Places to eat in London

[Orchid1]

Heading down to London for a weekend next month and trying to pick somewhere to eat during the day and evening always causes lots of arguments so was wondering if anyone knew of any websites or apps etc they could recommend that would show good nearby eateries at different price levels?

[anonymous-user]

https://www.zagat.com/london

[craigjm]

Where you gonna be and what is your budget?

[Eversleigh]

craigjm said:

Where you gonna be and what is your budget?

This - enough people on here can recommend you some places.

[Orchid1]

Staying near Farringdon train station however during the day we could be anywhere from Soho to Southwark.

There's an app i've downloaded called Dojo which seems to recommend stuff near you depending on your location so might give that a go.

Still happy to hear recommendations though especially of any nice semi fancy restaurants in any part of central London that won't break the bank too much and don't have a six month waiting list for a table.

[AndrewCrown]

Orchid

Any Hawksmoor restaurant , there are a few scattered round London...
In particular Hawksmoor, Seven dials.

Cheers
A

[Eversleigh]

Orchid1 said:

Staying near Farringdon train station however during the day we could be anywhere from Soho to Southwark.

There's an app i've downloaded called Dojo which seems to recommend stuff near you depending on your location so might give that a go.

Still happy to hear recommendations though especially of any nice semi fancy restaurants in any part of central London that won't break the bank too much and don't have a six month waiting list for a table.

If you fancy a nice lunch or dinner nearby give the Fox and Anchor a try https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/The+Fox+and+An...

[anonymous-user]

Try the Bleeding Heart bistro (the tavern is a pub, the restaurant is posher and more formal), which I use a fair bit (near to my office), in the Bleeding Heart Yard, just off Greville St, about 50 yards from Farringdon. great french food that won't break the bank.

Try the Ye Old Mitre pub, close by too.

[matrignano]

I'm really into Copita at the moment. Unpretentious tapas place in Soho, have never had a bad (read: not excellent) dish and the menu varies almost daily. £40 quid per head will feed and lubricate adequately.

Yauatcha is my go-to fancy place, quite good value-for-money and can't fault the food. Not ideal if you don't like Dim Sum! (not worth going for the "normal" dishes which are nothing to shout home about).

Wild Honey is another Michelin starred place, leaning more on the french side of things but really reasonably priced, and a really understated but comfortable setting in Mayfair with great service.

[Slushbox]

Portrait Gallery Resto on the top floor of the National Portrait Gallery, to the right of Trafalgar Square.

Need to book a day in advance for a window seat but always good. Walkins after 13:00 on a Sunday often possible. Views over Traf. Square, snappy service, good central lunch venue. Mostly tourist free, clientele a bit BBC/Theatreland. Window seats fought over. Ketchup-free zone.

Lunch with cocktails, about £80 for two. :-)

Complimentary cocktails last time we were there. A fave.

http://www.npg.org.uk/visit/shop-eat-drink/restaur...

Blueprint Café at the Design Museum, South Bank. Nice walk down from Blackfriars Bridge, resto is upstairs overlooking the river. Spectacular views. Need to book, but good food. £40 a head or so with drinks.

Gets full on Sundays with the kosher Roast Beef and two veg crowd, but ketchup and tourist free.

http://www.blueprintcafe.co.uk/

Gourmet Pizza, South Bank.

Gets busy with walk-ins but you can book. Italian food and salads always good. Has covered veranda for winter eats, and likes children. Full by 14:00 on a Sunday, with Tate Modern/South Bank crowd so earlier is better. Might have ketchup. Good noisy vibe.

http://www.gourmetpizzacompany.co.uk/southbank

Edited by Slushbox on Monday 19th September 12:46

[craigjm]

All of the above are good. I would add, not considering budgets so at various price points

Pizza Pilgrims (few branches)
Comptior Gascon
Bob Bob Ricard
The Bluebird
Star of India
Gymkhana
Dishoom
Granger and Co
Hix
Pollen Street Social
Rules
Duck and Waffle
Reds BBQ
2 Veniti
Mahdi Hammersmith (few restaurants with same name different owners)
Bombay chow Indochinese
La Bodega Nera
Dinner by Heston
Clos Maggiore
Archipelago
Shaka Zulu

Enough to keep you going

[Orchid1]

Cheers folks!

[fredt]

I do like reading advice on PH but there is too much in London to just throw a question on here and use as your only resource.

Opentable or square meal are good for inspiration, or finding a restaurant with particular cuisine in particular area.
Open table is also useful as it lets you search using various criteria, and shows all restaurants with available tables around your preferred times.

Obviously not all restaurants use these sites, but they are pretty good.

Tripadvisor is great for additional reviews.

[craigjm]

Actually living in London and therefore trying to avoid tourists reviewing places like bubba gump shrimp as the best place ever! I tend to agree a lot with the choices made on Londonist. This page gives you links to articles about restaurants of various cuisine and notes when the article was last updated.

http://londonist.com/the-best-food-and-drink-in-lo...

[C70R]

fredt said:

I do like reading advice on PH but there is too much in London to just throw a question on here and use as your only resource.

Opentable or square meal are good for inspiration, or finding a restaurant with particular cuisine in particular area.
Open table is also useful as it lets you search using various criteria, and shows all restaurants with available tables around your preferred times.

Obviously not all restaurants use these sites, but they are pretty good.

Tripadvisor is great for additional reviews.

Disagree completely. Tripadvisor, TimeOut et al are predominantly driven by tourists and occasional visitors. If I want advice on where to go, I'll be asking someone who lives/works in London.

[fredt]

C70R said:

fredt said:

I do like reading advice on PH but there is too much in London to just throw a question on here and use as your only resource.

Opentable or square meal are good for inspiration, or finding a restaurant with particular cuisine in particular area.
Open table is also useful as it lets you search using various criteria, and shows all restaurants with available tables around your preferred times.

Obviously not all restaurants use these sites, but they are pretty good.

Tripadvisor is great for additional reviews.

Disagree completely. Tripadvisor, TimeOut et al are predominantly driven by tourists and occasional visitors. If I want advice on where to go, I'll be asking someone who lives/works in London.

Predominately driven by tourists?

Without checking, I'm pretty sure every restaurant mentioned above is on open table, with 100s if not 1000s of reviews. Plus of course 1000s of others, some which might well suit you better. With a bit of reading you fairly quickly establish if it's for you or not. A list of London restaurants from people you don't know is fairly useless in comparison (but like I said interesting to read nevertheless).

[C70R]

fredt said:

C70R said:

fredt said:

I do like reading advice on PH but there is too much in London to just throw a question on here and use as your only resource.

Opentable or square meal are good for inspiration, or finding a restaurant with particular cuisine in particular area.
Open table is also useful as it lets you search using various criteria, and shows all restaurants with available tables around your preferred times.

Obviously not all restaurants use these sites, but they are pretty good.

Tripadvisor is great for additional reviews.

Disagree completely. Tripadvisor, TimeOut et al are predominantly driven by tourists and occasional visitors. If I want advice on where to go, I'll be asking someone who lives/works in London.

Predominately driven by tourists?

Without checking, I'm pretty sure every restaurant mentioned above is on open table, with 100s if not 1000s of reviews. Plus of course 1000s of others, some which might well suit you better. With a bit of reading you fairly quickly establish if it's for you or not. A list of London restaurants from people you don't know is fairly useless in comparison (but like I said interesting to read nevertheless).

Yes. Predominantly.

I don't want to base my choice on reviews by matey-boy from Surrey/Herts who brings the "missus to the theatre" once every couple of months. I don't want to base my choice on reviews from a tourist who came to London without a clue, and followed the herd on TripAdvisor.

[matrignano]

I have lived in Soho for 8 years if that's any reassurance as to the validity of my recommendations

[cramorra]

Recommendations from my occasional visitor

OPSO in marlebourne a different take on Greek food but excellent

The Palomar absolutely some of the best food ever it is mediterranean/israeli but wow

For the simple cheap pizza next day try Franco Manga several branches

[ATG]

Hardens guide is always worth checking