London City Guide - Restaurants

It might not always have been the case, but with 6,000 licensed restaurant (over 20% of all restaurants in Britain), London is currently one of the most exciting dining destinations in the world, rivaled only by New York in terms of the number of internationally acclaimed chefs it attracts, and the sheer diversity of cuisines on offer (70 countries and regions in total). So indulge yourself in a little culinary experience during your stay in the capital.

The restaurants below have been grouped into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over £70)
$$$ (£45 to £70)
$$ (£20 to £45)
$ (up to £20)
These prices are for a three course meal for one, including tax but not drinks.

A service charge of 12.5% will be added to your bill in most restaurants. This is technically an optional charge but it would be very unusual to ask for it to be removed. Where ‘Service is not included’, a tip of at least 10% is expected, although 12-15% is becoming more common. Diners should check the bill thoroughly, as tipping is not required on top of a service charge.

Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road

Still the only London restaurant with three Michelin stars, this remains the best place to experience Gordon Ramsay at work. In a comfortable but fairly neutral room (recently renovated), the focus is entirely on the food. All dishes are superb and might include the starter of a mosaic of foie gras served three ways (pressed, confit and smoked) with marinated figs and pickled girolles, followed by fillet of Aberdeen Angus beef with caramelised pig's trotters, quail's eggs, sautéed baby artichokes and truffle sauce. A seven-course Menu Prestige is available for £110 for those who wish to experience the full gastronomic experience. Reservations essential. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

68 Royal Hospital Road, SW3
Tel: (020) 7352 4441.
Website: www.gordonramsay.com
Price: $$$$

Le Gavroche

Since its opening in 1967 by brothers Albert and Michel Roux, the smart, formal, dark and classically French Le Gavroche, with two Michelin stars, has been setting the culinary benchmark for the British restaurant scene. Currently run by Michel Roux Junior, with the assistance of award-winning maitre d' Silvano Giraldin, diners can expect the highest standards of food, wine and service – at prices to match. Highly praised dishes include loin of venison with peppery sauce and cranberries, and seared foie gras with a duck-flavoured and cinnamon pancake. French cooking at its best. The restaurant recently broke new ground and introduced a beer list to offer diners an alternative to wine with their meal. Reservations essential. No lunch Saturday. Closed Sunday.

43 Upper Brook Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7408 0881.
Website: www.le-gavroche.co.uk
Price: $$$$

Lindsay House

Irish-born chef Richard Corrigan has made this Soho townhouse his home and gained a Michelin star in the process, by creating impeccable dishes in a grand but comfortable environment. Arriving at the discreet front door, diners must ring the bell to gain admittance, which heralds the beginning of an evening where the attentive staff treats them like the houseguests of a rich, absent host. The 1740s building quietly exudes charm, while guests pad up carpeted stairs to a small, elegant but simple dining room, with white walls, oil paintings, a grand fireplace and comfortable chairs. It is impossible not to feel at home, although there are two private dining rooms for those who really wish to be cocooned, as well as one other public dining room on the ground floor. The menu changes daily (Richard Corrigan tries to source all his ingredients from small suppliers) but, from the tiny wafer-thin cheesy biscuits served with a champagne cocktail, every dish is perfectly balanced, well presented and beautifully cooked. With an accessible and distinguished wine list, amuse bouche between every course and petits fours to round the whole thing off, nothing is forgotten in this most memorable establishment. Reservations essential. No lunch Saturday. Closed Sunday.

21 Romilly Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7439 0450.
Website: www.lindsayhouse.co.uk
Price: $$$

Locanda Locatelli

The excellent Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli, the brainchild of celebrity chef Giorgio Locatelli, serves up delectable Italian dishes in sleek surroundings with a glamorous 1970s feel. Four courses are recommended, so diners are able to enjoy an antipasto (such as the Traditional cured pork with potatoes and black truffle) but not miss out on a pasta dish, such as garganelli with red mullet and black olives or the Barolo and Castelmagno cheese risotto. Mains include a decent number of fish and meat dishes, served simply with one or two other ingredients, such as roast monkfish with walnut and caper sauce (vegetarians might be forced to indulge in a second pasta dish!), while desserts should not be missed. The restaurant is now open on Sunday. Reservations well in advance are essential.

8 Seymour Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7935 9088 (reservations) or 8390 (confirmations/cancellations).
Website: www.locandalocatelli.com
Price: $$$

The Electric Brasserie

Opened in 2002 as part of the refurbishment of Portobello's famous Electric Cinema, England's first purpose-built cinema. A major revamp brought in soft leather seating and chic wooden tables – and a suitably trendy following, coming for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just drinks in the bar area. With a huge range of brasserie-style dishes and great seafood available all day long, this comes as no surprise; it is especially popular for Sunday brunch – comfort food like chunky steak sandwiches or hamburgers with red onion marmalade. The à la carte menu gets slightly grander, with the addition of dishes like grilled dover sole or chateaubriand for two. There is also a joint on a trolley, which varies every evening but all Sunday is Aberdeen Angus beef with Yorkshire pudding. Open daily, although reservations recommended Thursday to Saturday.

191 Portobello Road, W11
Tel: (020) 7908 9696.
Website: www.electricbrasserie.com
Price: $$

Hakkasan

This chic restaurant is situated down an alley in central London, which deters passing trade and helps heighten Hakkasan's sense of exclusivity. Once down the smart slate steps and past reception, the blue glass doors open on to a stunning, dimly lit, room, where a beautiful latticework screen encases the dining area. Unfortunately, the effect is best seen from the lounge-bar area outside, because once within this inner sanctum, with tables too close together and an ill-advised music policy, the magical effect is lost somewhat. Neverthless, the food makes up for everything – this is one of only five Chinese restaurants with a Michelin star. The lunchtime dim sum is so excellent that it is difficult to single out any one dish. Nevertheless, unmissable mains include the roasted silver cod with champagne and Chinese honey. However, just soaking up the atmosphere with the other trendy people is a viable alternative, given the exquisite, exotic concoctions on the famous cocktail list (all £8). Reservations highly recommended.

8 Hanway Place, W1
Tel: (020) 7927 7000.
Price: $$$

The Ivy

The restaurant of choice of many a celebrity, The Ivy is notoriously difficult to get into without a famous name or advance booking of at least six weeks. Telephoning to reserve involves an intimidating call-back system. Once inside, however, the comfortable decor suggests a gentleman's club with dark wooden panelling and diamond-patterned stained-glass windows. The food is simple but of high quality and includes traditional British favourites, such as bangers and mash, potted shrimps or braised beef in stout, along with more European recipes, such as pork tenderloin on lemon polenta. The cosy environment, pleasing food and guaranteed celebrity spotting makes The Ivy a laid-back yet impressive venue for a business meal.

1 West Street, WC2
Tel: (020) 7836 4751.
Website: www.the-ivy.co.uk
Price: $$$

Sketch

French chef Pierre Gagnaire's first venture in London, this enormous 18th-century house has been divided into four different culinary experiences, all extravagantly designed by Mourad Mazouz. The Parlour on the ground floor is a frou-frou tea room, with pastries displayed in a jewellery case, while The Glade, the place to go for a light bite at lunchtime, features carpeting in shades of green, thick wooden tables and sunset-red walls. The Gallery is entirely white and filled with white furniture but has coloured light emanating from the ceiling and a huge frieze of video art; it serves lunch and dinner. However, the piece de resistance is The Lecture Room, with its dramatic design featuring luxurious padded walls studded with gold and its dramatic prices. The menu is divided into sections, with a dish or two underneath, so the starters consist of Red Mullet, Vegetables, Charcuterie, Langoustines and Crab. Mains are famed for unusual pairings, the sections include Poultry and White Truffles, Beef and Caviar, John Dory and Scallops. Reservations essential. Closed Sunday; The Lecture Room closed Monday as well.

9 Conduit Street, W1
Tel: 0870 777 4488.
Website: www.sketch.uk.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

St John

This restaurant, an old smokehouse, is notorious for being pig heaven, where no bit of the animal is left off the menu. But it also happens to be home to one of the loveliest dining rooms in London. Up some stairs from the courtyard bar, this wonderful, light room is all wooden boards, white paint and chrome hanging lampshades. With tables a decent distance from each other, a friendly staff and an unpretentious mixed bag of diners creating a general hubbub, it is difficult not to recommend this place. This restaurant serves up old-fashioned British classics with absolute panache – boiled ham and parsley sauce, rabbit saddle, roast beef with a stunning horseradish sauce, eccles cakes with Lancashire cheese for dessert. Although one or two unusual cuts of meat (bone marrow, neck of kid, ox heart, pig's ears, tails, trotters, cheeks) are guaranteed. Whole roast suckling pigs can be pre-ordered for 14 diners, at least seven days in advance.

26 St John Street, EC1
Tel: (020) 7251 0848.
Website: www.stjohnrestaurant.co.uk
Price: $$

Café Emm

This brasserie serves the best-value good food in Soho, so its no-booking policy means that a queue is inevitable unless it is very early evening. As well as various starters and snacks, there is a selection of main courses under £10, including Cajun-style chicken with potato skins, or home made salmon fish cakes, and the likes of fresh poached salmon or lamb moussaka. Salads also feature on the menu, and there is a daily special too. The dark-wood interior is packed with candle-lit tables and the service is brisk but not rushed.

17 Frith Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7437 0723.
Website: www.cafeemm.com
Price: $

Duke of York

A quirky little gastropub in a quiet Bloomsbury street, the Duke of York is a relaxed yet vibrant place to spend an evening. Unlike most gastropubs, it is not overly trendy, overly crowded or overly priced. Diners can mingle with pub punters and eat in the brighter red-toned bar area, decorated with contemporary art, or instead sit in private, little booths in the back dining room. The usually tasty dishes range from British classics like Cumberland sausage and mash to more unusual daily specials, such as sea bream tempura with stir-fried noodles, although they can sometimes disappoint. Reservations recommended for dining area.

7 Roger Street, WC1
Tel: (020) 7242 7230.
Website: www.dukepub.co.uk
Price: $

Golden Dragon

One of Chinatown's best restaurants, the Golden Dragon is bedecked in red and gold and has a noisy, bustling atmosphere. In the daytime (1200-1700), the dim sum selection, brought to the table in a never-ending parade of bamboo steamers, is of exemplary quality. Main dishes, available both night and day, are excellent value and come in generously sized portions. As well as all the standard dishes and more, some unusual dishes are on offer, such as eel or jelly fish, roast pigeon or even a whole suckling pig (available on order only).

28-29 Gerrard Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7734 2763.
Price: $-$$

Gourmet Burger Kitchen

A burger place serving tasty food made of fresh ingredients? With consistently friendly service? And at very reasonable prices? Don't pinch yourself, because this place really does exist. In fact, the Gourmet Burger Kitchen (bless its arrival on the London budget eating scene! And yes, they are licensed too!) has not one, but nine outlets in the capital (all no smoking), including Belsize Park and West Hampstead in the north, Bayswater and Fulham in the west, and Wimbledon and Battersea in the south. So what's the deal? Well, there is a choice of over 20 burgers, running the gamut from the classic (100% Aberdeen-Angus Scotch beef with salad and the best relish in town) to wacky creations such as the kiwi burger (beetroot, egg, pineapple, cheese) or the Jamaican (beef, mango and ginger sauce). My personal favourite is the Pesterella (beef, fresh pesto, mozzarella, salad and relish). If beef is not your meat of choice, however, don't despair: you can also opt for the chicken, camembert and cranberry burger, or burgers made of chorizo, lamb or even venison! Oh, and there are even vegetarian options (falafel, or aubergine and goat's cheese for example).

200 Havestock Hill, Belsize Park
Tel: (020) 7443 5335.

331 West End Lane, West Hampstead
Tel: (020) 7794 5455.

50 Westbourne Grove, Bayswater
Tel: (020) 7243 4344.

49 Fulham Broadway, Fulham
Tel: (020) 7381 4242.

Website: www.gbkinfo.com
Price: $

Rock and Sole Plaice

It is difficult to beat sitting upstairs at the Rock and Sole Plaice, near the fryers, watching the cooking and the takeaway punters and munching on a good plate of fresh fish with crispy batter, chunky chips and mushy peas (optional), while downing a good cuppa. Although, sitting on one of the picnic tables outside on a summer's evening, with a nice bottle of crisp white wine, might pip it. Fish and chips are a British institution and there are few places better to indulge than this, London's oldest surviving chippie. It serves up all the basic fishes (cod, rock, haddock, plaice, skate and scampi) and more specialities (halibut, lemon sole, dover sole, trout, salmon, sardines and mackerel), depending on market availability, as well as other chip-shop standards like pasties and pies.

47 Endell Street, WC2
Tel: (020) 7836 3785.
Price: $

La Trompette

Despite being situated in a quiet street in Chiswick, La Trompette has quickly established itself as one of London's favourite French restaurants, and anyone who has eaten there will know why. The restaurant is owned by the team behind Chez Bruce in Wandsworth, and manager Matthew Hough and head chef James Bennington have worked miracles in creating a genuinely world-class menu at out-of-town prices. The menu, Gallic of inspiration, changes daily but always features the freshest ingredients cooked with flair and inspiration. The chic modern interior has a buzz but never becomes too noisy, while most conversations seem to be dominated by discussions about the quality of the food at this fantastic-value restaurant.

5-7 Devonshire Road, W4
Tel: (020) 8747 1836.
Website: www.latrompette.co.uk
Price: $$

One-O-One

Located on the ground floor of the Sheraton Park Tower in Knightsbridge, steps away from the trendy Harvey Nichols store, the newly refurbished One-O-One is a restaurant no self-respecting fish enthusiast can afford to ignore. Pascal Proyart's little gem has won countless awards, and it is plain to see why. The menu features mouth-watering offerings, the dishes are all expertly executed, and the service, friendly yet unobtrusive, is smooth as silk. Royal king crab legs from the Barents Sea with Aioli sauce were an exceptional (as well as sizeable) starter, and the pan-roasted sea scallops and duck foie gras was a heavenly combination of flavours and textures. Dover sole with roasted langoustine and chives Mousseline sauce was cooked to perfection, while the roasted wild seabass (one of Pascal's specialities) with soft tapenade crust and parsley Barigoule sauce, melted on the tongue. Divine! Just make sure you leave enough room for dessert: a raviole of pineapple and nougat glacé with coconut sorbet and exotic fruit coulis maybe?

101 Knightsbridge, SW1
Tel: (020) 7290 7101.
Website: www.oneoonerestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Pearl Restaurant

Named after the former Pearl Insurance Building on High Holborn, whose premises the restaurant occupies, Pearl is a thrilling new addition to the London dining scene, and no doubt one that will become a firm favourite with foodies in the capital. The recipe? Start with glamorous décor (think high ceilings and grey marble ionic columns, crisp white tablecloths, clever lighting, and thousands of pearls strung together to the most striking effect), add excellent modern French cuisine (expertly concocted by head chef Jun Tanaka) and an award-winning wine list with over 50 wines by the glass, and finish with live piano music and attentive yet not overzealous service. The result? You are onto a winner. An evening at Pearl is a truly memorable one, and for once in a city that has more than its fair share of mediocre, overpriced venues, this time you will remember your meal for all the right reasons: the food is the real star here, with a mouth-watering menu that features the likes of warm salad of rabbit with prunes or pigeon and foie gras terrine for starters (both succulent), and mains as varied as red mullet in orange and rosemary sauce or a quartet of pork offering four different cuts on one plate (again, both delicious and cooked to perfection). Nothing's left to chance, not even the appetizers (ours included melt-in-the-mouth rabbit rillettes) or the cheese board (which featured an exceptional selection). Well worth splashing out for.

252 High Holborn, WC1V
Tel: (020) 7829 7000.
Website: www.pearl-restaurant.com
Price: $$$

Veeraswamy

London's oldest Indian restaurant has been the rendez vous of Indian food lovers for decades. Since 1926 in fact. And its much talked about new incarnation post 80th-birthday refurbishment does this institution proud. Both exotic and luxurious, with dark wood and silver screens perfectly offset by Indian coloured glass shades, the interior and the lighting are spot on, and ideal for a perfect romantic evening. The food is a blend of traditional favourites and more modern concoctions, and includes traditional regal recipes but also jazzed up versions of more modest (but just as tasty) Indian street food. There are dishes from the north of India, such as nizami murgh, a chicken dish with pine nuts, lemon and rose petals hailing from the royal kitchens of Hyderabad, or lamb biryani, one of the best we'd tried in a long time. But seafood and southern dishes also feature prominently: lobster is one of the specialities here, and there are plenty of other tempting offerings on the menu, ranging from oyster kebabs to green prawns and red snapper, and sea bream paturi (banana leaf parcels of fillets of bream, steamed in a chilli and mustard sauce). I opted for an exquisite starter of mussels in coconut and ginger sauce, and was not disappointed. The best thing I had, however, was a side dish of tandoor clove smoked aubergine caviar, which was positively out of this world! So light and flavoursome, I wiped my plate clean before my date could say 'rumali roti' (the name of the flat handkerchief bread that came with it). The wine list is cleverly arranged by wine type, such as light, bone dry and refreshing or rich and structured for whites, and juicy, fresh and fruity or intense and full-bodied for reds, so that you don't have to be a wine buff to select something to match your food, although a friendly sommelier is on hand to help out anyway.

Victory House, 99 Regent Street (entrance on Swallow Street), W1
Tel: (020) 7734 1401.
Website: www.realindianfood.com
Price: $$$

Yauatcha

Where can you find a seriously stylish, fun restaurant that also serves exceptionally good food? Look no further than Yauatcha, the Soho new-comer everybody is talking about. Chinese is not my favourite, and being unable to book a table before 2200 was not a good start (the price to pay for the restaurant's popularity, I suppose: even at that time the place was still packed!), but then these complaints faded away the minute our order arrived. Opt, as we did, for the dim sum, which is to kill for. The menu is extensive, and you will be spoilt for choice: from fried prawn and date parcels to steamed duck and shiitake mushroom rolls to roast venison puffs (to mention but a few), our selection was exquisite, moist and flavoursome, well presented, and, what's more, served with a smile. And the desserts (lemon and ginger soufflé and green tea crème brulée and raspberry sorbet) were excellent too. The main dining room downstairs (think candles on the walls, twinkling stars in the ceiling, and a very long fish tank running the length of the bar counter) is much more atmospheric than the one on the ground floor upstairs, so do remember that when you book… Not often do you see such expert cuisine served in such beautiful surroundings at such reasonable prices in London: do believe the hype for once and go check it out for yourself.

15-17 Broadwick Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7494 8888.
Price: $$