I'm curious if it's totally acceptable in London to pop into a restaurant only to order dessert. I tried doing this in Paris recently and I was not allowed to without ordering an appetizer and entree first.
Posted by
Freedonia
16408 posts
It depends on the restaurant. I doubt a "fancy" place will let you do that. But there are plenty of pastry shops throughout the city.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5865 posts
I’ve never seen anyone do this.
I did recently read about this dessert only place:
https://cakesandbubbles.co.uk
Posted by
Bristol, UK
1452 posts
Not common but I couldn’t say it would never be allowed. It would be ok in most pubs. You can go to a pub and not buy any food at all. Anywhere popular will not be keen on you taking up a table for such a small spend. Maybe if it wasn’t a busy time it may be ok but I don’t think that they will be overjoyed by the request.
Posted by
OP
Pico Rivera, CA
594 posts
For reference, I have written down Hawksmoor (a chain) for their sticky toffee pudding. I do think I saw an image on Google showing a receipt with just the pudding on it.
Posted by
318 posts
Here in the states it is not uncommon to go out for dessert and coffee after the theatre or ballet, I wonder if that's true in London.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1199 posts
Caffe Concerto Haymarket. We stopped here post theater for excellent dessert and coffee. Multiple locations across London. A more casual place, or cafe, might be more welcoming.
Posted by
Land of La
9261 posts
Instead of going to Hawksmoor ( which isn’t cheap) why not have sticky toffee pudding at Mother Mash on Ganton Street. From there check out Liberty. Not something you’ll find in Pico Rivera….or anywhere in California or the United States. A different shopping experience.
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3895 posts
You might find they have the same rule as the restaurant in Paris you referenced. You must make a reservation to eat at Hawksmoor, and that would be a good time to tell them you'll only be ordering dessert.
Why not send them an email and ask whether or not they mind a customer just ordering dessert?
Posted by
Preston UK
1232 posts
It would be regarded as pretty weird to go to a full service restaurant like Hawksmoor and just have pudding. But at cafes like Cafe Concerto and coffee shops (both chain and independent) it would be fine, although that’s more likely to be cakes. There are a number of dessert places targeting the South Asian market that wants to avoid pubs as well that would work.