London restaurants

[Steven_Draker]

NOBU Berkeley street

 

http://crm.innerplace.co.uk/media/images/venues/DSC_4385July2012Sjpg.jpg

 

Overrated.

Music is way too loud, louder than in an Abercrombie&Fitch store. Don't bring a first-time date there. You'll end up screaming at your dinner companion and not hearing the conversation. The lower floor has a large bar, where a DJ is playing. The restaurant itself is on the upper floor. The acoustic of the dining room is terrible (my ears are still hurting). The food was ok, if you're into modern japanese cuisine.

 

 

 

AQUA SHARD

 

http://static.designmynight.com/uploads/2013/06/the-shard-1.png

 

Excellent.

A very nice surprise. From the moment you approach The Shard and you enter the building, it was a first class experience all the way up and through the end. Magnificent views over London. Aqua Shard is the British restaurant on the 31st level, Hutong is the Chinese restaurant on the 33rd level. I dined in the British one. The steak is quite good. Getting a table was hard. Booking is necessary (ahead of time). http://www.aquashard.co.uk

 

Feel free to share your favorite London restaurants.

[bootdad]

I have been traveling to London since the early 80's and quite frankly most restaurant options even into the mid 90's were quite disappointing. London simply was not known for GREAT food. That all started changing in the late 90's and no one has look back because over the past decade the options for good food have exploded !!! I guess I am a creature of habit (even though I tend to try something new on every trip) and simply adore 2 regular stops that often wind up being my go to choices out of a combination of laziness, creature comfort, reliability and convenience. I am a huge of Cecconi and The Wolseley both in Mayfair - a consistently GREAT experience !!!

check out - http://www.thewolseley.com/ and http://www.cecconis.co.uk/

[jimboivyo]

I have been traveling to London since the early 80's and quite frankly most restaurant options even into the mid 90's were quite disappointing. London simply was not known for GREAT food. That all started changing in the late 90's and no one has look back because over the past decade the options for good food have exploded !!! I guess I am a creature of habit (even though I tend to try something new on every trip) and simply adore 2 regular stops that often wind up being my go to choices out of a combination of laziness, creature comfort, reliability and convenience. I am a huge of Cecconi and The Wolseley both in Mayfair - a consistently GREAT experience !!!

check out - http://www.thewolseley.com/ and http://www.cecconis.co.uk/

 

great reviews and pictures. the lack of response here doesn't surprise me. this isn't an everyman topic

 

london has great dining options these days. cecconi's is tops

[robberbaron4u]

Alain Ducasse operates a restaurant in The Dorchester Hotel which is, in my opinion, offers a memorable experience in cuisine and service, and, all of the restaurants operated by Platts-Martin are "good" in all aspects of their operation. If you can command an invitation, the private clubs in the city which maintain in-house restaurants by-and-large offer splendid "British" fare.

[EZEtoGRU]

I always enjoy Rules in Charing Cross......almost more for the décor and ambiance than the traditional British food. The rooms at Rules are exquisite. My favorite seafood place is One-O-One in the Park Tower Hotel in Knightsbridge. They have a scallop and foie gras starter that is heaven. My favorite London culinary pastime is having caviar & champagne at the Caviar Bar located in the Food Halls at Harrods. Very busy with lots of hustle and bustle. One sits at a counter and watches the world go by whilst sipping champagne and indulging in the caviar of one's choice. As long as I can have caviar and champagne, I'm a happy camper.

 

Great thread Steven. BTW, great pics. The views from Agua Shard are lovely.

[gallahadesquire]

Any suggestions for where to get Yorkshire Pudding (as popovers, not as a pan-under-the-beast)? I think Rules was supposed to be good, but at the time of my last reservation, it was > 80F, and I was in no mood for raost beef and yorkshire.

[flguy]

I've had a few meals at Rules and agree that the ambiance and decor make the place. It is the oldest restaurant in England and was featured in Dowton Abbey in season three I believe.

[Steven_Draker]

Another excellent choice which I had the privilege to visit last time I went to London is

 

L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon

(Covent Garden)

 

http://library1.qliweb.com/thumb/ade178e7aa5da26ce033fccb9dd551da/c3JjSW1nPWxpYnJhcnkvYXJ0aWtlbC8xMjkxNDkzNTY1X3Jlc3guanBnJndpZHRoPTYyNyZoZWlnaHQ9Mzk0JnR5cGU9Y3V0RnJvbUltYWdl.jpg http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6158/6257494205_2afb5285f0.jpg

 

http://joelrobuchon.co.uk/

[Tommygunzz]

Thanks Steven. I'll be traveling to London and Frankfurt in February. I was hoping I would come across some personal recommendations rather than relying on some random nod from a website or guidebook. Thank you again.

[+ Charlie]

Any suggestions for where to get Yorkshire Pudding (as popovers, not as a pan-under-the-beast)? I think Rules was supposed to be good, but at the time of my last reservation, it was > 80F, and I was in no mood for raost beef and yorkshire.

The last time I had Yorkshire pudding in London was at Simpson's-in-the-Strand, but that was many years ago.

[robberbaron4u]

In my recollection, there is a Taylor Walker restaurant in Whitehall, a pub venue, which offers a very good Yorkshire pudding on its menu. Regretfully, I cannot recollect the name of the establishment.

[dfw2sfo]

I concur about the Wolsley. Food and atmosphere both winners. Also had lunch at the Ivy which was enjoyable.