<<have never yet run into someone who treats me with anything less than kindness and helpfulness, even in France...>>

What on earth does that mean?

The thing about London is that few people are really "locals"...everyday I go to Tesco and I easily hear at least 3 non-English languages being spoken. Anyway, regarding "where locals eat"...well I think it depends on the person and their salary/budget. There are lots of good restaurants in London (not many are cheap, though).

<<have never yet run into someone who treats me with anything less than kindness and helpfulness, even in France...>>

Sorry about that, StCirq. The smile-wink-wink doesn't translate well to typing, does it? Having a bit of fun, not at the expense of the French but at the expense of those whose comments I expected to receive, about how it wouldn't go down well at all in France to ask for recommendations, etc, etc... I don't have an attitude about the French but I've discovered many in Britain do.

<<don't have an attitude about the French but I've discovered many in Britain do.>>

Yes, I'll give you that:) Too bad about that Hundred Years War thing, isn't it?

BKP
'almost always eat at the same Mexican place'
What is the name of this place please????

I enjoyed the food at The Troubadour near Earl's Court - it was full of mostly locals. A month after we ate there, Prince Harry & Pippa met there for tea.

Yes, I'll give you that Too bad about that Hundred Years War thing, isn't it?>>

not to mention 1066.

where do locals eat? well today, for us it was at the only place that would serve us after 2pm, which luckily turned out to be really good. but it could just as easily have been dreadful.

it was in Topsham, Devon, so not much use for the OP.

dorfan2 -- It's called Crazy Homies (don't judge it on it's name) and it's on Westbourne Park Road. It's the best Mexican we've found in the UK. It's tiny and sometimes it's tough to get a table, but it's always worth it.

If you're on the search for Mexican in London, Wahaca will also do in a pinch, there are several, more convenient locations. Covent Garden, Canary Wharf, Soho etc.

dorfan2, if you want mexican, you might like to check out this link. It's been a long time coming, but there's finally a bit of a mexican food revolution going on in London right now:

http://www.timeout.com/london/featur...an-restaurants

"Too bad about that Hundred Years War thing, isn't it?"

When a nation has spent much of the last 1000 years trying to invade, then it pays to treat them with a little caution.

Of course, the French could say the same thing :-)

Cannot help the OP as my "local eating places" are no where near London

Here's a great spot we ate at in London in July. I think we were the only tourists there at the time we went, which was aroun 9 p.m. on a Wednesday night: http://www.costasgrill.com/

http://busaba.com/

Thai restuarant near British Museum.

No french accents. :)

the irony of this question is probably lost on most. it depends what you mean by 'locals'...but it's the foreign taste, influence and demand that has increased the quality of food available in the uk over the last couple of decades. follow the real 'locals' and who knows what you'll end up eating.

if you seek out 'traditional british food' that hasn't been tinkered with by semi-celebrity chefs on missions to popularise and gentrify 'traditional british food', you won't be in for a treat but it's a useful cultural learning for any visitor. but if you want good food, look where visitors in the know are dining.

The locals eat at home because the restaurants serve over priced really bad stuff. Pub grub is not bad. If you like American fast *food* you'll find McDs, BK, and KFC just about everywhere.

Two places I would recomend in Edinburgh. Hendersons is a vegetarian restaurant in Hanover Street, in the city center, up and over George Street, you will find it on the left, and it is down some steep stone steps in the city center. I love it and I'm not a vegetarian. It is good for lunch and it does dinner. Pick up a tray and silver ware and line up, hearty portions and not too expensive, although, I think they now have a section that has waitstaff with a seperate entrance in the small street alongside.
A good place for a special dinner is Fabio's on Corstorphine Road, a few miles west of the city center. You could take a bus or taxi to it. Italian food, very nice, a little on the expensive side, but you can have a look on it's website for the menu.
Chippys vary a lot in quality, some do Scotch eggs and some don't. I could recommend an Indian takeout place, but looks a bit down at heel, it's probably far out your way and you would need plates and silverware to be able to eat the food, although it is delicious.
Have a great trip.