When in London...

randomshenans

randomshenans

randomshenans

Soldato
Joined
11 Sep 2009
Posts
14,064
Location
France, Alsace
I have been forced to come over to England to lead some training, so while I'm here I thought I'd tie in a couple of visits. Since I never get back here normally, I shoehorn what I can in.

Last time I was over I did Galvin La Chapelle and Alyn Williams at the Westbury, both of which excellent. Even though one of the mates I took to the Westbury is so not at home in a restaurant, it was funny as anything.

So this time, I'm trying to do the same. I've got a mate coming in to London to see me on the 29th and have booked Le Gavroche up for 9:30pm as that's the only place they had. Now, where should I go before hand? We will be suitably suited, so some such wine bar/cocktail bar would be nice. Any suggestions?

I actually arrive in London on the Monday, and will be trying to meet a few folk at Duck & Waffle for lunch (pending numbers and booking). Then again, I have Monday night where I'm taking my sister out to dinner.
Where can I take her?
Was considering; Greenhouse, Square, Hibiscus, possibly Dinner by Heston but unsure I fancy that, or maybe one of Jason Atherton's places? Or Hedone, Tom Aikens? Pied a Terre?

Many choices make hard work.

I am back for my Gran's 80th end of November fleetingly for 2 days, one of which in Bristol and my mother suggested we go for a sunday roast (as it's actually my birthday that day) at a pub. Obviously this wasn't going to work, so I've booked up Hawksmoor Air Street instead. I bloody love having places to look forward to. :D
 
Green house, la Trompette and chez bruce are created by the same people.
Chez bruce wins on quality it just nudges La Trompette by a whisker, thanks to their pastry chef. Greenhouse is good but the worst of the three.
However La Teompette has the perfect atmosphere and still my fav restaraunt i've been to overall. Atmosphere, food, service, price.

So i would recomend them for one of the meals.
http://www.latrompette.co.uk
Oh and jealous that's some list you have there.
 
Last edited:
Another vote for La Trompette, went there for a friend's birthday dinner last year and it was great.
 
randomshenans said:
So this time, I'm trying to do the same. I've got a mate coming in to London to see me on the 29th and have booked Le Gavroche up for 9:30pm as that's the only place they had. Now, where should I go before hand? We will be suitably suited, so some such wine bar/cocktail bar would be nice. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Bit of a trek, but oblix in The Shard is a fantastic place to go for cocktails and has a great view to boot.

randomshenans said:
Was considering; Greenhouse, Square, Hibiscus, possibly Dinner by Heston but unsure I fancy that, or maybe one of Jason Atherton's places? Or Hedone, Tom Aikens? Pied a Terre?
Click to expand...
Greenhouse by a country mile. Hasn't just won a second star for nothing and the food, wine, service and general ambience of the place is exemplary.

Went there for dinner a few weeks ago and was totally blown away by the whole experience. And that was before the new Michelin Guide was out.
 
Thanks guys. Trompette is a bit of a mission from central, which is my issue with it, or I'd give it a whirl. This is why greenhouse is up on the list.

Might have to try greenhouse in that case (it was top of my list in my head).

Oblix also looks pretty nice. Unsure whether there before Le Gav, or before Greenhouse, but I'll fit in cocktails there.

More swanky bar suggestions. Is Dover Street wine bar still any good? Not been in years.
 
Nothings a mission in London, its a quick hop on tube, thats the beauty of London. Love the place for weekends, not sure i could live there all the time though.
 
randomshenans said:
Oblix also looks pretty nice. Unsure whether there before Le Gav, or before Greenhouse, but I'll fit in cocktails there.
Click to expand...
It's an utter ball-ache to fit in on a night out route, but worth it as a starting or finishing point.

randomshenans said:
More swanky bar suggestions. Is Dover Street wine bar still any good? Not been in years.
Click to expand...
Light Bar @ St Martin's Lane Hotel is a pretty cool place to have a few cocktails, but it's terribly pretentious, the seating is sodding uncomfortable and it's also right by the dreadful Asia de Cuba, which loses it yet more marks.

But the cocktails are fabulous, and ultimately I guess that's what matters.

The Mandarin Bar @ The Mandarin Oriental is another excellent choice, and perfect to pair with a trip to Dinner.

I also really like the Il Bar @ The Bulgari Hotel - rarely gets rammed and is a good place to while away an hour sampling their extensive cocktail menu.

Glaucus said:
Nothings a mission in London, its a quick hop on tube, thats the beauty of London.
Click to expand...
Not sure that's entirely true for most people.

I find it far nicer being able to meander from place-to-place rather than have to suffer the tube as a way of criss-crossing London to get to every point on your list of destinations.
 
glitch said:
Not sure that's entirely true for most people.

I find it far nicer being able to meander from place-to-place rather than have to suffer the tube as a way of criss-crossing London to get to every point on your list of destinations.
Click to expand...

Unless a City is tiny/ village sized you can never just meander across it. I haven't been to one major city in the world that you haven't needed public transport/ cab to get across. What Glaucus is getting at is that London is probably the easiest/ best city in the world for getting from A-B primarily because of the tube. Also, if you only want to have a stroll around the central part of the city (say zone 1) it is very easy to do so and more often than not you can get to places just as quick by walking if thats what you wish to do. :)
 
What Glaucus seemed to be getting at, which isn't always clear, was that a visit to La Trompette wasn't a mission from central London. Where as I'd argue that 30-minutes or more on the tube to Turnham Green is exactly that.

Now, I don't disagree that using the tube is a fantastic way to get around our capital, especially when it has one of the better public transport networks for a city of its size, but there's a world of difference between a 'quick hop' on the tube and a half-hour of travel.

I appreciate that other people have differing opinions on this matter, but I try to avoid the tube as much as possible when out in London. I've spent too many nights sodding about going backwards and forwards across the city when it's a damn sight easier to try and keep yourself within a certain area and walk from point-to-point.

And the best thing about doing that is you always seem to find something new and exciting on your route - exploring London is a fantastic way to spend your evening and, for me, much more preferable to looking at the inside of tube stations and tunnels.
 
I'm with glitch on this one, as I prefer to lump things in and around the same area. If I'm in central, I'll remain fairly central, if I go out west, I'll plan my night as such and stay out west. My sister lives in Islington, but works nearer central, so Greenhouse got the vote as it's just off Green Park.

Earlier in the day I'm going to squeeze in seeing some mates at Duck & Waffle and then head out afterwards and see which bars to head to pre meal.
 
I cannot add to this thread in terms of where to go, however I did want to say that I hope you stick plenty of pictures up (if possible) of the places you go and food you eat. I always like reading through your threads :)
 
Glaucus said:
Green house, la Trompette and chez bruce are created by the same people.
Chez bruce wins on quality it just nudges La Trompette by a whisker, thanks to their pastry chef. Greenhouse is good but the worst of the three.
However La Teompette has the perfect atmosphere and still my fav restaraunt i've been to overall. Atmosphere, food, service, price.

So i would recomend them for one of the meals.
http://www.latrompette.co.uk
Oh and jealous that's some list you have there.
Click to expand...

Isn't it the Glass House which is owned by the same people behind Chez Bruce and La Trompette? Sorry to be pedantic :p

That said, the Green House looks pretty good. Will add it to the list.
 
He owns that as well and the ledbury.

30min is a mission? Where the hell do you live, for most people it takes at least that just to get to the centre of their nearest town.
 
It won't take 30mins though. I know from doing it many a time. 30mins on the tube, but walking to the station, up again bla bla. I could spend that time in another bar drinking bubbly :p
 
randomshenans said:
So this time, I'm trying to do the same. I've got a mate coming in to London to see me on the 29th and have booked Le Gavroche up for 9:30pm as that's the only place they had. Now, where should I go before hand? We will be suitably suited, so some such wine bar/cocktail bar would be nice. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Claridges Bar or the The Connaught Bar are a wander away, Claridges is my go to bar for a 'nice' drink, perfect service and a great atmosphere.

Galvin at Windows Bar, Artesian at the Langham are a short walk but would be good options.

The Zetter Townhouse, Marks Bar, Paramount, or Dukes are all cab rides away but only a few minutes.

For dinner it would be Bocca Di Lupo, if there are a pair of you ask for seats in front of the chefs, my favourite restaurant in London.
 
For those of you that have been to the Duck & Waffle as mentioned by the OP, how does the menu work there? Is it a sort of tapas?

The small plate and dishes for the table aspect is a little confusing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom