Central London Restaurant Recommendation

nantucket66

nantucket66

nantucket66

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Joined
25 Jun 2005
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1,158
Got a night in London in 3 weeks time and looking for a decent restaurant, we usually do Hawksmoor, but am tempted by Goodman for a change, but to be fair unless Goodman is a lot better it's probably not enough of a change......any other recommendations?

Bob Bob Richard, Ottolenghi, Sabor?
 
Top of my list to visit when I feel better about going into central are Norma, Kol, Gymkhana, St John. Hawksmoor is great for a Shakey Pete but I struggle to get excited about paying £40 for a steak when I have a fantastic butchers around the corner. Nice when someone else is paying mind.

My girlfriend went to Sabor pre-covid and loved it. I was very jealous.
 
Thanks for that, Gymkhana was on my shortlist. I do like a Shakey Pete I have to say! My missus quite fancies Dishoom which looks good and I also like the look of Berners Tavern and Social Eating as well.
Too much choice is worse than not enough, could always squeeze in lunch somewhere the following day I guess.
 
nantucket66 said:
Thanks for that, Gymkhana was on my shortlist. I do like a Shakey Pete I have to say! My missus quite fancies Dishoom which looks good and I also like the look of Berners Tavern and Social Eating as well.
Too much choice is worse than not enough, could always squeeze in lunch somewhere the following day I guess.
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If you like Dishoom then I'd highly recommend either Tandoor Chop House (near Charing Cross) or any of the Kricket sites. I find Dishoom to be slightly "up themselves" what with the queueing etc. although obviously not sure if that is happening currently. Reading online, I'm not the only been made to wait for 30mins+ like it was a nightclub only to get inside and find the restaurant half empty. Even at random times like 4pm on a Sunday. There's definitely an element of them "managing" the queue and honestly I don't think the food is that good.

Tandoor Chop House is amazing. Short menu but you won't go home hungry, you'll also go home stinking of a lovely combo of Indian spices and BBQ smoke :D Kricket do some fantastic dishes too but I haven't been to the one in Soho. Out of all of them I'd expect Gymkhana to be the best (as it has a Michelin star) but I haven't been there yet.

Berner's Tavern is great, the room is stunning. The Mac and cheese with beef shin/short rib (??) is heavenly. Make sure you go for a digestif in the Punch Room bar at the back of the hotel afterwards. The Edition is a bit of a place to be "seen" though so you get a bit of a flashy crowd in the lobby bar. Funny for people watching, I got told off for moving a chair? :confused:

EDIT: If you go for the Social Eating House then the Blind Pig above is a great cocktail bar.
 
+1 for a Shakey Pete. Hawksmoor still doing their Monday corkage I believe which is incredible value if you're there then.

Goodman was excellent last time there but work was paying. Particularly liked the breeds, cuts and aging choices. Felt more special than Hawksmoor but that may have been the company and volume of good wine (even though one of the bottles I brought was corked).
 
Dishoom gone downhill for me went to Kings Cross one recently, got put on a cramped small table that was lop sided despite there being dining tables empty behind with stools.
 
bingham67 said:
Dishoom gone downhill for me went to Kings Cross one recently, got put on a cramped small table that was lop sided despite there being dining tables empty behind with stools.
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Did they make you wait 45mins for the privilege too? :p
 
I also think Dishoom isn't as good as it was a number of years ago. However, the cocktails are great and they do give free chai masala to you in the queue which is nice.

I'm going to book Gauthier for my birthday trip in November.
 
Scam said:
lol that salad! I'd be peeved if I got that for a £9 starter in a London restaurant... in 1996! :p £38?! who are they kidding :eek:

Good on Jay for pointing out the ownership of the Dorchester, those places need to be boycotted on principle.
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jesus wept.... My kids could make a better salad than that... £38.. That's just horrendous....
 
Haven't eaten out in London for a while now but being a bargain hunter - you do get some decent offerings with soft launches (usually 50% off).

https://www.hot-dinners.com/Offers/Hot-Dinners-Restaurant-Offers/

A few ones I remember from the past that I enjoyed.....Benares (Indian/Mayfair), Dishoom, Pix (chain of lovely tapas restaurants), Le Garrick (cute French restaurant), River Cafe (loved this place), Noble Rot, Macellaio (great steak chain).
 
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Scam said:
So @nantucket66 have you booked anywhere yet? This new (as of last night) list may be of use: https://www.nationalrestaurantawards.co.uk/ plenty of London options and I see Sabor is at no 6.
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Slight change of plans, we always end up going wherever I want and I've taken the back seat this time, so she's booked Rosa's Thai for dinner and Absurd Bird for lunch the following day. I can pick lunch the day of Rosa's but nothing booked yet. Too much choice, tempted to try The Palomar
 
Good one for lunch - Simpsons Tavern.

Fantastic place. Food has always been great. Traditional English food, and sizeable portions as well. Prices are damn good for the City of London too. Most places you get asked if you want chips, or a salad on the side. Simpsons... Would you like a sausage? The answer is always yes. ;)

Oh god... The Stewed Cheese... You need to have Stewed Cheese in your life.
 
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