Cheap Meal in London

Legacy_user

Hi,

It's my girlfriends 21st and I'm taking here to London for the Weekend. Are there any good restaurants near Kings Cross that I could take her on the saturday night?

Please?

System

I'm not aware that Kings Cross is an area renowned for it's culinary excellence.
Islington or Soho may be a better bet. Possibly look at Upper Street in Islington and/or Old Compton Street in Soho.

Lucie_2

try this place for lunch It's on Shaftesbury Avenue & fab (if you like curry)

Have a look on https://www.5pm.co.uk for a restaurant booking bargain in the evening

celticsprite

you can also try here

http://www.toptable.co.uk/

they've loads of london offers.. which is a shame when you dont live there!

cs

System

There are several Wagamama restaurants about. Good quality, but not too expensive.

I can highly reccomend No.35 Kare Lomen

"A spicy sauce based dish made from lemongrass,
coconut milk, shrimp paste, fresh ginger and
galangal, served with ramen noodles. garnished with
chargrilled king prawns, beansprouts, cucumber, lime and
fresh coriander £7.40"

They also have 2 for 1 offers

http://www.wagamama.com/members/offers/

System

http://www.london-eating.co.uk/2689.htm

Cafe Emm very good, Frith St, Soho - see reviews (also on itchy london website)

System

Nyell

I'd agree with what one or 2 other forum members have said.

In my experience independent restaurants near main train stations tend to be the worst (with only the "chain" restaurants in those areas...Pizza Hut etc... being consistently reliable). Of course there are notable exceptions to this, but unless you know the restaurants I prefer not to take the chance.

I say this after a particularly memorable curry near Victoria Train Station (in London) last year, which I had with my girlfriend whilst waiting for a moneysaving £1 coach to manchester.

The place was full of tourists who thought it was an authentic curry experience, but it was no Rusholme or Brick Lane....curry like tap water, and my lamb korma consisted of just 3 small pieces of meat. The meat was so chewy that my girlfirend had to visit the ladies to spit a piece out!!

Also in Paris many years ago, me and 4 friends got very bad food poisoning after a "nice" meal in a posh seafood restaurant near the Gare Du Nord train station, so you can see I have been scarred by my expereinces of restaurants near Train Stations!!!! ;D


So I would now never visit an independent restaurant near a train station (chain restaurants Pizza Hut, Bella Pasta etc.. ok because at least they are reliable).

Lots of nice areas and restaurants within reach of Kings Cross. It is well worth jumping on the tube and going to a god area with good pubs etc.. for afterwards, especially if you are celebrating someone's 21st.

If you are on a budget then the Time Out "London Cheap Eats Guide" is invaluable and consistent. Lists places like The Stockpot in Soho, and Wong Kei's in Chinatown with good consistent for about a fiver!

If you decide on Wagamana buy this weeks Time Out - they have a BOGOF offer for all Wagamana's in London, voucher worth up to £9:25 and valid for this next Staurday.

If you are going for something a bit more pricey, let us know your budget, and I will list the places I have been to in central London and maybe other forum members will too.

Good luck with the wining and dining!  :)

System

Just looking through the Wagamana site, ta 4 the link tommy, and came accross this info...

WAGAMANA BOGOF MEAL DEALS

"the online vouchers will be back in september but in the meantime for your 2 for 1 meal deal your local newspaper / listings guide has it's very own exclusive wagamama summer promotion. find them every week in the publications listed below from 7 july - end of august 2004"

manchester
CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

central london
TIME OUT

guilford
SUUREY ADVERTISER

nottingham
NOTTINGHAM EVENING POST

glasgow and edinburgh
THE LIST - GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH EVENTS GUIDE

bristol and bath
"VENUE" BRISTOL & BATH'S WHAT'S ON MAGAZINE


kingston upon thames
SURREY COMET

st albans
ST ALBANS OBSERVER

System

Don't take your girlfriend to Wagamamas on her 21st!!!!
It's a canteen-style place where you share tables with lots of other people - nice food, but hardly glam or romantic. You could always go for lunch on another day if you are staying for the w/end and use the BOGOF.
I also agree with all those who say stay clear of Kings Cross for food.
But there are two nice romantic French-style places a short bus/taxi/tube ride away (or you can walk in about 30mins):
Little Bay (especially fantastic value before 7) on 171 Farringdon Road (you could get tube to Farringdon, two stops from Kings Cross)
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/2710.htm
OR
Le Mercure on 140a Upper Street
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/2352.htm
As someone else mentioned there are a lot of good places on Upper Street - and it's a good place to end up for after dinner drinks too.

Lucie_2

I agree! As much as I love Wagamamas & eat there all the time, I'd be a bit disappointed if someone took me there for my 21st birthday! I would want to be wined & dined in candlelight, not sit next to strangers slurping their noodles in the harsh glare of a canteen.

royalsteve

roof gardens in kensington is quite nice..if you can get in.

The Conrad Internal hotel (Chelsea Harbour) does a nice buffet lunch eat till you drop...just dont order pure orange juice as you wont get much change from a tenner