Going to London next Monday. Can anyone recommend a great Indian restaurant and/or French Restaurant? Staying near Victoria station. Many thanks! <BR>Linda C.

Suggest you look into Zagat. I think they have a LOndon guide out. Don't restrict yourselves to a place near your hotel - the tube is a blessing and you can get virtually anywhere very quickly. Dick

Linda, <BR> <BR>From what I've been able to tell, the recommendations on www.lastminute.com range from pretty good to just so-so, but you might find this of interest - - not necessarily near VS, but still accessible, I think. <BR> <BR>L'Odeon <BR>65 Regent Street W1R 7HH <BR> <BR>Average Cheque: £32 <BR> <BR>Special Deals: <BR>Free Odeon cinema ticket and 2 courses for only £20! (3 courses for £25). <BR> <BR>This offer is available for: <BR>Lunch: Mon-Sat 12 noon-2.45pm, <BR>Dinner: Mon-Sat 5.30pm-7.30pm. <BR> <BR>Nearest Tube: <BR>Piccadilly Circus <BR> <BR>Opening Hours: <BR>Lunch: Mon-Sat 11-2.45pm <BR>Dinner: Mon-Sat 5.00-11.45pm <BR> <BR>Payment Details: <BR>All major credit cards <BR> <BR>I'd appreciate your feedback, if you go. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex

Linda, <BR> <BR>Two very good Indian restaurants (although not near Victoria) are: <BR> <BR>The Red Fort - Dean St, Soho <BR>Veeraswamy - Regent Street <BR> <BR>I personally do not rate L'Odeon, but the £20 deal including cinema tickets is good value. Cinema tickets in Leicester Square are around £10 each. <BR> <BR>Georgia.

Linda: <BR> <BR>It isn't difficult to find a good Indian restaurant in London. Exploring can be half the fun. However, I would recommend the Tale of India on New Row. If you're seeing a show near Covent Garden or the West End, it has fixed price menu prior to the theatre, and reasonable prices for afterward. They have the best tandoori chicken appetizer I have ever had ( I used to live in London, so I've had my share), and their biryani dishes are wonderful.

I agree with Georgia totally. The Red Fort and Veeraswamy are my two favourite Indian restaurants and I don't rate L'Odeon very high either. For French food if you can afford it try La Tante Claire or Le Garvroche, the very best French restaurants in London. They do set lunch menus for £28 plus service(la tante Claire) and £37 + Service (Le Garvroche). Otherwise, try Elena's Etoile or La Poule au Pot. These restaurants are not around Victoria area.

Linda --we were in London this summer and ate at L'Orangerie near St. james palace. It was excellent. There is also a fabulous Michelin 3 star French restaurant (the only one in London) in the hotel where we stayed--Chez Nico at Ninety Park Lane--in the Grosvenor House hotel across from Hyde Park.

We ate at Odeon a couple of years ago. Food was so, so, but the building is absolutely exquisite. Shimmering mosaics and art nouveau decor. Worth a peek, at any rate.

This is now too late to help Linda - - the original questioner - - but I stumbled upon two new sources of information yesterday - - and I wonder if anyone else has any reaction to either. <BR> <BR>In the November issue of Bon Appetit, there is a rather glowing review of an Indian restaurant called Zaika (Fulham Road, Chelsea) with the ambitious quote from its chef and co-owner "I want Zaika to be London's finest restaurant." <BR> <BR>Searching the internet, I have found one review - - at a website I had never before seen - - www.theaa.co.uk (is this the same as what we call "Triple-A" in the US?) - - I don't actually see how you're supposed to get from their home page to the reviews. Nevertheless, the reviews I see are listed at <BR> <BR>www.theaa.co.uk.region9/Highres.html - - <BR> <BR>like Bon Appetit, they give a very positive review, with the possible exception of the desserts (does any Indian restaurant really have good desserts?) <BR> <BR>And to the afore-mentioned Odeon - - which or may not have a good deal with the cinema tickets - - they made a few positive comments, but reserve final judgment based on the seemingly revolving door position of head chef. <BR> <BR>Ben - - would you care to give us your opinion on the website or on Zaika? <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex