London (Restaurants)

Miss_Fox_2

Hi guys

I wasn’t sure where to put this but figured it fell nicelyunder travel planning!

I’m going to London for a long weekend in late July for mybirthday and I’m looking for recommendations of restaurants. We’re staying overat Westfield but I don’t mind travelling anywhere across the city!

I love Italian food, or typical British food or a steakhousetype place etc. But I want to be able to dress up nice for the occasion(without having to pay £100s to be there!)

Anyone know anywhere? J

Thanks

Liz

InsideInsurance

What sort of price per head do you want to be spending excluding drink?

C London is a very good central italian restaurant but it isnt VERY formal (certainly not t-shirt and jeans but not suits either). Massimo in the Corinthia Hotel is fairly good if you are more fish orientated than me. Both are probably 30-35 per head for the food. The bar in the Corinthia tends to have some reasonable jazz groups and cocktails.

Miss_Fox_2

Hi

To be honest, I don’t really mind on price but I’d probablysay £45ish per head excluding drinks. Weboth love food so I’d love somewhere with a nice atmosphere with great food.Not bothered on it being a Gordon Ramsey type place.

Thanks J

Liz

InsideInsurance

As to the "by" I think it depends on who it is. I wouldn't go to anything like Jamie's Italian but Dinner by Heston is great, if a bit over your budget, and The Bread Street Kitchen does great pork belly even if it is a Ramsey place (but again its more informal and the suits are due to its location).

Next to the Bread Street is a Jamie one which again I wouldnt touch but under that is a butchers that supplies the restaurant above and their meat is fantastic and all the butchers are great guys (but we are going off topic here).

Theres 3 restaurants opening on floors 31-33 of the Shard next week which may be worth going to for the views. The reviews of the chinese on the top floor appear to be fairly good and it is north china food (most the british chinese is south hence it being so sweet).

Coq d'Argent is french, good food and nice views of St Pauls from the terrace bar but can be noisy with City types on Thurs/ Fri, particularly around the inside bar. Food is ok priced but the wine is very expensive (but good)

Hawksmoor, particularly in Spitalfields, is a good steak place. Upper end of your budget and again the wine list can get dangerous but probably the best restaurant steak I've had outside of the US.

Could keep going, I eat out a bit too much but then got to make the most of not having kids

benjus

Some suggestions:

Bocca di Lupo (Soho/Piccadilly, Modern Italian)
Opera Tavern (Covent Garden, Hybrid Spanish/Italian tapas)
Hawksmoor (Several branches, Steak)
Casa Malevo (Marble Arch, Argentine Steak)
MASH (Soho, Steak)

AlexMac

The idea of a chain restaurant may not appeal, but in practice, Browns is one of my favourites for qaulity (both food and service) and value, and some are in great locations- such as the Butlers Wharf branch where, if you manage to book an outside table behind sheltered glass screns you sit by the Thames with views of Tower Bridge. They originally started off in university towns but haven't gone downmarket as they've spread. And if you register on their websites, you can get good value voucher deals such as their 'Friends' menus at around £30 for two with wine or a current 1973 retro celebration (of their set up date) at under 20 quid for two meals... Look at the friends link at
http://www.browns-restaurants.co.uk/locations/butlers-wharf/

Other Thames-side restos I've enjoyed are North Bank http://www.northbankrestaurant.com/ equally good value, albeit full of city types after work
and Oxo Tower http://www.harveynichols.com/oxo-tower-london about twice as flash, with prices to match
Bon appetit

budgetflyer

Browns tend to run out of food by Saturday evening, so if you go, go Friday.

daisiegg

Was going to suggest Hawksmoor too, as a few others have done.

I love Gaucho (various locations) but you would need to check the menu online because it may be a tad over your budget. Similar food to Hawksmoor but very different atmosphere (dark and sexy!).

As for Italian, we really liked Theo Randall at the Intercontinental (it is inside the hotel). Ignore the fact that it is a celebrity chef - it was very good food.

Have fun!

benjus

daisiegg wrote: »

I love Gaucho (various locations) but you would need to check the menu online because it may be a tad over your budget. Similar food to Hawksmoor but very different atmosphere (dark and sexy!).

Gaucho does generally offer good food and is quite consistent. I'm not a fan, but that's mainly for personal reasons - my fiancee is from Argentina as are many of our friends, who generally find Gaucho tacky and fake. If you want a real Argentinian meal I'd suggest one of London's independent Argentinian restaurants (such as the one I mentioned above). However, as a steak house Gaucho is fine, although rather pricey.

daisiegg

benjus wrote: »

Gaucho does generally offer good food and is quite consistent. I'm not a fan, but that's mainly for personal reasons - my fiancee is from Argentina as are many of our friends, who generally find Gaucho tacky and fake. If you want a real Argentinian meal I'd suggest one of London's independent Argentinian restaurants (such as the one I mentioned above). However, as a steak house Gaucho is fine, although rather pricey.

I don't go to Gaucho because it is 'Argentinian' or even think of it as such. I can imagine if you were looking for an authentic Argentinian meal it would disappoint, but just as a nice steak house for a special occasion I really like it.

Miss_Fox_2

Thanks everyone!
Had a look at a few and have booked in to Bar Boulud in the Mandarin Oriental. I know it's Frenchband that doesn't usually appeal but the menu (ok, the burgers!!) looks amazing!
Can't wait now!