Places to eat in London

For very good and inexpensive Chinese food try Jenny Lo's Teahouse which is near Victoria Station. It's very small and not at all fancy. Cash only.

I like Browns Restaurant on St. Martins in The Field. They have a pre-theatre menu of two courses. Both the Steak and Guiness pie and the Chicken Pie are lovely. Usually one of us orders a starter and the other a dessert and we share.

From personal experience I can recommend Mahdi's, 217 King Street, Hammersmith. Iranian food, not too expensive. Its excellent.

http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/reviews/11037.html

If you are going to a play (near Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square) you are only a few blocks from London Chinatown...with more that 50 restaurants to chose from (all regions represented), you can indulge yourself without guilt...the prices are ok, but the selection is what makes it all worthwhile...and you can be out before the play starts. Just look for Gerrard Street northwest of Leicester Square.

We have been to London more than 40 times in just over 20 years-- here's our favorite places- Victoria- Shakespear's, a pub across from the station, it has good fish and chips, and great "pies", Spaghetti House- good authentic Italian. Picadilly- Adam's Ribs- BBQ (yes they do good BBQ in London). China Town- Top of the Town- best Chinese we've found.

A nice Turkish restaurant in the Victoria area is the Kazan, in Wilton Road. More details here

http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant-3658.php

The Prince of Wales, right next door, is a nice place for a drink.

Near London Bridge Station the George Inn is a good pub which does reasonable food.The last galleried coach inn it gives an idea of the kind of place Shakespeare's plays were first performed, and the pubs from which Chaucer's pilgrims set off.

http://www.pubs.com/pub_details.cfm?ID=187

While in the area you can also visit Borough Market, and there are good river walks.

My favourite is to walk up the river to the Mayflower. Apparently some people called the Pilgrim Fathers set off from here in a ship called the Mayflower in 1620. I wonder whatever happened to them?

http://www.pubs.com/pub_details.cfm?ID=209

Within about 5 minutes of the pub is Rotherhithe tube, if you don't fancy the walk, or don't want to walk both ways.

Cheers
Alan

I recommend eatint at one of the Wagamama noodle shops around the city - it is excellent (Rick recoomends as well). Also, eat in the basement of St. Martins in the Field - great cafeteria style food at a good price (plus when do you the get the chance to eat in crypt?!). I also like an Italian chain called ASK and also the chain called EAT for quick on the go grub.

If you have a fridge in your room, hit up a Waitrose for snacks and things to nibble on.

If you are going to a play, there is a beautiful restaurant next to the Criterion Theatre, just off Picadilly Circus. The restaurant's ceiling is completely covered with mosaics. I think the restaurant is also called the Criterion. We ate there in 2002 and I don't remember how expensive it was. I remember the food was good and I was sorry we had to rush through the meal because of theatre tickets. We were just in London and the restaurant is still there, although we didn't have time to eat there this time. I think they had a pre-theatre "menu" for about $35.00 each.

You can also pick up tasty deli items and wine at any of the Marks and Spencer "Simply Food" shops and enjoy a picnic in the park. The London parks are full of benches.

Hi, I was in London in June 2007 by myself for 4 days and had a blast. I love Gordon's Wine Bar!!! but was mostly there for the cheese, wine and port before heading back to my hotel although they did have a buffet area I don't recall what all they had on it. But it makes a great destination break to kick back and relax a little and isn't far from Trafalgar Sq. The easiest way to find Gordon's (remember the streets aren't marked well and change names in a heartbeat) was to go to Charing Cross walk across the piazza from the station crossing in front of a hotel to the big blue sign on the side of building (says Brook Street) and go down what looks like a side street and that is Villers. A few doors up from Gordons is a very nice italian restraunt called Trattoria Italiana. I stayed in the Victoria area too and found several nice pubs and eateries nearby. One that I went to was called Chimes that was good and I had a beef and mushroom pie. The Marks & Spencers shops are all over and a great place to pick up a snack or a carry away to enjoy as a picnic in one of the parks. You can spend as little or as much as you want in London. As you read other posts you will pick up names of places others have experienced and enjoyed. Have a great trip. Happy trails, Pam

Between Victoria and Pimlico tube stations off Belgrave Rd. is Grumbles, which for us was a refreshing change from pub food. Very fresh and well-prepared food, and they have a few tables on the sidewalk in the summer. They have a web site with menu: www.grumblesrestaurant.co.uk
That part of Belgrave Rd. has lots of other small, local restaurants and pubs.

I have always just wondered into the nearest pub to eat because it is often inconvenient to travel to a special place in London. Pubs generally are accepted by Brits as good eating.

And there are several pubs near Victoria. We also found an exceptional Italian restaurant 3 blocks from the station if you have time to ask about it. Cant remember the name.

When we can, we always search out a "Carvery Restaurant" because the food is reasonably priced and exceptionally tasty; but they are not always nearby.

Someone has already recommended Wagamama but they are my favorite place to eat in London. Before going, however, sign up on the Wagamama website. They will post discount coupons for "members" at various Wagamama restaurants around London.

On James St., near Oxford St., there are a number of really good choices including Sea Bass a small but very good sea food restaurant.

Near Marylebone High Street is Ishtar a really good middle eastern restaurant. It is a little pricey but worth it. Check to see if they are belly dancing on the lower level.