For tea: Brown's Hotel *was* great, but we had to sit in the back parlor because of the lack of "appropriate attire". unless you are going in the height of the summer season, i would expect you can get reservations a day or few in advance--it was not all that crowded (in September '91). they served us just as nicely in our private parlor dining suite, and it turned out to be wonderful. very expensive though (but I wasn't paying...) For Indian try Woburn Tandoori (Nepalese) in Bloomsbury, near the train station. delicious! Lee
London, United Kingdom
London--Restaurant Info Sought
Someone wrote: |> I have several questions, one is: has anyone stayed at this hotel, |> can someone recommend nice restaurants and some casual restaurants |> in London, also perhaps a hint on price, and last a question on tea. [stuff deleted] For a casual meal and the best South Indian food I have ever eaten outside South India, try Woodland's near Picadilly. I don't remember the address, but we found it in the phone book anyway. Its a 2-minute walk from Picadilly into one of the side streets. (Take care, there are several Woodlands in London, the one near Picadilly was the best). radhika
Someone wrote: > can someone recommend nice restaurants and some casual restaurants > in London, also perhaps a hint on price, and last a question on tea. > > Thanks, > Nancy > 908-949-5679 Here are some of the places I enjoyed in London and environs. Much of that goes back to 1989. Many of these places haven't changed for decades, thus I don't see why they should have changed now. GOODARDS 45 Greenwhich Church Street Greenwhich, London This is a bit outside London, but can be reached vie the tube plus a short walk. Its a small place, 20 seats maybe, cafeteria style. Locals, who look for basic food, love it. In fact we got this address from a family that used to live there. Recommended item: Hot meat pie and tea. Prices: cheap. Opening hours were less than practical: they don't cater to tourists, they cater to workers. Hint: this is a good place to eat at after/before you visited the observatory. THE INDIA CLUB 143 Strand LONDON, WC2 phone London+8369270 / 8360650 Basic, good, cheap indian food in the London city area. The place is run by Indians for Indians. The stablishment is about as plain as you can get: no money wasted on fancy rooms or dishes, but the food is a great. Neighbourhood and restaurant are perfectly safe for enybody, although appearances are shabby. This is another insider tip: I am acknowledging the effort of the unnamed businessman who introduced me to this place. I also know a place for good high tea, but can't think of it right now. This place does not require reservations. I'll post it when I remember. Enjoy! ----- Joachim Schurmann ([email removed] -or- [email removed]) North Star BBS, Troy, MI --------------------------------- +1 313 524 9024 ---
One of the best fish and chips restaurants in town is Geale's. It is in the Kinsington/Notting Hill/Bayswater area. I don't remember the exact address, but it is probably in the phone book. This is a very popular place, few tourists when I was there last, mostly locals. It gets very crowded fairly early, so if you go late expect to wait in line (although you can wait upstairs in the bar if it isn't too full) I think they are closed on Mondays. In spite of all these drawbacks it is well worth the trouble. The fish is fresh and you can choose your favorite from a list of those available that day. The prices are based on the market cost of the fish. Try the apple crumble with vanilla ice cream for dessert. Yum! .....................All opinions are entirely my own.................... Barbara R. Tysinger Health Sciences Library University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [email removed] .........."He that has no fools, knaves nor beggars in his family........ .................was begat by lightning." -- Thomas Fuller...............
>For a casual meal and the best South Indian food I have ever eaten outside South >India, try Woodland's near Picadilly. I don't remember the address, but we found I have also heard this, but in my experience (which may be a bit dated now :-( Diwana Bhelpuri House is the best and cheapest. It is in Drummond St, behind Euston Road, near Euston BR Station. Delicious veg. food, and very cheap (by London standards). I think there is one of these in Bayswater area as well. Check the London phone book. For great Tandoori food, the Temple Bar Tandoori, at the western end of Fleet St was always excellent, although not dirt cheap. Recent info on these places gratefully received. John.
I've always been a big fan of Thai food, and there are three Thai restaurants in London that I really enjoy:
Bahn Thai - in Soho on Frith St. (I think..); This one has the largest
selection... a truly amazing array of interesting, unusual
and tasty dishes. Try the spicy water lily stems for a real
oddity, but avoid the durian fruit ice cream unless you're
familiar with [and can stand] the awful smell of the durian.
Lion City - this is also in Soho, but I forget the exact address. Probably
my favorite of the three, though I can't really say why. A lot
of really good dishes (I'd particularly recommend one they call
Emerald Chicken), and a reasonably priced lunch special on
week days.
Sri Siam - this is also in Soho, just down the streer from Lion City [and
yes, I still don't know the street name]. This is much more
upscale, pricey, and touristy than the other two, but the food
is quite good. Because of budgetary concerns I almost invariably
choose one of the other two, but there are a few dishes that I
really like that are only on Sri Siam's menu.
All of these make some VERY hot dishes; Lion City will also bring you a little dish of some of the hot spices if you want to 'up the temperature' on your own.
Good luck, and let me know of any gems you find on your own; no matter how many recommendations you get, I'd advise just wandering around Soho to find something that looks and sounds interesting to you...... it can be a lot of fun.I wish I could remember the names of all the great places I have eaten in London. You can literally get any kind of food there, from American BBQ to East African. Well, a couple I remember, sort of: La Mignon (Hungarian) Pretty casual, food is good if you like paprika, outrageous wandering fiddlers, pretty small, the kind of place you go for a good time, not an elegant night out, prices are reasonable. The Ark (French) Located in Kensington near the High St./Kensington tube station, great food, nice atmosphere, fair prices. There is also an Italian place within a block of this place that is real good, but I can't remember the name! ????? (Italian) There is a place in Sutton, which is a small town on the way to Gatwick, which has a terrific little Italian restaurant. I can't remember the name, but its the only Italian place in Sutton. I usually look through the London phone directory for Italian sounding names, and I always find it. You MUST book a table in advance on a Friday/Sat night. Sorry I can't be more specific. duane dmurray@novell
Here are some of the places I enjoyed in London and environs. Much of that goes back to 1989. Many of these places haven't changed for decades, thus I don't see why they should have changed now.
GOODARDS
45 Greenwhich Church Street
Greenwhich, London
This is a bit outside London, but can be reached vie the tube plus a short walk. Its a small place, 20 seats maybe, cafeteria style. Locals, who look for basic food, love it. In fact we got this address from a family that used to live there. Recommended item: Hot meat pie and tea. Prices: cheap. Opening hours were less than practical: they don't cater to tourists, they cater to workers. Hint: this is a good place to eat at after/before you visited the observatory.
THE INDIA CLUB
143 Strand
LONDON, WC2
phone London+8369270 / 8360650
Basic, good, cheap indian food in the London city area. The place is run by Indians for Indians. The stablishment is about as plain as you can get: no money wasted on fancy rooms or dishes, but the food is a great. Neighbourhood and restaurant are perfectly safe for enybody, although appearances are shabby. This is another insider tip: I am acknowledging the effort of the unnamed businessman who introduced me to this place.
I also know a place for good high tea, but can't think of it right now. This place does not require reservations. I'll post it when I remember.
Enjoy!
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Duane Murray)
Subject: Re: London--Restaurant Info Sought
I wish I could remember the names of all the great places I have eaten in London. You can literally get any kind of food there, from American BBQ to East African. Well, a couple I remember, sort of:
La Mignon (Hungarian)
Pretty casual, food is good if you like paprika, outrageous wandering fiddlers, pretty small, the kind of place you go for a good time, not an elegant night out, prices are reasonable.
The Ark (French)
Located in Kensington near the High St./Kensington tube station, great food, nice atmosphere, fair prices. There is also an Italian place within a block of this place that is real good, but I can't remember the name!
????? (Italian)
There is a place in Sutton, which is a small town on the way to Gatwick, which has a terrific little Italian restaurant. I can't remember the name, but its the only Italian place in Sutton. I usually look through the London phone directory for Italian sounding names, and I always find it. You MUST book a table in advance on a Friday/Sat night. Sorry I can't be more specific.
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Dr. Robin Lake)
Subject: Re: London--Restaurant Info Sought
I enjoyed Rule's, London's oldest restaurant, not far from Covent Garden. Superb wild game from their own preserve. Expensive.
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Lawrence H. Miller)
Subject: Re: international recommendations
Very good Indian, authentic in the sense that
it captures the era of the British Raj, is
Bombay Brassiere, arguably the best Indian
restaurant in London. And a lot of fun.
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Sandy Grossmann)
Subject: Re: international recommendations
> Very good Indian, authentic in the sense that
> it captures the era of the British Raj, is
> Bombay Brassiere, arguably the best Indian
> restaurant in London. And a lot of fun.
When we were in London, this restaurant featured a fantastic daily lunch buffet for an actually affordable sum. If you eat there for dinner, it's mucho money. BTW--the buffet is NOT the usual mushy unidentified cooked-out stuff -- it's top-rate treats, and it contains some reallllllly HOT items.
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Kevin Sharp)
Subject: Re: London/Amsterdam Veg Restaurant
In London ...
Neals Yard, Neal Street, Covent Garden does good take away food.
If you want a restaurant in a specific area drop me some email and I'll check a guide book.
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Jeff Carroll)
Subject: Re: London Recommendations
Try the pub in the basement of the Bloomsbury Park (?) Hotel, in Southampton Row. It's called "Peter's" or something like that. When I was there in '89 the cook was a Spanish woman who enjoyed telling Americans about her family in (South) America. She served lasagna and some other more palatable things in addition to the usual pub fare for lunch, and there were lots of locals who hung out there in the evenings.
Try the spaghetti place in Sicilian Row just off High Holborn, and (just for grins) the Deep Pan Pizza Company (with what purports to be a Walter Payton jersey on the wall) just a few doors down.
And if you *must* eat British, there's a carvery in the Russell Square hotel. I didn't try this one.
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Leon Traister)
Subject: Re: London Recommendations
It's been about 5 years since I've been in London, but I used to go frequently on business. I found that the Queensway area (starting at Bay Road) had the greatest concentration of ethnic restaurants (e.g. Indian, Hungarian, Malay, Chinese) in London. In particular, the "Standard" (Indian) was a favorite of ours.
Pick up a copy of Nicholson's Restaurant Guide for London - it was quite reliable.
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Janice)
Subject: Re: Req. good places to eat in London, Rome, Paris, and Florence
I can recommend a fabulous indian restaurant for its great value, extensive menu, sumptuous interior and scrumptious food called "KHANS" in Westbourne Grove London W2. (Bayswater or Queensway are the nearest tube stations.
My friends and I went there a month ago, this is roughly what we ate;
4 starters, 4 mains dishes, 4 popadums, 2 nan bread, 3 pints of lager, 2 glasses of house white and the bill came to only #36 - yes #36! We couldnt belive it because as Ive said the food was excellent and the restaurant itself is really salubrious.
Enjoy!
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Dr. Robin Lake)
Subject: Re: Req. good places to eat in London, Rome, Paris, and Florence
>I can recommend a fabulous indian restaurant for its great value, extensive
>menu, sumptuous interior and scrumptious food called "KHANS" in Westbourne
>Grove London W2. (Bayswater or Queensway are the nearest tube stations.
>
>
>My friends and I went there a month ago, this is roughly what we ate;
>
>4 starters, 4 mains dishes, 4 popadums, 2 nan bread, 3 pints of lager, 2
>glasses of house white and the bill came to only #36 - yes #36! We couldnt
>belive it because as Ive said the food was excellent and the restaurant
>itself is really salubrious.
>
>Enjoy!
>
>Janice.
While Khans was good, I found a smaller and even less expensive Indian vegetarian restaurant to be better. It is just west of Euston Station, on the south side of the street. One of the closest to the station. From the station you walk about 1 block north, then west. The street is lined with Indian restaurants, including one called the Ravi Shankar!
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Jack Campin)
Subject: African food in London
Plug for a place I've eaten in the last couple of times I've been down there: the Calabash Restaurant in the basement of the Africa Centre at Covent Garden (one block west of the main square, I forget the exact address). They do a wide range of African foods, including lots of vegetarian options (these are the only ones I've tried), at a reasonable price and with fast and friendly service. They usually have African beers or wines to go with it. Their cooks come from different parts of Africa, so exactly what they have will depend on who's on duty at the time.
I wish they'd do a cookbook; unlike most most restaurants that have done this, there's no easily accessible printed source for anything like what they make. There seem to be very few African cookbooks at all.
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Mick Farmer)
Subject: Re: Good Thai Restarants in London?
Janice asked about Thai restaurants in London. Here's a list from the Good Food Guide:
Bahn Thai, Frith Street, W1
Bedlington Cafe, Fauconberg Road, W4
Blue Elephant, Fulham Broadway, SW6
Chiang Mai, Frith Street, W1
Khun Akorn, Brompton Road, SW3
Sri Siam, Old Compton Street, W1
Thailand, Lewisham Way, SE14
Topsy-Tasty, Burlington Lane, W4
Tui, Exhibition Road, SW7
Tuk Tuk, Upper Street, N1
My favourite is Thailand (but I also live nearby :-) which serves more unusual dishes than most. If you can't decide, start on the corner of Frith Street and Old Compton Street
-- you can see many from there.
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Peter A. Olenick)
Subject: London restaurants - Comments please
Our first visit to London will take place in mid-September. We have been planning this trip for some time (over a year). We will spend 10 days there. I have tried to save most of the comments which appeared on this news group about moderately priced London restaurants. The following is a summary of the restaurants mentioned in this group.
Brown's Hotel - For tea
---
Woburn Tandoori (Nepalese - Indian) in Bloomsbury
---
Geale's Kinsington/Notting Hill/Bayswater area (fish and chips)
---
Diwana Bhelpuri House (Indian) in Drummond St, behind Euston Road, near Euston BR Station. Delicious veg. food
---
Woodland (Indian) near Picadilly
----
Temple Bar Tandoori (Tandoori food) at the western end of Fleet Street
---
Bahn Thai (Thai) in Soho on Frith St,
Lion City (Thai) is also in Soho,
Sri Siam (Thai) in Soho, just down the streer from Lion City
---
GOODARDS, 45 Greenwhich Church st, Greenwhich, London after/before you visited the observatory
----
THE INDIA CLUB (Indian) 143 Strand, LONDON, WC2
---
La Mignon (Hungarian),Pretty casual,prices are reasonable
---
The Ark (French),Located in Kensington near the High St./Kensington tube station
---
Carvery (buffet, but better),Cumberland Hotel (by Marble Arch)
---
Bombay Brassiere, arguably the best Indian
----
Poon's - Russell Square, chinese restaurant
----
"Standard" (Indian), Queensway area (starting at
Bay Road) had the greatest concentration of ethnic restaurants
---
carvery in the Russell Square hotel
----
spaghetti place in Sicilian Row just off High Holborn
----
Deep Pan Pizza Company - just a few doors down
----
KHANS - indian restaurant, Westbourne
Grove London W2. (Bayswater or Queensway are the nearest tube stations
----
Indian vegetarian restaurant, west of Euston Station, south side of the street. From the station you walk about 1 block north, then west. The street is lined with Indian restaurants
---
The Gurkhas, in that same neighborhood,26 Warren Street sticks in my mind
---
The Spaghetti House,all over the central part of London
---
Tubino's, near South Kensington Station,light meal,sandwich shops
=========================================================================
Going over a number of guide books, I have selected some places which sound interesting to me. In doing this 'research', it is clear that a wide selection of eateries exist in London. This list reflects my own personal preference in restaurants. Most of these places are listed as inexpensive or moderately priced.
The Fountain Restaurant at Fortnum & Mason - Piccadilly (W1)
---
O'Fado (Portuguese) Beauchamp Place (SW3)
---
Pollo (Italian) Compton St (W1)
---
Sea Shell (Fish + Chips) Lisson Grove (NW1)
---
Joe Allen (American) Exeter St (Covent Garden) (WC2)
---
South of the Border (Mexican) Joan St (close to Old Vic) (SE1)
---
Coconut Grove (American/Mexican) Barret St (W1)
---
Crank (Vegetarian) Marshall St (W1)
---
Chuen Cheng Ku (Chinese/Cantonese) Wardour St (W1)
---
Manzi (Seafood) Leicester St (WC2)
---
Baker & Oven (English) Paddington St (W1)
---
Hispaniola (English) Victoria Embankment (boat that dosen't sail, good
view of the river traffic)
---
Pasta Connection (Italian) Elystan St (SW3)
---
Il Passetto (Italian) Shaftesbury Ave (WC2) Expensive but highly recommended
---
Cafe Pacifico (Mexican) Langley St (WC2)
---
Food for Thought (Vegetarian) Neal St (WC2)
---
The Agra (Indian) Whitfield St (W1)
---
Stockpot (International) Basil St (SW3)
---
Luba's Bistro (Russian) Yoeman's Row (SW3) BYOB
---
Ark (French/English) Palace Gardens Terr. (W8)
---
Leadenhall Tapas Bar (Spanish) Leadenhall Market (EC3)
---
Tandoori of Chelsea (Indian) Fulham Rd (SW3)
---
Bhatti (Indian) Great Queen St (WC2)
Please post or send me mail on any of these or other places in London.
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Bipin Kotecha)
Subject: Re: England
If your friend likes 'ethnic' food, particulary Indian, then she is in for a treat. The are a large number of Indian restaurants in England who (almost) all have vegetarian dishes on the menu. There are also quite a few vegetarian only Indian restaurants. In London, I can recommend:
1) Diwana Bhel-Poori House Open 7 days a week
121-123 Drummond Street 12 noon to 12 midnight
London NW1
also at:
50 Westbourne Grove Restricted opening hours
London W2
The food is good and cheap. The food is mostly South Indian
(Madras area) but they also have Gujarati (north-west India) dishes.
2) Chutneys
124 Drummond Street
London NW1
The food here is mostly that of the Gujarat region of India.
The lunchtime buffets are extremely good and cheap at #3.95 plus
drinks (if required). I think 'lunchtime' extends quite late into
the afternoon and the buffet is 'Eat as much as you like'.
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Krissie Griffiths)
Subject: Re: England
i just realized that i have input to this thread. i think the BEST meal i had when i was in london this past march was at an indian restaurant called spices. ^^^^^^ it is pure vegetarian, and i ate vegan. i went with three flesh eaters who were all absolutely thrilled with the food.
the place was no frills, but the service was spectacular. i had been told that i would be able to get a vegan dessert but alas they no longer made it so the waiter went into the kitchen, came back and asked me a couple of questions and at the end of the meal when all my friends were ordering their desserts, the waiter came out with a plate of stuff for me, said this is for you and it is free because you are vegan.
it was great, cashews in a batter that had been fried *sigh* and also some other wonderful things. of course my friends were jealous. but their stuff looked pretty darn good too.
anyhow, i vote for spices. sorry about the lack of address, but it is in the greater london area.
----------------------
From: [email removed] (Mick Farmer)
Subject: Re: London - Last Days of the Raj
This restaurant is still going. It's in Drury Lane opposite the New London Theatre and, yes, Cats is still playing!
----------------------