We are taking an overnight flight from the US, arriving at the Waterloo Travel Lodge, around noon. We plan to do the London Eye, and perhaps a park in the afternoon. Can you recommend a decent restaurant for our first night in London that would be close to our hotel and that would give us a nice "first impression" of London?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23273 posts
Ask at the hotel. A nice English pub would be a good start. Also use Yelp as a starting point. You are going to be too tired to enjoy an elegant dinner. Save that for later in the week.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Moderate to high budget. Like most varieties of food, except for Indian.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
Good pub food. A steak and kidney with chips. Goes well with a pint.
Posted by
Washington State
22 posts
After the Eye I would recommend a leisurely walk north on the Queen's Walk instead of a park. Two of our favorite places in London are Borough Market (check opening times) and St Dunstan in the East Church Garden. A Gastropub would be a fun first night meal, but most choices on the menu are "heavy" foods.
Posted by
Land of La
8679 posts
Burgers and Pizza at The Fire Station, Wahaca for a different take on Mexican food ( slow cooked pork burrito is a personal fav), fish and chips at Masters Superfish, or Italian at Azzurro. All restaurants different in size and price.
Posted by
Washington DC
27137 posts
Your first night is not the time I would recommend a really special meal. You may be zombies after a sleepless night on the plane. At the least you will be jetlagged. I wouldn't even want to tie myself down to a specific meal time; I'd just go with the flow that first day.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8452 posts
agree with acraven. It takes a few days for the internal clock to adjust and make meals appetizing.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
I agree with some of the above posters- try a local pub (either one you see on your walks or one near your hotel). Fish and chips, Steak and Ale pie (or other meat based pies), roast chicken, or if you are lucky and its a Sunday night, get a Sunday roast (could be beef, pork , lamb or chicken) usually served with mashed or roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables, sometimes with Yorkshire Pudding (a bread dish), and sometimes includes dessert. Or do a Google search- put in this phrase "restaurants near ____" and put in the address of your hotel or an address you expect to be near at dinner time. Then check them out on Trip Advisor, Yelp and similar sites.
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2776 posts
You mentioned that you might go to a park in the afternoon, if you go to St James Park there is a great pub Sherlock Holmes, it's a 10 minute walk. I think a pub would be a great first impression .
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4328 posts
You could also consider tea for your evening meal. Find one with savory food as well as sweets.