Dining in London

[Lucienne]

I'm sorry if this has been addressed recently, I've looked around a bit, but haven't found anything good.

I'm going to London for a couple of days at the end of May, I haven't been there for a while and basically I just wonder if someone could recommend me few decent places to go out and eat in the evening. I'll be staying north of Kensington Gardens, but I really don't care if it's in the area or somewhere else as long as it's not on the other side of the city in a middle of nowhere. I'm not particularly concerned about the price, it doesn't have to be fancy, but it needs to taste good. I don't really like Indian food or anything that's too spicy.

I'm also interested in cool bars, cafes etc, something that will have people in the middle of the week.

[miokomioko]

Good British food. Is that a paradox?

[Ollieyk]

Go to Soho. Good bars / restaurants in 1 place and pretty lively all week round.

http://wikitravel.org/en/London/Soho

[Lucienne]

I know London a bit, I've been there before. I'm more looking for specific advice. Where's Wop when you need him?

[Howie Roary]

in Hong Kong

[FNH]

Good British food. Is that a paradox?

Lol that place is terrible for food in the city.

[Obev]

North of Kensington Gardens? Like, Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove sort of area?

Try this: Bumpkin Notting Hill
Bar/restaurant, more restaurant-y than bar-y. Does great food. Last time I went there, they had a guy plinking away quietly at a piano for ambient noise, and at one point midway through dessert he started playing the Muppets theme tune. That was almost worth the price alone, but the food's rather good as well. Sort of the often-derided concept of "good British food," but actually good. The desserts are amazing, but that could be the Muppets talking.

Further afield, Candid is a relatively cool café on the other side of central London in Islington. It's round a corner, up some stairs, behind a tube station, but I've always found it to be a great space with good food. Very artsy, but never really (in my experience) full of disgusting students as other places in the area are. It's got some art gallery thing attached to it, which I've never looked at but might be of interest.

Ain't Nothin But... is a tiny blues bar near Oxford Circus. The interior is literally postage stamp-sized, and getting a table on a Friday night is a feat that the bards sing sagas about for generations. On a weeknight it's slightly less packed, but the music continues. Live music of the stomping blues variety, some surprisingly good food (nachos, chilli, etc.), and a decent selection of drink (well, it is a bar first and foremost). Can often be packed full of people just about any night of the week, but equally can usually have very good music.

I can't provide Wop's level of Michelin-starred man-bagged pretension. That's a few decimal places above my pay grade.

[Lucienne]

Between Bayswater and Paddington, so little east of Notting Hill.

This is pretty much exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for! Thank you. I must say you totally sold Bumpkin with the Muppet theme. I'll have to check that out for sure. The food looks mostly solid as well, which is important, though I must say mussels with cider and bacon sauce does sound hilariously odd.

[Lucienne]

I don't really care for Michelin stars honestly. I prefer a good place to an expensive one, though I'm willing to pay a lot to get what's good. I think the atmosphere of a place is just as important as the food itself.

[Rhyis.]

they had a guy plinking away quietly at a piano for ambient noise

[Meat]

umm alain ducasse's place, the tasting menu is better than umm, everything

[SephYuyX]

Tapas.

PS. Eat as much Double Deckers and Sticky Toffee Pudding as possible.

[miokomioko]

May I recommend the Spotted Dick...

[Pikarya]

Sound the Wopa alarm.
http://www.co.mclennan.tx.us/images/siren.jpg

[miokomioko]

Here's an incredibly gay Birkin.

http://www.hermesbirkinoutletsale.or...irkin35-73.jpg

Wop should be here any second.

[The Stig]

Escort for hire here!

if luci is who i remember it's that pretty blonde girl?

i can take you to the ice bar, but it's only limited to 30 minutes
http://www.belowzerolondon.com/icebar-experience.html

Gotta make a booking in advance though.

[Lucienne]

I'm not really blond, I also dyed my hair fairly dark recently, but I think I might be who you think I am.

The Ice bar looks absolutely amazing. I'll be coming with a friend, so let me double check and get back to you.

[Brill Weave]

My sister echoed the comments on Soho Luci. She specifically mentioned L'Atelier De Joel Robuchon and Wahaca(sp?) She said both were phenomenal.

[Linliel]

Make sure you go to the Brewdog Bar in Camden. It has good pizzas (skip the burgers) and amazing craft beers.

[Obev]

Make sure you go to the Brewdog Bar in Camden. It has good pizzas (skip the burgers) and amazing craft beers.

Oh god yes.

Also try the Porterhouse near Covent Garden. Different company, similar craft beer ethos, better food, and amazing interior design. Their burgers are Asgard tier. http://www.porterhousebrewco.com/bar...ventgarden.php