Recommend me a swanky restaurant in London

[DeanR32]

Evening PH

I’m looking for somewhere pretty special to eat in London (More to the east would be great!)

Would love to do a tasting menu, and cuisine not critical, as long as it’s excellent food

Anything to note?
Cheers

[Bussolini]

Literally limitless choice. Budget? There are three three Michelin starred restaurants in London and ten two starred restaurants and over 60 one starred restaurants.

[DeanR32]

I’d like to keep to around the £250 mark with drinks. As I don’t drink wines or champagne, I should be able to do a decent restaurant on that money.

Price isn’t set in stone, but this one day out is looking to be an expensive one, without this meal.

I’ve always fancied The Ledbury, but don’t want to travel on that direction after we take in a show in the west end. I’d much rather head east, or at least eat within walking distance from the Aldwych theatre.

Doesn’t need to have Michelin stars (although it’d be a bonus), just really good food.

[norm4n]

You could try Sushi Samba if you like the food and heights

[nikaiyo2]

Sketch Lecture Room & Library has some wonderful food, up there with the best in the world.

[Bussolini]

nikaiyo2 said:

Sketch Lecture Room & Library has some wonderful food, up there with the best in the world.

Getting a table might prove challenging.

[Frank7]

Walking distance from Aldwych, try Balthazar, Russell Street, Covent Garden, a bit further east, Club Gascon, West Smithfield, a tad further is Coq d’Argent, # 1 Poultry.
All three are great places, with excellent menus.
I lean toward Coq d’Argent, as it’s a 25-35 minute amble from us, over London Bridge, and down to Bank Junction, and a 7-10 minute taxi ride home.
My wife swears by Club Gascon, she loves the Carabineros Tartare, with frosted Pimm’s.

[hungry_hog]

For City / East area: City Social, Clove Club and Club Gascon

West End too many options - someone above mentioned Greenhouse and I think that is one of the best, but Mayfair alone probably has 20 good options.

Sketch
Pollen St Social
Alyn Williams
Helene Darroze
Gymkhana

[22s]

hungry_hog said:

For City / East area: City Social, Clove Club and Club Gascon

West End too many options - someone above mentioned Greenhouse and I think that is one of the best, but Mayfair alone probably has 20 good options.

Sketch
Pollen St Social
Alyn Williams
Helene Darroze
Gymkhana

Gymkhana is great but has been shut for months due to fire. Indian Accent is a good alternative.

Pollen St Social one of the best I've ever been to.

45 Jermyn St is v good too.

[bompey]

If you're near Aldwych try Frog in Covent Garden. Excellent tasting menus and not too formal. If you want out east try Frog Hoxton.

[fluffekins]

bompey said:

If you're near Aldwych try Frog in Covent Garden. Excellent tasting menus and not too formal. If you want out east try Frog Hoxton.

I was at Frog in Hoxton Square last night - superb.

Also:-

Sushi Samba
The Dorchester
Corrigans
Murano
Goodmans

[Frank7]

Another real good one, a 5 or 6 minute taxi ride north from Aldwych, is German Gymnasium, at Kings Cross/St Pancras stations, great lay out.
It’s a stand-out place for food, ambiance and service.

[Hackney]

28-50 Marylebone Lane

[MechMovement]

I don't rate FROG, good food but not worth the money

I'd go:

Sexy Fish
Pollen Street Social
Gauthier
CORE by Clare Smyth
Kitchen table at bubbledogs
Sketch
Araki

[okgo]

Depending what sort of thing you are into, there is Roka just over the road on Aldwych itself, its very good food, far better than Sushi Samba which I would avoid tbh.

Barrafina on Drury Lane is amazing if you like Tapas, but maybe not the knock out experience you are after.

Rules is decent if you like a bit of old school englishness, just round the corner. Clos Maggiore also very pleasant, and quite romantic if its just you and Mrs. Savoy Grill in the savoy hotel, Smith and Wollensky is great if you like steak.

All those are nice and close and you'll b well looked after in any.

[easytiger123]

Ramsay on Royal Hospital Road is wonderful but probably too far west. More central, I recommend Helen Darozze at The Connaught. Further east, Restaurant Story do a fantastic tasting menu though I haven't been for a number of years so can't vouch for current quality.

Certainly all the above offer tasting menus, something special and a fabulous meal within budget providing you don't go mental with the wine list.

[85Carrera]

easytiger123 said:

Restaurant Story do a fantastic tasting menu though I haven't been for a number of years so can't vouch for current quality.

Have to disagree with this recommendation. Did the tasting menu a couple of years ago and it was a complete piss take.

[magarta]

Heston's Dinner is superb. It's West though...

[skinny]

MechMovement said:

I don't rate FROG, good food but not worth the money

I'd go:

Sexy Fish
Pollen Street Social
Gauthier
CORE by Clare Smyth
Kitchen table at bubbledogs
Sketch
Araki

Only been to CORE of those but found it excellent. Also went to Ramsay hospital road when Clare Smyth was still there, really good too.

[CardinalBlue]

fluffekins said:

I was at Frog in Hoxton Square last night - superb.

Also:-

Sushi Samba
The Dorchester
Corrigans
Murano
Goodmans

Not London based, so I haven't tried the majority of these. However, I went to Murano in the summer and thought it was superb.