attention to the cost when I was there with some friends (I was the guest.) Do check it out.

Thank you both! I refuse to complain about the dollar, but it doesn't help lol.

How about Fino in Charlotte Street? The best Tapas restaurant outside of Barcelona? Quite possibly.

Oh, btw, the entrance is not on Charlotte Street despite the address but just around the corner in Rathbone Place.

www.finorestaurant.com

I can't help visit almost every time I'm up in town.

Dr D.