Too 'common' to eat at a posh restaurant?!?!

[BUG4LIFE]

Looking for a place to have a meal for my girlfriends bday next month in London [West-end area as we're going to see a show!]. I've signed up to Toptable for the deals etc and have noticed the Savoy do a 2 course meal and glass of bubbly for £30 each. Sounds good to me. But then I started thinking: am I just to damn common for such a place and after we've drunk the champagne, how much is their cheapest bottle of red!!!

I want to treat my OH and make sure the place I take her is top-notch - anyone recommend a restaurant in London Town???

[hairykrishna]

You'll probably be able to get a bottle of red for about 30 quid. I never worry too much about poshness to be honest, nowhere good's going to look down their noses at you and the food will be tasty.

[greggers]

I'd budget £10 a glass for their cheapest red, it might be slightly less, might be slightly more.

[zaphod42]

Sounds about right.

You could always just call and ask them without giving a name. Depends on which restaurant in the Savoy, but £8+ per glass sounds about right.

[BUG4LIFE]

I do want somewhere where the food will blow-my-socks-off, as such! I'm guessing somewhere like the Savoy should tick this box? It's a special bday too, so I gotta make the effort - and I'm loving Tabletop and their deals

Would a place like the Savoy have a dress code? We'll be leaving our place in the Midlands at like 8ish in the morning, to get to the big smoke; do some shopping; go see the show etc etc. So I'm not going to be happy in shoes and a shirt!!!

[AndrewW-G]

Nowhere is too posh for people to eat . . . . although I have to admit struggling once or twice with being unable to identify anything edible on a menu

Dress code, if any is normally smart casual (trousers not jeans, shoes not trainers, shirt not T) . . . ETA, waltz in, putting on a thick Russian accent etc and you'll be OK in flip flops!

Always an experience going to Savoy'ish types of places

[mattdaniels]

You can't go all that way and not stay for the night

[dan5oclocksmith]

^^^ This is true.

As for being too common - you're paying, don't forget! You won't want to turn up to The Savoy in jeans and trainers, so pack something a little smarter (you can get changed in the hotel room you're about to book) and just enjoy.

Don't be afraid to tell a sommelier that you're on a budget, either. They'll always help - most of them couldn't afford to eat in expensive restaurants all that often either!

[zaphod42]

If in doubt, go for whatever the house red is; it's often good value. Few restaurants of that calibre have bad wine, even by the glass or as house reds.

[VEA]

mattdaniels said:

You can't go all that way and not stay for the night

I was going to say, there are plenty of great places to stay in London!

[The Walrus]

Not the westend but if you are going in the week and at lunch you could try either La Gavroche who do a set lunch menu including some wine for £50.00 per person or The Berkeley at the weekend who again do a very reasonable lunch for £30-£38

[BUG4LIFE]

VEA said:

mattdaniels said:

You can't go all that way and not stay for the night

I was going to say, there are plenty of great places to stay in London!

Staying in London might be an option [though probably not the Savoy after I take a look at the prices], though the chances are it won't happen as I want to splash out on the 'main' pressy!

Hhhmmm, trousers! I don't even own a pair of 'trousers' beyond my 1 suit [Graphic Designer you see]

[greggers]

Personally, I'd wear [smart] jeans with shoes and a shirt, sportswear is a no no.

Again, you are spending the money and shouldn't be made to feel uncomfortable, that includes the clothes you are wearing.

If they are pathetic enough to not let you in dressed like that, I'd go somewhere else. As has been said, all top restaurants do a good value for money (relatively speaking) lunch menu.

Edited by greggers on Tuesday 21st June 17:17

[BUG4LIFE]

The Walrus said:

Not the westend but if you are going in the week and at lunch you could try either La Gavroche who do a set lunch menu including some wine for £50.00 per person or The Berkeley at the weekend who again do a very reasonable lunch for £30-£38

We are going in the week but we'll be eating after the show, 5.30pm onwards at a guess, so will miss the set lunch menus.

[vixen1700]

You could try Rules, haven't been there for years, but really enjoyed the food and it had a sense of 'occassion' when I went.

http://www.rules.co.uk/

[BUG4LIFE]

greggers said:

Personally, I'd wear jeans with shoes and a shirt, sportswear is a no no.

Again, you are spending the money and shouldn't be made to feel uncomfortable, that includes the clothes you are wearing.

I've got plenty of tidy, fitting jeans, which I wear to work with a shirt so no probs there...just have to pack the shoes in a small bag I reckon [plus my girlfriend would kick my ass if I tried to wear trainers into the restaurant, even if I have got some sick kicks]

[Zingari]

MacDonalds West End has a seating area although I think its used as an immigration office, so for culture it's way up there

[Melman Giraffe]

Try The Criterion good value aswell

[Bullett]

J Sheekey is good and very convenient for the west end, smart jeans/shoes and a shirt wouldn't be an issue.

The Savoy is a bit posher (are you looking at the Grill or the other restaurant)

[Noger]

The Savoy Grill is very unstuffy. The staff would consider it poor form to make anyone feel out of place.