London’s restaurants
- Elene Riordan
- Jul 7, 2022
- 10 min read
Updated: Apr 6
Where to start when it comes to restaurants in London. Between the different types of cuisines and the fact that London is ginormous, I will go for my favourites and vary according to specialities, location and price. I'll keep updating the list after a trip to London.
Breakfast
Let's start with a delicious breakfast!
Scarlett Green is one of several locations where you can have the most delicious brunch, served till 4pm. It's in the heart of Soho and has a lovely French manager who really takes care of his customers and employees. We even got offered a glass of Mimosa to celebrate my daughter's graduation.
You would be advised to book especially on weekends.
We also went to Daisy Green in Marylebone and Timmy Green in Victoria and the quality of the food is consistently good in all of them. I suppose I will have to try them all out.
WatchHouse Somerset House
This restaurant is open every day of the week from 8am to 6pm. When we ate there we didn't have a reservation but we managed to get a table for two on one of the big tables that you share with others (except there was no one with us).
Although breakfast is served to 11am, you will mostly probably find what you desire in the brunch menu options.
I do love poached eggs especially in the UK and I have always wondered why the yolk is so yellow compared to the eggs in Belgium for example.
Don't miss going to the Summerset house museum after that.
Caravan
Caravan has spots all across London and it serves all day menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner and weekend brunch.
I have been to a few and have never been disappointed.
Once again, I chose poached eggs in the one in Finsbury and the one in King's Cross.
26 Grains
26 Grains is nothing like the rest of the places. It's super original, healthy and changes the menu according to the seasonal products.
The porridge is to die for, it comes with all sorts of different toppings and warms you up from head to toe.
You can't book a table but be patient because it is SO worth it.
Brother Marcus
Brother Marcus is never a disappointment. There are several places all over London and they are always packed especially on weekends so don't forget to book.
The flavours and recipes are Eastern Mediterranean, full of colours and spices.
We tried the one at Borough Yards and Covent Garden.
This is a funny one. So The attendant is in a disused Victorian toilet in Fitzrovia, yes, you read it correctly!
You will be able to get a delicious brunch or breakfast with seasonal food from local producers and really great coffee.
Lunch and dinner
Dishoom
Dishoom is all over London and that is a good thing. Every one of the dishoom restaurants is always packed so that says it all.
Dishoom is about sharing authentic dishes from Bombay. You end up ordering too much but that's fine as you get to take it home and enjoy it the next day.
A special mention to the House Black Daal, the chicken ruby or the tikka masala, roomali roti and garlic bread. You can also enjoy the bottomless house chai and end with a delicious ice cream called Malai Kulfi.
Now here is a little secret between us. The first time you go to Dishoom ask for their special keyring, so that the next time you go to any of their restaurants to eat before 6pm on weekdays, at the end of the meal, you show them your keyring and get to throw a huge dice. If you land a 6, your meal is totally free. Guess what? We were the lucky ones!
Oystermen is a great fish restaurant right next to Covent Garden. You have a large choice of oysters, fresh crab, and a great pairing with wine. I love the food and the fact that the staff are really attentive and sweet makes the whole experience so much greater.
The restaurant Circolo Popolare is one of the family's favourite. They serve a great pasta carbonara with guanciale of course in a Parmesan wheel (evening’s only). Even though it's part of a chain of restaurants called Big Mamma Group, you feel like you travelled to Italy to enjoy a meal.
Also part of the same group, we tried Ave Mario, it also has that Italian holiday feel to it and the food is just as nice.
Just don't expect a quiet romantic evening, it's noisy but that is also part of the Italian charm.
Here's another one of our favourite restaurants in Covent Garden. The food is inspired by Japan, Brazil and Peru, so make sure you get a mix of different dishes such as tempura and sushi, churrasco and ceviches.
There is another Sushi Samba on the roof top of the Heron Tower in the City of London. The menu is the same but the view is incredible.
Fallow restaurant
The concept in Fallow's is to share. I recommend you try the corn ribs with their amazing kombu seasoning; the smoked beef ribs, the caramelised cauliflower 'croquetas' with Black garlic mayonnaise and the flamed mussels with bacon butter sauce, pickled lemon, parsley. But don't stop there if you still hungry!
Roe
Roe was launched by the team behind Fallow.
Roe can sit up to 500 people and the decor is amazing with a view of Canary Wharf. The wide-ranging menu offers something for everyone, we tried so many amazing dishes, but the one that stands out is the famous mushroom parfait, it's also a dish they serve in Fallow. This is SO SO good, like a foie gras but vegan.
J. Sheekey
This is a classic fish restaurant in the theatre area. I used to go there with my parents when I was young, so I continued the tradition with my own children, except I'm the one that pays now.
Last time we went there, we splurged out and ordered caviar and lobster, but you can go for 'a plateau de fruit de mer' or a simple shrimp and soft shell crab burger.
Ekstedt at the Yard
We have been here at least 4 times, that's how much we love this restaurant. It definitely one of my favourites.
Ekstedt is the name of the Swedish Chef Niklas Ekstedt, using wood fire cooking techniques. When tasting their signature dish, you get to join the chef in the kitchen to watch him prepare the oyster using wood fire.
You can choose between a 5 or 7 course tasting menu and enjoy pickled, fermented and cured ingredients with Nordic flavours.
The wine pairing is headed by the sommelier Klearhos Kanellakis and he is passionate about every glass he pours.
Eat Tokyo
Eat Tokyo has several locations is London, we always go to the one in Covent Garden. This is an authentic Japanese restaurant with very reasonable prices, serving the typical bento box and miso soup for lunch. I've never been there in the evening but for a quick lunch it's perfect. Make sure you arrive early if you want a table, you get people queuing outside waiting for the restaurant to open.
Fatt Pundit
Fatt Pundit is a combination of the common Chinese surname ‘Fatt’ with the Indian word ‘Pundit’ (a scholar).
The dishes are so tasty, perfectly spiced and original. The idea is to share, tapas style. The popcorn cauliflower, the crackling spinach and the lamb chops were our favourites.
Make sure you book because the restaurant is quite small. We ate downstairs, so no views on the street, but in the evening it didn't really matter.
The Libertine
The Libertine restaurant is set in the vaults beneath The Royal Exchange.
We went there for lunch during a week day and enjoyed an amazing platter of oysters and other fish dishes. Apparently, the Sunday roast is really good so I'll be trying that next time and keep you informed, or you can tell me what you think if you have tried it.
If you go during the week, you can take advantage of the shopping mall in the Royal Exchange.
Darjeeling Express
We went to the Darjeeling Express the first time in 2018 and love it so much that we wanted to return really quickly but it closed for a while and then it became really famous and difficult to get a booking. We finally went back in 2024.
The food is so so good, a taste of homely Indian food. You receive a big platter with all the hearty dishes you have chosen and we even got enough for take-away.
I love the fact that it is a all-women team that runs the kitchen. I can't wait to go back.
Kricket
Kricket has several restaurants in London, we went to the one close to Piccadilly Circus, which is actually their first restaurant.
It serves spicy and flavorish Indian food with a modern twist.
The restaurant has an industrial-chic ambiance, with exposed brick walls and an open kitchen.
The signature dishes are the Keralan fried chicken and the samphire pakoras, complemented with a selection of Indian-inspired cocktails and craft beers.
Kricket Soho is a must-visit restaurant for a memorable Indian dining experience in London.
The Horse Shoe
If you spend a Sunday in Hampstead, you must go to The Horse Shoe for a full Sunday roast with all the trimmings.
The roast features a perfectly cooked meat, crispy roast potatoes, and melt-in-the-mouth Yorkshire puddings. You have the choice between Hereford beef, Duroc pork, White Cobb chicken or Suffolk lamb shoulder for three to share and they even have a vegan option. We had the pork belly mainly for the crackling.
Beyond the outstanding food, the welcoming and service was exceptional. The pub also offers a diverse selection of beverages, including the Camden Beer.
Toklas
Toklas is nestled between the Strand and the River Thames in London and offers a Mediterranean dining experience.
Toklas uses the finest seasonal ingredients, prepared simply to let their natural flavours shine, so the menu changes accordingly. Our pasta and aubergine with feta was amazing.
The service was impeccable and friendly with expertly prepared dishes, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking a memorable Mediterranean dining experience in London.
Michelin Star restaurants
Hélène Darroze at the Connaugh (3 michelin star)
We finally went to our first 3 michelin star restaurant from the famous chef Hélène Darroze at the Connaugh in London.
What an incredible evening, every dish was exceptional and unique.
We were served 9 dishes, from red mullet, beetroot, hare, john dory, guinea fowl, rhubarb and chocolate.
The wine pairing was perfect and 'the cherry on top of the cake' was our tour of the kitchen by Celia Denis, the guest relations Manager.
We were given a little present to take home with us, a small canelé, a pâtisserie flavored with rhum and vanilla from Hélène Darroze's home town Bordeaux.
Thank you to the whole team! you really deserve those 3 stars!
Benares Mayfair is a 1 Michelin-starred Indian restaurant where we went for a deliciously refined lunch.
The dishes are a combination of tradition and modernity of specialities from India.
We tried their three courses set menu for £ 39. It's always interesting to check out the lunch menus in Michelin star restaurants, you get to taste an incredible restaurant at a very good price.
A special mention has to go to the dark chocolate pave served with fresh pickled strawberries.
Evelyn's Table (1 michelin star)
Evelyn's Table, a 1 Michelin star, is an intimate 12 seater counter dining experience. You are seated at the counter with everyone else, facing the kitchen, so you get to admire the chefs' skills throughout the evening.
You will get to taste amazing fresh British produce with a touch of Scandinavian and Japanese cuisine.
We started with Cornish fish, charred leaks, apple and kombu; an amazing combination. Next Briths Iberico presa, chesnuts, grilled pear; then Orkney scallop, swede xo, yuzu.
The main dish was Devonshure beef, spring leaves, seaweed, cured egg yolk. The dessert was a wonderful Koshihikari rice pudding, miso brulée, Yorkshire rhubarb, cherry blossoms.
They even signed our menu that we framed and hanged in the kitchen with the other menus.
Hide (1 michelin star)
This michelin star restaurant Hide offers you sophisticated and delicate food amidst a decor that is equally dazzling. I have to mention the sinuous timber staircase by Atmos Studio, the centrepiece restaurant, where it ascends from a basement bar to the dining areas on the ground floor and upper mezzanine.
We started our evening with a glass of champagne in the Bar Below and then made our way upstairs to have our dinner, the oysters were perfect and the dishes were refined, a well deserved one star michelin star.
London Food Markets
This is a great alternative if you have not booked a table or if you can't make up your mind which type of cuisine you want. I'm going to name those I have eaten at in no particular order.
Shoreditch has become in the last 10 years an arty area with young creatives and trendsetters. The restaurants gastropubs and trendy hotels have also taken over the area .The Boxpark Shoreditch is on of those meeting points to enjoy the evening. The Boxpark is made from shipping containers, situated just above the Shoreditch High Street tube station. This food market has lots of different food choices from all over the world. I went there in the summer during the world cup so we got to enjoy a great food and drinks on the roof top whilst watching a football game. There are other events that are organised there weekly such as DJs, quizz nights and live music.
Seven Dials Market is really close to Covent Garden. Again the choice of different types of food and drinks is amazing, but the good thing about Seven Dials Market is they have a part called Banana Warehouse that is indoors, so if it's start to rain you can just spend the afternoon eating and drinking there.
Borough Market was established in 1756, it's one of those markets that stay authentic but keeps up with the new trends in terms of food.
I've visited two of these markets so far. The vibrant and original one in Elephant and Castle and the one set in a beautiful deconsecrated church in Mayfair.
The one in Elephant and Castle is huge and seem to always be packed at whatever time of day, so I suggest, you can book a table. The choice for food and drinks is unlimited, so be prepared to order to much because you will want to try as much as possible.
The Mercato Mayfair is a lot smaller. It's worth checking it out just for the grandeur of the location. I did also like the entrance with the pots and plants for sale.
to be continued...
Comments