Restaurant Rec for London Graduation
 

My family leaves for London in 2 weeks to celebrate my daughter's graduation. The ceremony is in the morning at King's College London. Can you recommend a celebration-worthy restaurant for lunch or dinner? Thanks!

"The ceremony is in the morning at King's College London"

Really? When did King's acquire a hall big enough to house modern graduation ceremonies?

As far as I'm aware, King's graduations are at the Barbican Centre or Southwark Cathedral: both a significant distance from King's, and really inconvenient for any of the huge number of excellent restaurants within a few yards of the college's best-known quad.

There's no point wasting energy on recommendations (apart from referring you to any of the dozens of London restaurant guides) unless you give us accurate information about where you want your meal to be.

That's difficult to answer without knowing what kind of food you like and what your budget is. For my graduate-aged kids, I would go with something like Sushi Samba or Aqua in the Shard. Good food, views, spectacular restaurants and a good bar.

If it's dinner, and the ceremony is in the morning, it doesn't really matter where the restaurant is. But two weeks is pretty short notice for some of the more popular restaurants.

Congratulations for your daughter!

What is the budget and how many of you? If you decide on dinner - that will be hours after the graduation so you could have it absolutely anywhere. But if the ceremony is late morning and you want lunch, then it is important to know <i>where</i> the graduations is being held.

If you want a top place, a lunch booking will likely be easier at this late date.

@flannerUK Is it really necessary to be so snarky? I've typically found people overall to be especially even-tempered & patient at the beginning of a new year and just about everyone I've ever communicated with here in this forum has been extraordinarily helpful and kind...Here's hoping your temperament improves in the days ahead. Happy New Year to you.

@Tulips Thanks for the kind words about my daughter. She's getting her graduate degree from the School of Psychiatry--hard-earned. I think lunch at Aqua in the Shard sounds perfect for my family and the occasion. Appreciate your suggestion and kindness.

@janisj You are one of the people who has always been helpful, knowledgeable and kind, so thank you, once again, for weighing in. The graduation is at the Barbican Centre and there are five of us. I think lunch is the best bet, immediately following the ceremony. I'd better get a reservation in tomorrow--thanks for that reminder. We are slowly pulling this trip together--my husband had cancer surgery last year this time and my daughter needed to delay her graduation ceremony until this year, so we've had other priorities to think about. But, thanks to you & others, we're just about ready to celebrate this happy occasion!

BTW, you helped me with apartment recommendations months ago & we finally settled on a Coach House apartment in the Chelsea area. I'll post a review when we return. Again, thank you.

There are a lot of restaurants around Smithfield Market which is walkable from the Barbican.

http://www.hixoysterandchophouse.co.uk

http://birdofsmithfield.com

http://www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk/r...ts/smithfield/ (an Argentinian steakhouse chain)

http://www.clubgascon.com/about.php

Or any of the places in One New Change across from St Pauls http://www.onenewchange.com/food-and-drink . . . Especially Madison (for killer views) or Barbecoa (for Jamie Oliver)

Thank you, janisJ--they all look promising!