London Eating out
Information about Restaurants in London
In
London you will be able to dine on food from anywhere in the world at
reasonable prices. However, if you are looking for traditional British
fare, some of the best eating in London can be done in the dining rooms
of fine hotels. The Savoy Grill, at The Savoy Hotel, The Strand, is as
famous for its clientele as its food. Classic British dishes are served
using only the best ingredients. Try steak and kidney puddings with
oysters or Cumberland sausages with Guinness gravy. Finish it all off
with something from the famous dessert trolley. Another world famous
restaurant is close by. Simpson's in the Strand, which also serves
traditional British food. It has been serving genuine, fine English food
since the early 19th century and its roast meats, Lobster soup and
Potted shrimps are out of this world. It also serves really good game
meat in the traditional way with game chips and bread sauce. Again
ensure you leave room for something from the dessert trolley.
Further west, close to Kensington High Street is Maggie Jones's unique
and charming little traditional restaurant. Their evening menu offers a
good range of English traditional favourites. Other good traditional
restaurants are Butlers Wharf Chop House close to Tower Bridge where in
the summer you can eat on the terrace and enjoy the views of the river
and the City of London. The food is excellent, offering such delicacies
as venison, wild boar and roast pork with prunes. Across the river, on
the South Bank at Waterloo, you can sample the fine menu of the Oxo
Tower Restaurant which is located on the eighth floor and also has
wonderful views across the Thames. Porters, in Covent Garden is
probably, one of the best restaurants for real traditional English food.
A plethora of fantastic pies, their wonderful fillings hidden under
crumbling puff pastry. Portions are large and everything you consider to
be typical English food can be found here. Porters is also a great place
to stop for afternoon tea. Whilst on the subject of afternoon tea, treat
yourself to a trip to one of the following for a really special treat.
Afternoon tea at the Ritz in Piccadilly is really elegant; the surroundings are sumptuous and the waiters discrete, courteous and quaint in their tuxedos with tails.. The dress code is formal for customers and men must wear jackets and ties. If the weather is good, take your tea on the terrace. Or go up the road to Fortnum and Masons' St James' Restaurant. Its cakes and pastries, teas and breads are amazing, there is live piano music and the whole ambience is quietly genteel. Finally, if your budget can't stretch to actually stay in a five star hotel you could always take afternoon tea in one to experience its luxury. Tea at The Savoy on the Strand will give you that experience. Again the array of teatime delicacies is astounding, the surroundings and ambience dignified and elegant with live piano music and wonderful views of the River Thames.
If you are looking for that other British staple, fish and chips, most of the restaurants above offer this on their menu. However, there are also many wonderful restaurants that specialise in only this. Try Fish Bone, at 82 Cleveland St, W1. The fish is freshly cooked as you order it, the batter is crunchy and not dripping with grease. The chips are proper chips, thick, fat and made from real potatoes. Try eating your fish and chips the traditional way with a portion of mushy peas.
The other traditional eating places to try are the pubs. Here you can find some excellent menus of traditional and other kinds of food and very good prices. However, as in any eating place you can also find some that are not so good. Try The Charles Lamb near the Angel, Islington, N1 or The Anchor and Hope at The Cut, Southwark SE1 for a really good meal. Because both these pubs have built up excellent reputations for good food they are get full very quickly and neither accept booking reservations, so arrive in good time or be prepared to wait. The latter pub has a very good menu that blends both traditional French and British cuisine. Alternatively if you are looking for something a bit cheaper and less well known , The Coach and Horses Pub and Dining Room 26-28 Ray Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1 or The White Horse on Parsons Green, London are both very good and very reasonably priced. Both have developed reputations as gastro pubs, which can be described as a pub which serves restaurant-quality food at pub prices in an informal, relaxed atmosphere.
Ethnic restaurants can be found anywhere in London but different countries restaurants tend to cluster in specific areas. For Chinese, try the China Town area around Leicester Square, For Indian curries go to Brick Lane in the East End - known as the curry mile. If you happen to be in Chelsea, however, and want a really special Indian meal go to Chutney Mary, in King's Road, Chelsea, SW10. Here you will find gourmet food in a delightfully, oriental and romantic setting making it something really special. Middle Eastern food can be found in the Edgeware Road W1 area and also around Kensington and Knightsbridge. Islington, Archway, Camden and Bayswater have many Greek restaurants.
Try it for a unique experience. For any theatre show it is best to decide what you want to see when you first arrive and get seats in advance. Popular plays and first night performances sell out very quickly, especially during the summer. Tickets can be purchased at the booking office; at Ticket Agencies, which you will see all around central London; from the official ticket booths in Leicester Square or at Canary Wharf ; On-line; or over the phone. If purchasing via a Ticket Agent you will be charged a booking fee of around 25% . Look for Agents who are members of the Society of Ticket Agents & Retailers (STAR) to ensure the best service. Purchasing your ticket at the booking office of the theatre itself will not entail extra booking fee costs (unless you do so over the phone). Most theatre's booking offices are open from 10a.m. and continue to sell tickets till 30 minutes before the evening performance.