london restaurants

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this has probably been done before. but can people say their favourite restuarants in London. in the next month i'll be going out for a few meals (including the house christmas meal!). i'm not sure where to go. small&beautiful (hey, proximity!) and rasa have been mooted so far.

so, any others. North or Central preferred.

gareth, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

La Forchetta or La Porchetta on Upper Street, yum yum yum, with pleasing proximity. Or that amazing vegetarian curry house behind Euston Station whose name I can never remember.

kate, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

w/o doubt the best quality/value vegetarian proper restaurant is The Gate in Hammersmith. out of your way i see, but there you go.

Alan Trewartha, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Wait, I assumed that the vegetarian option was necessary due to your housemate's soy milk in the fridge. Is this a necessity or are you lot not bothered?

kate, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Pollo (super cheap but yummy pasta'n'pizzas) on Old Compton St, Soho. It was our Max's Kansas City for a while. Super cheap and has KEG WINE! I actually back up Kate here with La Porchetta (Upper St, pizza place) whot RickyT took me to and larffed at my face when PIZZAS THE SIZE OF THE TABLE ARRIVED. Num. The W-Bar, Harringay Green Lanes. I'm obvious. I'm SORRY, I'm BROKE and a PLEB, OKAY?

Sarah, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

OOOH that Oyster Bar/pub somewhere near Cork St. That's classy. The CAVIAR shop on Picadilly!!! You can sit in a bus shelter and eat £10000000000 caviar!!! Yesssss!!!!

Sarah, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Oh, and the place we went to last night in Crouch End or wherever the fuck that was, was actually the original La Porchetta. You'll have to ask Ed or Suzy, cause I have no idea where I actually was, except we passed yours on the way back, so it must be quite near.

kate, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

There used to be a fabby viet place in lisle st. called pho, closed long ago — or DID IT MOVE!? (i need to know this too)

when you asked for small noodle soup it was as big as yr head (if yr head was liquid and in a bowl); i never dared ask for large noodle soup, in case the seas ran dry and it was my greedy fault

mark s, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

souk, just round the corner from the ivy. not particularly cheap, but wicked moroccan stuff and very cosy inside. like being in a cave or something .nice tagine/meze and lush peppermint coffee.

ambrose, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

the other La Porchetta is on Stroud Green Road, up from Finsbury Park station, and just round the corner from my humble abode.

michael, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Citrus - where else can you get a three course meal for under 15 quid in the Park Lane area? Their French menu is unsurpassed, and they do the best honey glazed roast duck I have *ever* tasted.

Trevor, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Thats not actually the other Porchetta as there is another other La Porchetta in Muswell Hill too. But the Stroud Green Road is the original. The Pizza as the size of a cow but I am not convinced of the well cooked nature of the centre (which still tastes like sloppy dough to me).

As the WCDS is starting soon I will be able to give more info, but Ethiopian Merkato on Caledonian Road is good, Crouch End (wherever the fuck that is) is full of top restaurants but latest discover of BYO curry house just off Marchomont Street in central London has had me going back 4 times in 2 weeks.

Pete, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

i lived in london for 6 months after university. i still miss "new culture revolution" in camden town. americans don't have chinese food like that. we don't have good curry anywhere, either. you guys have it good over there.

kristen, Tuesday, 4 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

10 months pass...
has anyone been to the ethiopan restaurant in tufnell park? i think i am going there later this week, wondered what it was like...

gareth (gareth), Sunday, 27 October 2002 21:43 (10 years ago) Permalink

w/o doubt the best quality/value vegetarian proper restaurant is The Gate in Hammersmith. out of your way i see, but there you go.

The Gate in Hammersmith is better than the one next to my house. Rasa in Stoke Newington is better than the one near Oxford Circus. But the best vegetarian restaurant in London is Manna, on Erskine Road, near Primrose Hill. I love this place (it equals The Gate for tastiness of food, and has a much better atmosphere).

Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Sunday, 27 October 2002 22:22 (10 years ago) Permalink

i am in love with cafe lazeez in soho. great atmosphere, yummiest indian food EVER and nice location. apparently, the other ones are not as good as the soho location.

sand.y, Monday, 28 October 2002 00:37 (10 years ago) Permalink

All the ethiopian restaurants in the Kentish Town / Tufnell Park area are great. Have the honey wine and Derek Tibbs.

Pete (Pete), Monday, 28 October 2002 10:31 (10 years ago) Permalink

Cheap restaurants I'm willing to go public with:

Kulu Kulu sushi in Brewer Street.

Mandola in Westbourne Grove.

Churchill Arms pub thai in Kensington.

suzy (suzy), Monday, 28 October 2002 11:21 (10 years ago) Permalink

is there more than one ethiopian restaurant in tufnell park then? i thought there was only one (which is the best one to go to?)

gareth (gareth), Monday, 28 October 2002 11:27 (10 years ago) Permalink

I can't remember the names of all of them but there are a couple on Fortess Road at least.

Pete (Pete), Monday, 28 October 2002 11:47 (10 years ago) Permalink

I am now dating a lovely Italian woman, and since Italian is also my favourite food, I think we will be going to many Italian restaurants, so recommendations are welcome - I knew of Pollo already, and where is La Forchetta on Upper Street, because if it's at the Angel end that would be very convenient, because she works around there?

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 28 October 2002 19:35 (10 years ago) Permalink

the ethiopian restaurant was quite nice, i had a chicken/peppers/onion/tomato thing qhich was nice, but S had lamb and pumpkin and the pumpkin was cold. the bread it was served with was weirdly like loft insulation and wasnt palatable at all (if you go, get the rice instead).

gareth (gareth), Friday, 1 November 2002 19:10 (10 years ago) Permalink

it's closer to the highbury and islington end, martin, but only marginally

mark s (mark s), Friday, 1 November 2002 19:17 (10 years ago) Permalink

We went to La Porchetta on Thursday, which was okay. She is unimpressed with La Forchetta!

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 3 November 2002 11:31 (10 years ago) Permalink

u shd try la aorchetta but avoid la borchetta

mark s (mark s), Sunday, 3 November 2002 13:57 (10 years ago) Permalink

La Corchetta is in Ireland, so inconvenient. La Dorchetta is full of nerds.

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 3 November 2002 16:41 (10 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...
the masala zone is absolute shit. i've now been to both the soho and upper street ones. they are equally dire. do not go there

gareth (gareth), Friday, 6 December 2002 10:38 (10 years ago) Permalink

Its the kind of thing that gets on LDN when they talk about 'trendy modern asian fast food'. You want good asian fast food there are many good places to go but the masala zone is not one of them its not even that cheap.

Ed (dali), Friday, 6 December 2002 10:49 (10 years ago) Permalink

Not a restaurant at all, but a friend recently took me to a bar called Positively 4th Street on Hampstead Road between Mornington Crescent and Euston. Great bar food, cocktails, excellent jukebox, and motorized leaf-imitation ceiling fans! Does anyone else know this place?

Big Hogleg, Friday, 6 December 2002 10:53 (10 years ago) Permalink

i wanted to try the afghan restaurant but they wouldnt listen

gareth (gareth), Friday, 6 December 2002 10:54 (10 years ago) Permalink

That Positively 4th St place is wacky as. Amusing fans (look like they should be running off steam hydraulics or something), kind of pricey pints according to my semi-drunken memory. Didn't try the cocktails, but hey! Whatever burns yr Bunsen. They have *jazz* occasionally, I believe. Could be fun, could be Euston-corporate-tit hell.

Liz :x (Liz :x), Friday, 6 December 2002 11:00 (10 years ago) Permalink

When I stayed with my brother in Drayton Park near Arsenal tube station a few years ago, we walked to a Thai place which I think was called Cats. He used to go there all the time and I have to say it was really really nice, a lovely place aswell as great food (and thai beer). We ended up going there a few times over the years when he lived there.

Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 6 December 2002 11:04 (10 years ago) Permalink

i used to live round the corner from drayton park!

gareth (gareth), Friday, 6 December 2002 11:06 (10 years ago) Permalink

Cats (or Cafe des Artistes), if it's the same one, is up Stroud Green Road a 1/2 mile or so down from La Porchetta. Finsbury Park is heaven for cheap and grebt restaurants. Mmmmm curry.

Liz :x (Liz :x), Friday, 6 December 2002 11:08 (10 years ago) Permalink

Did you go to the Drayton Arms or whatever the pub was called? I remember I went there and all the people were like "orlroigh' mate my parents is cawed o'donoghue".

Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 6 December 2002 11:17 (10 years ago) Permalink

If you ever find yourself with some extra money, Gareth, go to Gaudi on Clerkenwell in EC1. It was one of my favorite meals ever. And the decor is nice too. If you go for lunch, you won't have to get too dressed up.

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Friday, 6 December 2002 18:16 (10 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...
revive!

gareth (gareth), Monday, 27 January 2003 12:54 (10 years ago) Permalink

ok im out with some people to try this Pollo place out

but then im with some other people later in the week and we need another recommendation.

gareth (gareth), Monday, 27 January 2003 17:25 (10 years ago) Permalink

The new brisket and ribs place in soho looks good. I can't remember the name though.

Ed (dali), Monday, 27 January 2003 18:10 (10 years ago) Permalink

After a friends glowing review, I'm pondering trekking to Willesden Green (!) to go to Sushi-Say...

Sarah (starry), Monday, 27 January 2003 18:13 (10 years ago) Permalink

Bah, murasaki has closed. http://www.murasaki.co.uk/

They recommend the place you mention sarah

Alan (Alan), Monday, 27 January 2003 18:19 (10 years ago) Permalink

sushi-say is closed at the mo. actually maybe it reopens tomorrow? we were going to go there a couple of weeks ago but went to cafe japan in golders green, which was pretty good.

sushi-say is like 15mins walk from my house...

toby (tsg20), Monday, 27 January 2003 18:21 (10 years ago) Permalink

pollo was good! but the wine was bizarre, it had like flakes of something in it when you got to the bottom. luckily i was drinking beer

gareth (gareth), Thursday, 6 February 2003 13:24 (10 years ago) Permalink

Ed was thinking of Bodean's and their pulled Pork.

Sarah, sushi-say is fantastic, and the chef thre is very very cool.

chris (chris), Thursday, 6 February 2003 13:29 (10 years ago) Permalink

Pollo? That's the place my friend found a large chunk of metal in her pasta and the staff seemed to regard as her fault. I've never been back. Loathe as I am to recommend anything whatsoever about our already overpublicised capital, the best London meal I've had recently was Gallipoli in Islington. Fantastic Turkish food and very amiable staff.

Tag, Thursday, 6 February 2003 13:40 (10 years ago) Permalink

mmm, Gallipoli is lovely.

I've heard far too many stories about Pollo ever to go back there, which is a shame as I used to like it.

chris (chris), Thursday, 6 February 2003 13:49 (10 years ago) Permalink

I've only been to Pollo once. Friendly staff, fast service, a lengthy menu, cheap, and better food than you have a right to expect at the price. I'll go again.

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 6 February 2003 18:22 (10 years ago) Permalink

Gallipoli is grebt and I've never had anything that wasn't lovely at Pollo either.

RickyT (RickyT), Thursday, 6 February 2003 18:25 (10 years ago) Permalink

We're trying Bodean's tonight, I'll report back.

Ed (dali), Thursday, 6 February 2003 19:20 (10 years ago) Permalink

Bodean's is great. We sat in the upstairs fast food/order at the counter bit. We ate ribs and chicken wing. The food was perfect. Nice smoky taste good marinade an sauce, great beans and pickles on the side. Let down by poor beer selection, Becks, Budvar, Miller G Draft. Downstairs looks nice but upstairs sets the right mood, Food is served on plastic trays with a greaseproof sheet no ceremony. Quality fast food.

Ed (dali), Thursday, 6 February 2003 22:03 (10 years ago) Permalink

O WAIT i actually phoned the grapes up and they DO do food on sundays it's just not the main menu

sorted

flamenco drop (lex pretend), Saturday, 6 April 2013 13:41 (1 month ago) Permalink

was gonna suggest wetherspoons but this is probably a better option

^ sarcasm (ken c), Saturday, 6 April 2013 16:31 (1 month ago) Permalink

Not a restaurant as such but the gelato at Cremeria Vienna on Blackstock Road is excellent. Probably as good as anything I've had outside of Florence and reasonably priced.

Des Fusils Pour Banter (ShariVari), Sunday, 7 April 2013 21:35 (1 month ago) Permalink

otm- I live over by clissold park and quite often get off the tube a couple of stops early to walk by this place. I think I read maybe it's quite a big chain in italy?

sktsh, Sunday, 7 April 2013 21:52 (1 month ago) Permalink

not really a restaurant question per se but does anyone have any recommendations where to buy good crab meat in london? suzy?

on restaurants, has anyone been to beard to tail? am going next week, the menu looks brilliant but the reviews i've seen have been...mixed

flamenco drop (lex pretend), Friday, 12 April 2013 08:40 (1 month ago) Permalink

re: crab, steve hatt on essex rd

just sayin, Friday, 12 April 2013 09:21 (1 month ago) Permalink

ahh thx for that!

flamenco drop (lex pretend), Friday, 12 April 2013 10:22 (1 month ago) Permalink

Steve Hatt seconded. But the Chapel Market fishmonger's stall is also a good option - and a bit kinder on the wallet.

karl lagerlout (suzy), Friday, 12 April 2013 10:42 (1 month ago) Permalink

On crab meat, depends if you want fresh or frozen. If you're happy with the frozen, the big Chinese supermarkets are fine. (Wing Yip, at Staples Corner, also has one of the best wet fish counters I've ever seen in the UK, specialist fishmongers included.)

Trans-Europe Stopping Train (ithappens), Friday, 12 April 2013 11:02 (1 month ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

anyone been anywhere good lately?

was at quality chop house last weekend, it was mixed, really. great wine, some good dishes, some stuff a bit weird or disappointing. probably would go back but more as a small plate and a drink type place.

also the street kitchen pop-up on shoreditch high street is one of the better ones i've been to.

... (LocalGarda), Monday, 13 May 2013 09:43 (5 days ago) Permalink

that sucks to hear, was just going to book in quality chop house for my gf's birthday

just sayin, Monday, 13 May 2013 09:47 (5 days ago) Permalink

Finally going to trullo next week!

sktsh, Monday, 13 May 2013 10:00 (5 days ago) Permalink

Went to NOPI a couple of weeks back. The vegetarian main dish was a bit of a let down but other mains were good, I was told. The small plates really made up for it, as you'd imagine. We were downstair in the store cupboard, good use of space!

mmmm, Monday, 13 May 2013 10:01 (5 days ago) Permalink

i wouldn't say definitely avoid - about 60 per cent of what we got was good. it was just a bit odd, eg my cousin got kid and it came with just... loads of boiled potatoes, which were fairly nice but a bit weird as a side dish. rillettes tasted a bit gone, a friend got those and sent them back. mine was good overall without blowing my mind, i had veal offal for main and quail with morcilla to start. the wine is amazing.

we ate in the bar so it may be diff in the main room.

xposts

... (LocalGarda), Monday, 13 May 2013 10:03 (5 days ago) Permalink

on restaurants, has anyone been to beard to tail? am going next week, the menu looks brilliant but the reviews i've seen have been...mixed

― flamenco drop (lex pretend), Friday, April 12, 2013 8:40 AM (1 month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

in the event this was teeeerrrrrrible, fyi. not even the the way i ordered saddleback bacon with cockles and they only bothered to tell me they had no cockles that day when they brought the dish to me cockle-free, nor even that i had to ask them twice to bring that dish back to me because we were pushed for time and i decided to have it anyway (they gave it to us free), but mostly because it was the most disgustingly salty meal i've ever had in any restaurant, let alone one costing £15.

flamenco drop (lex pretend), Monday, 13 May 2013 10:18 (5 days ago) Permalink

otoh this is barely in london but i was there this weekend with the bf and the food was absolutely incredible http://www.swaninndenham.co.uk/

flamenco drop (lex pretend), Monday, 13 May 2013 10:20 (5 days ago) Permalink

in the event this was teeeerrrrrrible, fyi.

yeah i'd read awful reviews.

... (LocalGarda), Monday, 13 May 2013 10:21 (5 days ago) Permalink

At the top end, went to Galvin at Windows, on the top floor of the Park Lane Hilton, last week. The food is fantastic but the view is pretty difficult to beat, even though if you're in a couple one of you has to draw the short straw of facing into the restaurant. That was me, in that case.

Matt DC, Monday, 13 May 2013 10:24 (5 days ago) Permalink

i'd been hoping beard to tail would have taken the sundry criticisms on board in the intervening months since the terrible reviews but nope, neither service-wise nor food-wise. you wonder what they're playing at if they can't get the basics right. i guess the cocktails are good

flamenco drop (lex pretend), Monday, 13 May 2013 10:25 (5 days ago) Permalink

So it was basically just a plate of bacon?

sktsh, Monday, 13 May 2013 10:38 (5 days ago) Permalink

a plate of really salty bacon in whatever the sauce was. i got an extra starter (that wasn't free) of rather average, overly greasy squid to make up for it.

flamenco drop (lex pretend), Monday, 13 May 2013 10:49 (5 days ago) Permalink

jeez

sktsh, Monday, 13 May 2013 10:54 (5 days ago) Permalink

I had excellent, cheap Vietnamese at Cafe East in Surrey Quays on Friday. Not what you'd expect from an Odeon/Hollywood Bowl car park restaurant at all, and I will be going back.

Madchen, Monday, 13 May 2013 11:50 (5 days ago) Permalink

Surrey Quays = best place in London.

the Shearer of simulated snowsex etc. (Dwight Yorke), Monday, 13 May 2013 14:39 (5 days ago) Permalink

pub in london that can fit approx 20 people, good range of beer, pref central london, not noisy, any tips?

if it can be hired all the better but not essential. pool table would be good.

^ sarcasm (ken c), Friday, 17 May 2013 08:19 (Yesterday) Permalink

e.g. pembury would be good if it weren't in hackney

^ sarcasm (ken c), Friday, 17 May 2013 08:20 (Yesterday) Permalink

http://www.queensheadlondon.com/

had my 30th here. it's v quiet at weekends, lovely pub, amazing beer selection, and quite nice ploughmans/pies. the guy will reserve tables for you if you email him.

... (LocalGarda), Friday, 17 May 2013 08:38 (Yesterday) Permalink

Yeah the Queen's Head is a good one. The room upstairs at the Crown in Clerkenwell can be hired out as well and that's lovely, no pool table though.

Matt DC, Friday, 17 May 2013 09:27 (Yesterday) Permalink

fucking hate the pembury

r|t|c, Friday, 17 May 2013 10:00 (Yesterday) Permalink

Yeah I've never seen the appeal, it's weirdly devoid of atmosphere.

Matt DC, Friday, 17 May 2013 10:05 (Yesterday) Permalink

really horrible family atmosphere.

... (LocalGarda), Friday, 17 May 2013 10:09 (Yesterday) Permalink

joking but you get me.

... (LocalGarda), Friday, 17 May 2013 10:10 (Yesterday) Permalink

Also there always seem to be like three dudes sitting on their own with laptops and headphones plugged in.

Matt DC, Friday, 17 May 2013 10:10 (Yesterday) Permalink

and they dont even have a pool table any more iirc

just sayin, Friday, 17 May 2013 10:14 (Yesterday) Permalink

where do you all go for a beer these days? kinda revolve between palm tree, the camel as it's right beside my flat (and has improved a bit, plus sells redchurch beers), the cock tavern, and occasionally well and bucket on bethnal green road, it's alright really, not amazing.

... (LocalGarda), Friday, 17 May 2013 10:16 (Yesterday) Permalink

i always push for the cock tavern but my friends like going to the scolt head :/

just sayin, Friday, 17 May 2013 10:31 (Yesterday) Permalink

I always like the scolt head more than I think I will

sktsh, Friday, 17 May 2013 10:34 (Yesterday) Permalink

there are a lot of terrible ppl there

just sayin, Friday, 17 May 2013 10:35 (Yesterday) Permalink

that is definitely true. I think I always end up happy because a pint is cheaper than it looks like it would charge.

sktsh, Friday, 17 May 2013 10:37 (Yesterday) Permalink

i always push for the cock tavern but my friends like going to the scolt head :/

i hate the scolt.

the palm tree still is the place where i find you're most likely to meet people or make some new friends.

... (LocalGarda), Friday, 17 May 2013 10:38 (Yesterday) Permalink

been going to the old coffee house in soho a bit lately. it's fairly divey, tho no more than most soho pubs. it has really nice brodies ale and it's 3.50 a pint.

... (LocalGarda), Friday, 17 May 2013 10:39 (Yesterday) Permalink

The Scolt Head is legit one of the worst pubs I've ended up in in London, outside of yr standard West End vertical drinking holes and depressing outer London high street places. Like you can see how in a different part of town it might be good, and it's not like there aren't great little back street pubs elsewhere in the area, but that place just has so many cunts in it.

Matt DC, Friday, 17 May 2013 10:40 (Yesterday) Permalink

It's the shape of the pub and everything, it's just a crappy space. It reminds me of being in my local back in Dublin, and not in a good way.

... (LocalGarda), Friday, 17 May 2013 10:43 (Yesterday) Permalink

*shuffles back under rock*

sktsh, Friday, 17 May 2013 10:47 (Yesterday) Permalink

I think the Scolt is ace when it's quiet in the afternoon. We used to do our performance reviews there when I worked at the Duke. They were less ace.

Tim, Friday, 17 May 2013 10:49 (Yesterday) Permalink

I am probably asking the wrong people here but I have a bit of time to kill near Tooting Broadway station this evening while waiting for someone. Is there anywhere that suits a quiet beer with a book in the area? This may be impossible on a Friday night and I'm sort of expecting rampaging Aussies but you never know. It's not a place I know at all.

Matt DC, Friday, 17 May 2013 10:50 (Yesterday) Permalink

*shuffles back under rock*

haha sorry for flinging "my opinions" at you.

... (LocalGarda), Friday, 17 May 2013 10:56 (Yesterday) Permalink

lol no was joking. Can't deny it's full of cunts.

sktsh, Friday, 17 May 2013 11:00 (Yesterday) Permalink

Normally go to my local wetherspoons in Brockley but if I'm actually properly going for a pint I love the following:

Marquis of Granby in New Cross (really cozy, err 'traditional' pub, full of NX locals and art students. Could happily sit there all night. My housemate did last year. For ten nights in a row. He spent at least £500. Oops)

Stormbird in Camberwell (does crafty type beers, nice and quiet, well laid out, not vastly expensive)

Royal Albert (it's an Antic pub so you know what to expect. Does a great roast as well).

the Shearer of simulated snowsex etc. (Dwight Yorke), Friday, 17 May 2013 17:12 (Yesterday) Permalink

i swear the scolt head used to be perfectly pleasant back in the day when it was guaranteed half-empty. i've avoided it for so long that i'd be prepared to believe it's come full circle - à la the price george, which i found myself in recently and it was actually not rammed and quite nice.

have found myself in the old fountain near old st a lot recently as it's one of the boyfriend's favourite pubs. apparently the ale selection or whatever is good but i don't know anything about that. it's nice enough i guess. feel v lucky to have the elderfield in clapton as my local.

looking forward to being in the spaniards inn on hampstead heath this weekend! love that place.

flamenco drop (lex pretend), Friday, 17 May 2013 17:26 (Yesterday) Permalink


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