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London Strut

hammertimehammertime 2,389 Posts
edited September 2008 in Strut Central
OK so I'm heading to England for a week for work, and I will have a Saturday all to myself in London. I'm planning on doing some of the usual touristy things, but I was wondering about FOOD. Any got a couple places I've gotta check out? I'm more into cheap but good grubby places than upscale 5-star type shit. Thanks in advance!

  Comments

  • Rich45sRich45s 327 Posts
    Coming from America I think this may be a little like teaching your granny to suck eggs, but theres a great restaurent just off Covent Garden that does a slightly upmarket take on Mexican street food. You buy it like Tapas and all tuck in. Owned by a woman who won a TV cookery programme over here and has gone from strength to strength b,121b,121a href="http://www.wahaca.co.uk/"1target="_blank"1http://www.wahaca.co.uk/b,121b,121I don't have much of a frame of reference having never been to mexico as to how authentic it is, but it tastes bloody nice. Pork scratchings and Guacamole ummmm img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/GetOnMyComp_gm.jpg"1alt="" 21 She also made a point of getting food in locally so she substitutes Lancashire cheese for Mexican stuff to save on food miles etc b,121b,121This place has been getting rave reviews. Not been but I think I may be going for my birthday at the end of the month. Might be a little on the steep side from your commentsb,121b,121a href="http://www.finorestaurant.com/food-menu"1target="_blank"1http://www.finorestaurant.com/food-menub,121b,121Far, far cheaper than the owners sit down Spanish place around the corner though. b,121b,121This place has been getting mixed reviews but if the food is still ??3:50 for any dish then you can't go far wrong. This is off a side street from Carnaby street and its run by the geezer who created Wagamama a very good, cheap noodle place thats gone down hill since he sold it. Also opened two really upscale Oriental restaurents too.b,121b,121a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/reviews/thanks-to-alan-yaus-cha-cha-moon-the-number-of-chinese-noodle-mian-bars-in-britain-looks-set-to-skyrocket-832533.html"1target="_blank"1http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/...ket-832533.html b,121b,121b,121Just around the corrner from Carnaby street to is b,121b,121a href="http://www.pingpongdimsum.com/"1target="_blank"1http://www.pingpongdimsum.com/ (and all over London) good, cheap and nice. b,121b,121I hate to say Nandos as its just a portugese chicken chain, but by god the chicken in pitta is good.
  • The-gafflerThe-gaffler 2,190 Posts
    - the thai buffet's b,121- red vegb,121b,121stay away from chinatwon, mad expensive for subpar wok&roll style chinese food. shit, i ate a lot of places that i now forget. i would always just eat random stuff from corner stores, like buy a loaf of french bread, a bag of winegums, then some rubicon juice.b,121b,121*bonus beat*b,121- Rasa [everything you eat is me]
  • DORDOR Two Ron Toe 9,903 Posts
    Dude... If ur into Indian food, I'm sure a couple of Londoners could sort you out with spots. I haven't lived there in a few years, so I'm doubting my spots are still around. But in all my travels, the UK has some of the greatest Indian food (Outside of Asia) I've ever had.
  • fishmongerfunkfishmongerfunk 4,154 Posts
    for good indian food in london at totally reasonable prices check out "noor jahan" at gloucester road tube stop. i would stay well far away from those "thai buffets". if you want grubby and cheap yet tasty, make your way towards camden town at around 5:30-6:00 on any day; most places sell whatever is left at the end of the day for a pittance.
  • Extra_LargeExtra_Large 6 Posts
    Mr Jerk[/b] - 187 Wardour Street, Soho.b,121b,121a href="http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/restaurants/mr-jerk-review-27086.html"1target="_blank"1http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/restaurants/mr-jerk-review-27086.html
  • rkwparkrkwpark 915 Posts
    Isn't there fairly good lebanese food out in london as well? b,121b,121what are londoners thoughts on wagamama?
  • MenacetosobrietyMenacetosobriety 172 Posts
    If you are after good lebanese food then head for Edgware Road where there are plenty of lebanese restaurantsb,121b,121Maroush I comes highly recommendedb,121b,121 Marouf Abouzaki arrived in London from Lebanon as a twenty-one year old in 1975, and worked as a chef in a Lebanese restaurant until he opened the first Maroush outlet in 1981. The group now has over ten branches in London under the names of Maroush and Ranoush and has plans of expanding further.b,121b,121When asked about the secret of running a successful restaurant, Marouf simply says, "Good food, good service and full attention to the customers" - exactly what each branch offers. The eateries are well known as they stay open into the wee hours of the morning, a feature that makes them very popular, especially during weekends.b,121b,121Instead of a traditional three-course dinner, it is quite customary to have an array of small dishes that aim at entertaining diners, beyond just feeding them. The restaurants offer a variety of hot and cold mezzes, like mousakka and falafel, among a host of others.b,121b,121Grilled king prawns served with a special sauce, cubes of chicken saut??ed with red and green hot peppers and served with rice and kastaleta, specially prepared lamb or veal cutlets, served with fries, are popular mains.b,121b,121If you are looking for something lighter there are sandwiches, wraps and baked savouries. The dessert list is exotic with baklava and ossmalieh, a special rose flavoured dessert made from vermicelli, cream cheese and garnished with pistachios.b,121b,121The wine list has a selection of fine red, white and ros?? wines in addition to champagne, aperitifs, spirits and liqueurs. Maroush prides itself on its authentic fare and great service. It is no surprise then to have food critic AA Gill say - 'Everything is dazzlingly fresh, beguilingly fragrant, exotic yet earthy'.b,121b,121a href="http://www.restaurant-guide.com/maroush-i-edgware-road.htm"1target="_blank"1http://www.restaurant-guide.com/maroush-i-edgware-road.htmb,121b,121b,121
  • MenacetosobrietyMenacetosobriety 172 Posts
    b,121b,121As for Wagamama's, I'm not too fussed on the placeb,121b,121would rather eat elsewhereb,121b,121b,121An eaterie I would recommend to you b,121b,121is Papaya - Sri Lankan & South Indian Cuisineb,121b,121Has been voted the best Sri Lankan restaurant in Englandb,121b,121a href="http://www.papaya-uk.com/index.html"1target="_blank"1http://www.papaya-uk.com/index.html
  • MenacetosobrietyMenacetosobriety 172 Posts
    b,121b,121If you like Dosab,121b,121Then Chennai Dosa has outlets dotted around Londonb,121b,121a href="http://www.chennaidosa.com/"1target="_blank"1http://www.chennaidosa.com/
  • JimsterJimster Cruffiton.etsy.com 6,954 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121Wagamama'sb,121b,121h,121
    font class="post"1b,121b,121This graemlin was invented for it: img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/weaksauce.gif" alt="" 21b,121b,121The food stalls on Camden market are OK if you choose wisely. Avoid the sauciest ones, they look the tastiest but are fairly bland.b,121b,121Have a good trip. Nothing is cheap here.
  • DocMcCoyDocMcCoy "Go and laugh in your own country!" 5,917 Posts
    Wagamama ain't too bad. There used to be a spot a few doors down from Mr. Bongo (RIP) on Poland Street called Soba, on a similar tip to Wagamama, but much better. Dunno if it's still there, though.b,121b,121There's a nice Mexican spot called Green and Red on Bethnal Green Road, at the top of Brick Lane. Short on veggie options, but if you like meat, it's all good. Me & my girl have been there a couple of times. If you happen to come out East, then also on Bethnal Green Road is Pelicci's, a superb little Italian family-owned caff still with the o.g. art deco fittings from the 1900s, where you will get the best English breakfast you have ever had. Absolute diamond of a spot.
  • skelskel You can't cheat karma 5,033 Posts
    Where are you staying? How you planning to get around?b,121b,121Making recommendations would be easier if we knew....b,121b,121But my #1 recommendation for any tourist is:b,121Get the river cruise at Big Ben to Greenwich, spend a nice couple of hours going round the stalls in the markets (say hello to Two Step Steve in the Open Market - nice guy, good records) and eat at Gourmet Burger Kitchen or Desperados, visit the Observatory for some facemelt history, stand on the zero meridian, see the fantastic view over London, then get the return cruise with commentary pointing out where the Pilgrims set sail from, where the pirates were hanged, all the sights etc etc etc.
  • BeatnicholasBeatnicholas 1,005 Posts
    wagamamas? nandos? come on people!b,121b,121best indian by a country mile is the lahore diner off commercial road. massive kitchen, cheap prices, ridiculous lamb chops. pm me for directions.b,121b,121central london dining is wack and overpriced. chinatown is as mentioned - however there is a killer sushi spot round there where a tenner buys you a bento box that will blow your mind. plus the greatest Tori Kari Age in the capital. You have to queue to get it though. img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" 21
  • skelskel You can't cheat karma 5,033 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121best indian by a country mile is the lahore diner off commercial road. massive kitchen, cheap prices, ridiculous lamb chops. pm me for directions.b,121 b,121b,121h,121
    font class="post"1b,121b,121Tourists ain't making it to Commercial Road, Brick Lane or Bethnal Green. Really, are they?
  • ronaldraygunronaldraygun 46 Posts
    brick lane is the place for cheap indian food... its easy to make for a tourist too... just get to liverpool street tube and its a 10 min walk, follow your schnoz or say 'alright guv'nor, wheres the indian schitt'.b,121b,121failing that... go to brixton or croydon and find 'take two' the banginest jerk in london town, but you will be in SAOUF LONDON aka the dirty south img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headz.gif" alt="" 21 img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/breakface.gif" alt="" 21 img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headz.gif" alt="" 21 img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/oj.gif" alt="" 21
  • The-gafflerThe-gaffler 2,190 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121Tourists ain't making it to Mudchute. Really, are they?b,121b,121h,121
    font class="post"1
  • BelsonBelson 880 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121brick lane is the place for cheap indian food...b,121b,121h,121
    font class="post"1b,121b,121And there's plenty to do after the chowdown. Hustle along a block to the Big Chill Bar for a bevvy, then see what's on at 93Ft East.
  • BeatnicholasBeatnicholas 1,005 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121/font1Quote:/font1h,121b,121best indian by a country mile is the lahore diner off commercial road. massive kitchen, cheap prices, ridiculous lamb chops. pm me for directions.b,121 b,121b,121h,121
    font class="post"1b,121b,121Tourists ain't making it to Commercial Road, Brick Lane or Bethnal Green. Really, are they? b,121b,121h,121font class="post"1b,121b,121perhaps not the behatted camera carrying bigben-ites. but i think brick lane is definitely worth a look for the soulstrutter in town. Tons of really nice cafes, art galleries, and more importantly, bollywood loaded vinyl emporiums to peruse, and the finest vintage clothes stores in town to keep the missus happy. I heartily endorse this part of town.b,121b,121curry wise, they're all pretty much the same on that road - curry capital is probably the best (towards the bethnal green end). Still would rather walk to the end of the road to lahores though.
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