Food in London

Dining in London can be an unpleasant experience if you don't know where to go. You may find a place serving bland food at an unreasonably high cost, or you may get a nasty surprise if you go to a cheap, 'home-style' restaurant. It is important to consult a guide before you venture to dine out. London has many excellent restaurants serving classic English as well as foreign dishes. You will find traditional restaurants, modern diners with an upbeat, lively atmosphere, child- and family-friendly places, ethnic restaurants and more. Most importantly, never subscribe to the outdated theory that all restaurants in London serve burnt roast beef, bland vegetables and soggy puddings.
In the last two decades the London restaurant scene has seen a major improvement. Locals and tourists are now afforded the pleasure of an immense food variety. Apart from the many excellent Italian and French restaurants, there are Thai, Chinese and Indian, Vietnamese and Malaysian specialties, as well as Ethiopian and even Middle Eastern cuisine. It is hardly necessary to point out that all varieties of European cuisine are available in London. Finally, if you prefer a classic English restaurant, you will be presented with an excellent choice.
Some of the best traditional London restaurants are the Covent Garden franchise, the Grand Divan, Savoy Grill and Maggie Jones. Covent Garden restaurants and bars are generally quite expensive, but the recently opened Covent Garden Grill is a pleasant exception. It offers an authentic, modern design, a great grill menu, and a welcoming atmosphere. Just off the central Henrietta Street Piazza, it is very easy to locate. Furthermore, the famous Porters, another classic English restaurant, is right next door. You will always find a seat at the Covent Garden Grill. It has two sectors - the lower floor, marked by an environment of refined exclusivity, and the higher floor, modern and upbeat. There is an excellent menu and wine selection.
The Grand Divan has a long-standing tradition - roasts, carved directly from trolleys. The famous steak and kidney puddings are a delectable treat. Other favourites are potted shrimp and lobster soup. The restaurant serves traditionally prepared game, like grouse with bread sauce in season. The best dessert is treacle sponge pudding.
You may have heard of the Savoy Grill in the past. It should no longer be associated with oppressive exclusivity and an elite, stuck-up, over-demanding clientele. It serves simple yet delicious food, like beef fillet, carved and sauced at the tables, and side courses of smoked salmon. Other specialties are Welsh rarebit, Bennett omelette, Cumberland sausages with gravy and oysters. After a nourishing meal, you can choose a dessert from the trolley. The menu includes milk ice cream, sherry truffle and rice pudding topped with fresh, tangy pineapples.
Some speculate that Maggie Jones was named after Princess Margaret, who took the surname of Armstrong - Jones after she was married. The couple often visited this spot. Among the highlights of the menu are Cornish smoked mackerel, grilled or poached salmon and a great main course, steak and kidney Pie. This pie is a classic British dish. Other classics are Guinness and Beef pie and the so-called School Puddings. These include toffee pudding, bread and butter pudding, suet pudding, sago, rice and spotted dick (not what you think). Brits like very, very well done steaks and vegetables boiled to a degree where they may be considered spongy. Do not stand by presumptions. Try everything!
At the other end of the spectre we have some excellent low-cost diners. You can feast on fish and chips or Shepherd's pie at the Stockpot and the West End Kitchen, excellent sandwiches at Harry Brown, the best one containing bacon, tomato and avocado, and great vegetarian dishes at Food for Thought.
The Soho district of London offers a wide selection of ethnic restaurants. The best vegan food is at Tai. Its quality is unsurpassed. There are numerous Chinese restaurants, of which most are authentic and casual. The Wong Kei is an exception and offers the least common experience. Rude, sharp service is part of the atmosphere. However, the food is very tasty and very cheap. This restaurant was opened by actress Sarah Bernhardt and has four floors.
You can try authentic south Indian dishes at Diwana. This food is far from your average curry dish. Ecco is a pizzeria and café. The pizza is fresh, made before your eyes, and very cheap. This joint is highly successful and has begun to expand throughout the city.
The best Algerian cuisine is at Momo, just off Regent Street. It is not pricey, which is an unexpected fact, considering that it is the trendiest spot in London. It was reserved by Madonna and other world-known celebrities for private parties in the past. You will find Vietnamese cuisine on Kingsland road. There are several Vietnamese restaurants here, like Tay Hoa, Viet Hoa and the Song Que Café.
Belgian food is a hot new trend in London. A great place to visit is Belgo, which serves strawberry beer and many other flavours. Finally, you can also buy food at a classic closed market. Two good ones are the Leadenhall and the Smithfield. The latter is a meat market today, and a cattle market in the past. Both markets are run by the London Corporation.
You may find that Brits are in the habit of over-consuming spirit drinks. The great Dostoievsky once said upon returning from London, "We have a problem with alcohol in Moscow, but you have a bigger problem with drunkenness in London". If you get drunk in London, know that a spicy Indian dish is the perfect antidote to a hangover.