London restaurant suggestions please!

kelou

At the end of the month some girlfirends and I are off to see dirty dancing and have the whole day to spend in London. As its my friend's 40th birthday we would like to have a long leisurely lunch somewhere, thought it would be nice if it was somewhere that had a view of some kind and also would like it to be pretty informal, and if possible not mega expensive!
Barbacoa has been suggested but I am told it is a bit pricey, as well as the restaurant in the national portrait gallery but that looks a bit formal! Any suggestions would be gratefully recieved.
Thanks!

porlock

Are you going on a weekday or a weekend? A lot of restaurants around Covent Garden and the theatres do set lunch/pre-theatre menus, which can be pretty reasonable.

This should give you an idea, but I'd look at some maps/listings websites etc to get the names of resturants in the area, then go to their own websites to see if they are advertising any deals.

Also, see here:
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/offers/type/lunch-deals.htm

This place is the nearest restaurant I could think of near the theatre - even they have set lucnhes from £19 for 3 courses.
http://www.onealdwych.com/food-drink/axis-at-one-aldwych.aspx

If you're lucky, and there's a Pizza Express voucher around that's valid when you go, try the branch next the Globe. Ask to sit upstairs and you get a greta view across the river towards St Pauls. You could then stroll along the South Bank as far as Waterloo Bridge, cross that, and you're at the theatre!

kelou

Hi Porlock, we are only there for the day but aim to make it a long day! We are going to the friday matinee which starts at 5pm, so really our day is our own, love the location of that Pizza express but was kind of hoping for somewhere a bit different for her birthday! Somewhere we can sit chat and drink copious amounts of wine (well at least a couple of glasses!) Our train comes into victoria, so I thought maybe we could go on foot to see more, maybe cut through Hyde park?
Thanks so much for the other link, shall sit and go through it now. :beer:

porlock

From Victoria, you're well situated for St James Park, too - possibly a bit more convenient as once you get out the other side, you're only at Trafalgar Square.

sammylou100

Have a look on toptable.com, you do need to sign up but it shows you various restaurants, reviews & often has 50% off deals. I work in London and use this website everytime I want to go out for a meal.

kelou

Thanks Porlock, St James Park sounds good, and think we could take a slow stroll through there to Trafalgar sqare (if its a dry day!) the Axis place looks lovely, and prices look good but not sure if plainer fare may be preffered, know she loves italian and spanish. Its really hard when I look at all the lisitngs for all the different places, as my knowledge of london is a bit sketchy!

kelou

sammylou100 wrote: »

Have a look on toptable.com, you do need to sign up but it shows you various restaurants, reviews & often has 50% off deals. I work in London and use this website everytime I want to go out for a meal.

Thanks Sammylou, any favourite italian/spanish places, or any pointers for a giggly girly lunch?

VfM4meplse

Why not try one of the London hotels for a champagne tea instead? - not cheap but a real treat and bound to get you giggly. They normally have long waiting lits but you might get lucky with a cancellation.

Coulddn't be further from Pizza Express!

kelou

Yes that sounds great! Will go and look in to that too, Thanks all for the replies!

unsure

The National Theatre and Tate Modern both have reasonably priced restaurants (not cheap cheap but good by london standards) which ahve great views overlooking the Thames with the city spreading out dramatically.
Thew royal Festival Hall's Skylon resturant has great views across river to Houses of Parl etc. There is currently a deal on toptable.com for a two course lunch at £16 (plus drinks)

http://www.toptable.com/venue/?id=4140