Where should I eat in London?

[Melchior]

What's good food wise in London? I don't mean the flash restaurants, but I've heard English food is pretty terrible so some suggestions for places to stop while out checking the chops and museums and stuff would be great. I've been told to have a curry in the east end, but that's not super specific.

[ripley]

AFGHAN KITCHEN near Angel. affordable (if not cheap by london standards). crowded (don't go with more than one friend, really). awesome.

the curried pumpkin is brilliant, as is the bread.

also Maison Bertaux in soho, for pastries. I like it better than Valere.

[Lichen]

t I've heard English food is pretty terrible

Simply not true anymore..and certainly not true of London.

If you are staying in South Ken, you must try the Phat Phuc noodle stand on the Jct of Sydney Street and Kings Road (opposite a furniture store called Heals). Clean, clear stock, fistfuls of coriander, organic chicken...for a around a fiver.

Eating in London has been transformed by the rise of the 'gastro-pub'. This has been a both a good thing and a bad thing. Bad because we've lost a lot of trad. boozers. Good because there are one or two gems. The Eagle on Farringdon Road is the prototype for this way of eating. Hearty Meditteranean food, keenly priced, great beer, no booking to arrive at 12.30 for lunch.

LIkewise the Hope and Anchor in Waterloo, though the food has more of an Englsih bent to it.

The Cow in Notting Hill Gate is a similar proposition and well worth a visit if you're checking out Notting Hill/Portobello.

If you are in Clerkenwell pop into the bar of St John on St John street. The r'straunt is awesome but expensive, but there are well priced and filling bar snacks that give a flavour of the place.

To witness changing brit. attitudes to food, get down to Borough Market

http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/

You can snack happily there and get something yummy to take home. There are one or two great pubs on its periphery and it's very close to Tate Modern.


Hope this helps.

[HMGovt]

I always have to recommend Rive Gauche in Warren Street. Excellent takeaway sandwiches on one side and a counter with french dishes (cassoulet, choucroute, fish pie, sausage and puy lentils, etc.) served up on the other for seated customers.

[mms]

jai krishnas stroud green road, finsbury park,really good veggie indian in a restaurant that hasn't changed since the early 80's with moody staff, and an odd way of ordering.Good atmosphere, very cheap.

[benjybars]

jai krishnas stroud green road, finsbury park,really good veggie indian in a restaurant that hasn't changed since the early 80's with moody staff, and an odd way of ordering.Good atmosphere, very cheap.

BRAP!

cannot recommend jai krishna highly enough.. and they've just opened one on turnpike lane

also go and eat turkish food in haringey/dalston

[mistersloane]

For superb cheap Mexican :

Taqueria
139-143 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RS, tel: 02072294734

Jamaican takeway :

Rice N Peas, Brixton Water Lane

Expensive trendy Chinese dim sum, dress up drink cocktails:

Yauatcha
15 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 0DL

Best Chinese in Europe :

Hunan
51 Pimlico Road, London, SW1W 8NE
Telephone: 0871 3327993

( go in the evening, you get asked roughly how much you want to pay, and how experimental you are, and then just get brought dishes. Top nosh )

[UFO over easy]

Hunan
51 Pimlico Road, London, SW1W 8NE
Telephone: 0871 3327993

( go in the evening, you get asked roughly how much you want to pay, and how experimental you are, and then just get brought dishes. Top nosh )

i never said thank you for this - my memory was jogged because i went there for my birthday last year after reading through the thread, and im looking again now for the same reason. it was really fantastic, and not expensive at all for what it was. really felt like a special occasion, so thanks!

anyone have any new suggestions for good, not too expensive but still special occasion type places to try? thinking about trying that Gourmet San place in bethnel green that was recommended, or maybe this place - http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...t-review-sushi looks quite expensive, but we wouldn't drink so hopefully would be ok

[crackerjack]

anyone have any new suggestions for good, not too expensive but still special occasion type places to try? thinking about trying that Gourmet San place in bethnel green that was recommended, or maybe this place - http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...t-review-sushi looks quite expensive, but we wouldn't drink so hopefully would be ok

If you're in the BG area, let me (re-)recommend Bistrotheque. Not cheap (about £30-5 for 3 courses w/o booze) but special enough for an occasion. Plus there's some burlesque ish going on downstairs some nights which could make a change from having them bring out a birthday cake for you.

[mistersloane]

i never said thank you for this - my memory was jogged because i went there for my birthday last year after reading through the thread, and im looking again now for the same reason. it was really fantastic, and not expensive at all for what it was. really felt like a special occasion, so thanks!

anyone have any new suggestions for good, not too expensive but still special occasion type places to try? thinking about trying that Gourmet San place in bethnel green that was recommended, or maybe this place - http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...t-review-sushi looks quite expensive, but we wouldn't drink so hopefully would be ok

Glad you enjoyed it! Funny little place innit? Personal service lol.

Kikuchi is good food. It's kinda very good Japanese but I wouldnt say a special occasion place. Good if other people are paying.

For Indian the tasting menu at Zaika I thought was great value, it's Indian but done Michelin-style, it feels like having a meal in a restaurant, if you know what I mean? Feels and tastes posh lol. 6 courses in Kensington. I like that 'What shall we do tonight darling? Dress up and spend lots of money?' vibe. I went there for my birthday last year.

http://www.zaika-restaurant.co.uk/la...#37;20Menu.pdf

Thanks for all the Eth/Etr tips, I'll scoot around when I can!

[Ness Rowlah]

Pre-theatre or lunch set meals at Arbutus in Soho at less than 20 quid are
recommended if you want to sample some more upmarket stuff.

Mangosteen for OK Thai at reasonable prices near Carnaby Street.

Combine with a browse in the Berwick Street record shops.

Avoid at all costs: "Aberdeen Steak House", "Angus Steak House" and the like
- these are tourist traps with shit food and shit service.

[simon silverdollar]

Rasa on charlotte street (just north of oxford street) do incredible south indian seafood.
they also do insanely cheap takeaway lunches: £3 for 2 curries, rice, bread and dessert.

mandalay on edgeware road (near Lord's cricket ground) do truly wonderful burmese food, and are super friendly.

[simon silverdollar]

I've been told to have a curry in the east end, but that's not super specific.

don't go to the brick lane area for curry without researching it properly; 90% of places round there are pretty dire. tayyabs, the pakistani lamb chop place, is meant to be the best round there but i've never been

tooting, south london, is great for curry: especially the gujarati place, Kastoori.

[Lichen]

tooting on a summer evening is quite something and kastoori is awesome; as is sri krishna.

i wonder if Melchior has already gone to London. Are you there Melchior?

[mos dan]

tooting on a summer evening is quite something and kastoori is awesome; as is sri krishna.

kastoori is veggie, i might add. not that this makes it any less fantastic. as a tooting-ite, i wish there was a decent pub i could recommend to you for an after-dinner drink, but tbh you're better off heading back towards balham on the bus, to the duke of devonshire on balham high road