ASK?

There was (is it still there?) a particularly revolting ASK on Kensington High Street that we dined at years ago, a restaurant so dreadful that Falstaff would have turn his nose up at it.

Unfortunately, I was forced in by other, less discrimating, members of my group.

Thankfully, all the gin I drank killed the Listeria colony living in the bruschetta that was eaten.

Many think that quinine is what saved the British in India, but, actually it was the gin.


Thin

We never eat at chains and simply didn't know. We live in a neighborhood where the culture is not to eat at chains. (Although that is unfortunately changing. When the first Starbuck's opened near here about 10 years, you would have thought they opened a 1/2 house for perverts.) Attribute the horrible meal to ignorance. We rarely complain, but the manager asked how things went as we were leaving. He told us to return for a meal on the house, the following night. Fortunately we were headeding for York the following morning.

Avoid Garfunkels and Angus steakhouse; can't imagine how these places still exist.

I like Wahaca for mexican food. Of the various sandwich places I prefer EAT. Their soups are great.

Itsu or Leon if there weren't tens of thousands of real restaurants.

But why? Just choose any Vietnamese at random along Kingsland High St, or any stall in a street food complex.

Best 'sit down' chain is probably Pizza Express in terms of both quality and consistency.

Best sandwich place - Pret a Manger by an absolute mile.

Best coffee chain - Caffe Nero. There are also small stands at stations (ATP, APT or something?) and these are very good.

Everything else mentioned (eg Cafe Rouge, Zizzi) is too hit and miss to be a safe recommendation. Garfunkles and Aberdeen Angus Steak Houses are laughably bad. Don't even consider them.

I would not bother with chains for Indian or Thai or Vietnamese as you can eat cheaply and well at independant places that are not at all difficult to find.

We always like Wagamama for their salad dressing and free tea. I have the salad dressing recipe if anyone wants it.

We also used to go to Prezzo frequently because they had surprisingly good rotisserie chicken. Alas, it's no longer on their menu. Now. I'd probably order their chicken, bacon and avocado salad. The Prezzos in Kensington and Mayfair seem to be the best of the bunch in London.

If you get in the mood for a burger, Gourmet Burger Kitchen is pretty good and much better than the average fast-food burger joint. We were regulars at their branch in Winsor (very close to the castle and in the covered shopping/dining area next to Winsdor & Eaton train station).
http://www.gbk.co.uk/locations

If you want to splurge (a little) and have some Japanese, go to Kiku in Mayfair. Normally it's pretty expensive, but they have good set lunch menus for about 20-30 pounds. Includes starter, salad, rice, miso soup, pickles, main course, and dessert. Very popular with Japanese embassy employees.
http://www.kikurestaurant.co.uk/eng/lunch.htm

I'll put in another vote for Pizza Express. I like the one on Kings Road and I also frequent one in Marlborough.
I also like Bella Italia on Old Brompton Road.

Wahaca is very good but the portions are very small. Cote Brasserie is also very good.

Wahaca is meant to be street food where you order two to three of the small plates. They also have large plates like burritos that fill up all the guys I work with!

Browns or Jamie Oliver's italien chains are both nice x

Any American from the South West is likely to be disappointed by Wahaca.

My fave chain is Pizza Express - very good thin "Romana" pizza crusts. Difficult to find better pizza in Italy.

Leon has delicious buttered toast if you are in need of breakfast on the go.

>>Difficult to find better pizza in Italy.<<

If you like Roman pizza, with a thin crust, you are only going to find it in Italy in Rome.

Why do we have an obsession with chains.

There's thousands of independent retailers in London who wipe the floor with some of the average dross on offer at most chains.

I am still puzzled why anyone would pay the ridiculous amounts asked by Costa to sit in their council estate style interiors drinking dishwater served up as coffee. Whitbread built empires on serving dishwater beer like Boddingtons. They just rebranded the dishwater and called it Costa.

Best coffee by far at a chain is Pret which isn't even a coffee shop. They use La Cimbali coffee machine to produce powerful espresso shots. The major part of getting decent coffee isn't the bean or roasting, it's the method of coffee production.

And yes, Pizza Express Romana pizzas are far superior to any of those I've had in Rome.

Believe or not McDs actually produce pretty decent, very cheap Americano coffees.

I first ate at Wagamama in Oxford, with no idea it was a chain, and have gone back every trip. Of course, now I see them other places in the UK and if I'm looking for a place to eat and see one, I go there. I remember one in an airport, too, although no recollection which airport.

The problem with chains is the food is older than people who make it.

Another vote for Pret, also for Nandos. Forget Busabi Thai - they expect you to eat Thai food with chopsticks. If you insist on chains Marsala Zone isn't bad.

But there is no reason not to eat in more upscale places on your own. I used to take a book, now I listen to books on tape on my phone, which lets me people watch at the same time.

sanderskn,

Adding an overall general warning against taking food recommendations from Brits.

Another vote for no Grafunkels. It's worse than awful unless you want a horse burger.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen was very good and we were happy with our meals.

Very suspect. I have never had a good burger in the UK. They are always "enhanced" to their detriment.

I've generally found Cafe Rouge to be quite reliable. I once found myself with a friend in a Marsala Zone, and I was actually pleasantly surprised.