Something "different" in London?

[zabba]

Big Raff said:

Another Soho joint,

Bincho Yakitori Strange and Exciting

Good food in a great setting, in the heart of town...and you can have all kinds of strange dishes there all grilled on long skewers, chicken gizzard? beef tongue? Just another one to add to the list...how long is your stay?

Another vote for this place, been a few times but you probably need to book Thurs-Sat evening

[woody2846]

A bit of a mission from where you are but http://www.aftersoriginal.co.uk/index.html

[SammyW]

Another vote for Bodeans and Wahaca, always try to make time to visit these when I'm in town.

[Sushi]

Whenever the kids and I go to London we hit up My Old Dutch for pancakes and milkshake.
http://www.myolddutch.com/

[rottie102]

wijit said:

Yo guys never cease to amaze me!
My son has his eye firmly on Bodeans, I'm trying to plan visits to two or three places!

Bodeans is OKish... Try the Jacob's ladder, much better than standard ribs IMHO

[princeperch]

craigjm said:

NickXX said:

The Wapping Project. Restaurant and art gallery in an old Hydraulic Power Station - it's a lovely walk along the river from Canary Wharf too!

It's particularly good for brunch, but dinner is fun when it's all lit with candles.

I've been there twice and wasn't impressed. Nice venue though

I've been there too and thought the food was ok (if expensive) but the portion sizes were extremely mean

[R11ysf]

swerni said:

Roka would be my choice, go for the taster menu

Beat me to it. In Canary Wharf so close by and you can do the unlimited wine or champagne accompaniment for £42 or £54.

Output Flange said:

Agree the Bodeans wings aren't hot, but for what it is, I think it's fine.

But, talking of wings, have you tried the ones at Patty&Bun? Best I've had in Londinium yet.

Patty and Bun surprised me how good the wings were, totally different league.

As for Bodeans's it is fine, nothing more nothing less. You can have an ok meal but it feels like chain food rather than a proper smokie. Like someone else I have also been to Texas 6 or 7 times and eaten in lots of their BBQ places and I have also eaten in a fair majority of the ones in London. Currently, for me, they are in this order:

Dukes Brew and Que
Pitt Cue and Co
Red Dog Saloon
Bodeans.


OP you didn't really specify a budget, but also you specify what you mean different, i.e. food, decor etc.

But check out www.archipelago-restaurant.co.uk It sells all differnt types of meat, crocodile, camel, emu etc etc but also the decor is mental. A whole load of trinkets and artifacts from all around the world cover the walls.

Someone above mentioned the Ten Bells. This is some of the finest creative cooking you will find in London. A must try if you can get a booking. (just keep it to yourself ;-)

[mu0n]

Meat Liquor is awesome.

I was there the other week.

Long queue outside as can't book but they bring up deep fried onions and stuff to the queue so you don't starve...

Greasy, full of flavour, come out stuffed - cool decor inside, not expensive.

Well recommended!

[cramorra]

if you want am afternoon food and you like italian - check this out
http://obika.com/portal/GB/en/dove-siamo/@city/lon...
try to sit out on the water and have a mozzarella degustation - three different ones and a pizza
great

[chuck_ster]

If you want to stay local to Canary Wharf for ease of access:

Roka is very good food, and quite different from ex-London Asian places.

http://www.viajante.co.uk/ is extremely different and very 'London', ie cosmoplitan. Cab ride away.

Iberica on the Wharf is good Tapas.

Dukes Brew n Que is better than Bodeans in my opinion..easy to get to via Jubilee and Overground, or cab.

Wahaca is good and cheap.

Gun, as mentioned before, is decent, especially if the sun is shining.

Royal China on the Wharf for dimsum lunch is excellent as well as cheap. (Well much cheaper at lunch there than at dinner off the a la carte lol)

If you head into town, Asia de Cuba is 'fun' and good, but not very trendy anymore...good brunch deals.

Chuck

[wijit]

We're only there for two days on this visit, and a lot of the first day is taken by the Anniversary Games at the Olympic stadium or whatever it's called now. But you guys have made it so we want to visit five or six places.
You never let us down, thanks chaps!

[anonymous-user]

Persian food.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g18...

[rottie102]

If anyone is looking for "something different" around Oval, I definitely recommend http://www.adulis.co.uk/
Brilliant erythrean restaurant, food is great, you eat with your hands, you get popcorn with your freshly roasted coffee etc

[Cotty]

okgo said:

For something he won't forget, because everything on this thread he will - why not go up to Duck and Waffle (food is OK, something for everyone at least) its on the 42nd floor of Heron Tower and the view is spectacular, and if there are only 2 of you you'll likely get a seat right near the window.

Failing that, you could go to Sushi Samba the floor below, which is also good, but slightly more expensive.

View here from I think Sushi Samba - but Duck/Waffle has 360 degree views, its quite something, and IMO it does the job of food and the London Eye in one.

I went to the Duck and Waffle a couple of weeks ago. Views are fantastic, food is different.

[greggers]

The view from Sushi Samba is pretty amazing, but I found the service poor and not overly friendly. Essentially, you're paying for the view.

Don't think the Tramshed has been mentioned, good food, service and atmosphere and a giant [Hirst] cow in formaldehyde in the middle. http://www.chickenandsteak.co.uk/

Hawksmoor (any of them) are great for steak and the lobster macaroni is superb.

All the decent places in the Wharf have already been mentioned.

Haven't been to the SoHo or Tower Bridge Bodeans for a while, the food is good but I wouldn't call the surroundings or venues particularly special.

St John is fantastic also.

IMO, don't bother with a Gaucho.

Sweetings or Simpson's tavern would be an experience for him in the City... They might only be open on weekdays though

[c88perman]

6th Gear said:

http://thehawksmoor.com

Went here last night and would like to say thanks for posting, it was fantastic.

[okgo]

You need to have been a few times really, every chain has an off day, I've been to Hawksmoor a fair few times now and agree that had I based it off one of the times I'd not have bothered again, but I've been since and it was excellent.

[Gruffy]

Restaurant Story has just opened in Bermondsey/Tower Bridge to much fanfare. The chef, Tom Sellers, is ex- Tom Aikens and Noma, and the influences are very clear. The food is experimental in a similar vein to Viajante, but around half the price. I also thought it was much better too. Definitely one to watch.

[wijit]

Gruffy said:

Restaurant Story has just opened in Bermondsey/Tower Bridge to much fanfare. The chef, Tom Sellers, is ex- Tom Aikens and Noma, and the influences are very clear. The food is experimental in a similar vein to Viajante, but around half the price. I also thought it was much better too. Definitely one to watch.

That is an interesting shout. I just checked the menu out, very interesting indeed!

[Gruffy]

The menu changes relatively frequently to be very seasonal. There's already two new dishes since I visited at the weekend. The Lemon pre-dessert is one of the best dishes I've ever had.