Carter

I will qualify this post with the premise that I understand that London prices tend to be high (compared to U.S.). Now then, I'm seeking recommendations for "cheaper" tastes of London's ethnic diversity (Indian, Pakistani, Spanish, etc.). Ideas and specific dish recommendations also appreciated. Also, I'll be staying in the vicinity of Queensway if there's any in that area. Happy holidays all...

betsy

Carter

You're in luck. We stayed near Queensway and enjoyed eating at Halepi Restaurant and Kebab House at 18 Leinster Terrace. Small, very informal, inexpensive (for London). Food was Mediterranean and very fresh, especially the Greek salad.

Nigel Doran

You could try Cafe Sofra near to Covent Garden which sells great Turkish dishes. The idea is to order a few small dishes and eat them like a banquet. It is good value.
Also, try Covent Garden Italian restaurant on Drury Lane. Cheap and very good and great, zany service from Italian and Spanish waitresses.
I like Chinese food but stay clear of it in London for fear of it being overpriced. But, there are small places, definitely not deluxe, behind Leicester Square. (Near to the Prince Charles cinema is a good place to start.)
Also, check out Time Out magazine for cheap eats.
Keep it cheap by asking for table water and tip 12.5% maximum, though 10% will suffice.

bruce

All along Queensway there are dozens of moderately
priced eateries--Indian, Thai, Chinese, Lebanese,
Greek, etc. On Westbourne Grove near Whitely's at
the end of Queensway there are some of the best
cheap Indian joints in town...Bon appetit

terry

The thing

Kavey

Hi Carter

You can find many many many great ethnic restaurants in pretty much most areas of London, and the vast majority are good food and good prices.

Here are a few places I can think of off the top of my head.

Camden (right behind Mornington Crescent Tube Station) El Parador, spanish tapas, most dishes about £3 to £5 UK, also you should get some of the bread and aioli (garlic mayonnaise)

Central Finchley, Izgara, very lovely kebab restaurant (not like takeaway street kebabs, proper variety of meats cooked on own skewers, served in variety of ways, main dish such as chicken pieces in tomatoey sauce about £6 UK.

For this kind of food, dont bother with London restaurant guides, just ask your local receptionist or people you meet or go on instinct...

Happy Eating!

Miane

Mandeer, excellent, hidden vegetarian Indian, between Tottenham Court Road, Charlotte Street and Oxford Street. Tube: Tottenham Court Road (central line).

stanley

hi, my wife and i are planning our first overseas trip. London is to be our destination. Please give us any information that you feel would be helpful in this our first trip to London
thanks

corinne

Start at junction of top (eastern end) of the Strand and the road leading down to Waterloo bridge. Walk east along road towards the City/ Fleet Street - I can't remember the name of this road but if you look on a street map it's the lower half of an oval-shaped one-way system in which the top half is called Aldwich! Watch carefully as you walk along a line of undistinguished shops on your right for a sign saying "Strand Continental Holtel" and a doorway with a sign saying "Indian Restaurant upstairs". Go 2 flights up these dingy looking stairs, past the entrance to the hotel reception and up again. The restaurant is known as India Club - it's the surviving eatery from the old colonial headquarters of that name and simply the best Indian food in England, probably! It looks nothing - the tables are formica-topped, the menu simple and the prices cheap; it's only open midday and early evening. If you succeed in finding it, and finding it open, you'll want to share the secret with everyone else. It doesn't advertise; it doesn't need to. This is the real thing; I'm almost regretting mentioning it here in case too many people get to hear about it!