"Locals" Restaurants in London

Find a pub. Better if it is down a street, off the beaten path a bit.

My absolute favorite place in London is Ottolenghi. This is not a restaurant ... more like a bakery cafe with great takeaway food. Gorgeous and delicious salads and baked goods. I make at least one stop there on every trip to London. In Marylebone, I like the Providores and Tapa room (downstairs) for lunch and a glass of wine although I do think it is a bit overpriced. Nearby, the Fromagerie has a table where you can taste their excellent cheeses. There are lots of foodie type places in this area (The Ginger Pig, Rococo Chocolates, etc.) There are lots of good food options at Borough Market if you happen to be in London on a Friday or Saturday. I also like Dehesa (Spanish tapas) in Soho for lunch. Fernandez and Wells (also in Soho) has an interesting s e lection of sandwiches. For fast food (peri-peri chicken and chips), Nandos is my guilty pleasure. There are branches all over. I'm not suggesting that this is fine cuisine ... If you are looking for reviews, timeout.co.uk has a good restaurant site where you can search by neighborhood and cuisine. Also try urbanspoon.

Currently really like Princi - princi.co.uk. Italian on Wardour street (owned by the guy who started Wagamama). Indian go to Drummond Street - NWI - nearest tube Euston Square. Indian restaurants - a lot vegetarian.
Or in East End around Commercial Street - Pakistani restaurants.

For breakfast, lunch, or tea - The Muffin Man at 12 Wrights Lane, about a 3 minute walk from the High Street Kensington tube stop.

A trip to London is never complete without a meal at Lamb and Flag in Covent Garden. Very old pub and on a tiny lane-Rose St I think. If you want an elegant lunch in beautiful setting, the Wolseley is your place. Look at Londontown.com for ideas.

Jan I second the Lamb and Flag, and the Drummond Street Indians. Chicken tikka is, after all, now the most popular English meal. You might also check out Marie's Thai Cafe in Lower Marsh Street behind Waterloo. As well as thai food they serve English fry ups during the day. http://www.london-se1.co.uk/restaurants/info/550/maries-cafe I also really like Jimmy's in Frith Street in Soho. It's a Greek (well Cyriot) basement restaurant which hasn't really changed in the last 30 years. Big portions and fair prices. Alan

None better than Gordon's Wine Bar, they have a website. Traditional British fare in a homemade buffet with only locals for lunch. It's a block or two off Trafalgar Square, easy to find. Worth every penny. All locals from the nearby offices, except for you, of course. Go a bit before noon to get outdoor seating. Enjoy the house wine as well.

George, we walked into Gordon's Wine Bar and it was packed! Loved the atmosphere and wished we could have found a table. I guess there is standing room out the back door, but we were looking for a sit down place for dinner. Will definitely return to Gordon's and hope for a place to sit this time! We went up the street a hundred meters or so to the Princess of Wales pub and had a good meal and good prices for Ale. Can recommend that place too.

I third the Gordon's Wine Bar idea. Went there twice on my last trip in 2007. There was a large patio with chairs and tables out back and previous poster is correct you will be sitting amongst local office workers. I only had cheese and wine and later port from the wooden cask, oh heaven.

For dinner, go around 4PM to get a table before the nearby offices let out. Nurse a carafe (sorry, no beers) until the dinner fare is ready as the place will be packed with office workers at quitting time. It's well worth several visits for the inexpensive food and the atmosphere. Another great place with a view is the National Portrait Gallery, just behind the National Gallery. The top floor restaurant is about half locals and the view across Trafalgar Square towards the Thames is worth a visit. Reservations may be needed for dinner.

As for pubs (which is where I usually eat in London), I'm partial to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, down a higgly-piggly alley off Fleet St. Claims to be Londons oldest pub (with a few dozen others...) With tables tucked into inglenooks over several floors, hobbit sized doorways linking rooms, and a communal bar in the cellar (where I get my info from the locals), you can't beat it in my opinion. The Sam Smith's beer is some of the best priced in London, too.

Check out Patisserie Valerie & Mon Plaisir. Have fun, susan
(Aberdeen & London, UK)

For unpretentious, awesome and reasonable Italian, try La Porchetta, 33 Boswell in Bloomsbury.

Considering all of the delicious replies to my question...I think that I'll go back to Weight Watchers to prepare for my trip. Thanks Travelers!
Jan

Just came back and enjoyed a terrific meal at Les Deux Salons, 40 William St between White Hall and Theater district. Same owners as Soho's "Arbutus" and Mayfair's "Wild Honey". A classic looking french brasserie. Not a wallet buster. Wine list not overpriced. Food was outstanding. Service very good. Large room, but not noisy. Like stepping into a Paris...just the thing when in London!

I'm not a foodie. I'm happy with simple food from eateries frequented by locals. In London, when we were ready to eat, we asked a Bobby to recommend a nearby pub. I always add "nothing fancy" to make sure they don't assume I'm looking for a gourmet restaurant.

This is a very old post. Jan has been to London and back.

We stayed near Kilburn High Road - 2 good places - the Small & Beautiful Restaurant (really a pub),and another small place, kitty-corner from the Kilburn tube station - can't remember the name.

True - it is an old post but we're headed to London in a weeks time and this really helped. :<)