English Tea at its best and other London, United Kingdom Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Brown's for afternoon tea

This is a pricey place to have tea, but everything about it is classy and worth the splurge. The service was also excellent but not too stuffy.

Favorite Dish: Everything on the dessert tier of the tea tray is absolutely fantastic.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Other Contact: http://www.brownshotel.com/

Restaurant Name: Porter's English Restaurant

Very comfortable, non-stuffy atmosphere. Good prices (about 12 GBP for my meal) and generous portions. Porter's is actually owned by a certain 'Earl of Bradford' who takes a great deal of pride in his restaurant. It's borderline touristy because of the stereotypical British foods on the menu, but they're high quality, and there were plenty of locals around us, too.

Go to the website for combo dinner+theatre deals and a live webcam! I look at this webcam at least once a week and dream I'm right there, strolling past my favorite British restaurant towards Covent Garden. Sigh...

Favorite Dish: Veggie pie--made with puff pastry and a light curry sauce, served with great chips.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 16-17 Henrietta Street
Directions: Right down the street from the Covent Garden market--great location!
Website: http://www.porters.uk.com/

Restaurant Name: West Cornwall Pasty Company

I know this is a limited chain of kiosks around London, but I discovered this little gem for myself in Marylebone Station. It's just a little stand, but it sells absolutely delicious hot pasties, many of which are vegetarian, and all are reasonably priced. Definitely a great choice if you're in a hurry and want a cheap but delicious meal.

Favorite Dish: Veggie and cheese pasty

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Theme: Street Vendor
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Marylebone Station--and other places around the UK
Website: http://www.wcpc.co.uk/INDEX1.HTM

Restaurant Name: Wagamama

This small chain has a bit of a cultish feel (sorry, but that's the impression I got), but they serve up great asian dishes at relatively reasonable prices for London. And the spare design of the restaurants become part of the atmosphere ("slurping" your noodles is encouraged!). A good place to bring kids, too.

Favorite Dish: I think I had the moyashi soba (or something similar), and it was definitely a good choice. Everyone in my party enjoyed the main dishes.

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Website: http://www.wagamama.com/index.htm

Restaurant Name: Cross Keys

We had our first meal here after coming into London (it was about 6 AM on our biological clocks), and we sat down to a very pleasant lunch in this friendly little pub. I didn't have another pub dinner in London, so I can't compare, but I was very satisfied with my grilled veggie sandwich. What drew us to the place was the great landscaping outside!


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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Just a little north of Covent Garden
Directions: 31 Endell Street, Covent Garden
Website: http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/info_pubbar_1018.html

Restaurant Name: Pizza Express

We had lunch one Sunday afternoon at the Pizza Express off of Trafalgar Square. A fantastic selection of pizzas, and mine (goats cheese and sundried tomatoes) was fantastic. However, just be aware that it is a sit-down restaurant with average waiting times. I was under the impression it was nearly fast-food service based on the name, so I was a little surprised at the 20-minute wait for the meal. However, as long as you allow enough time, it's definitely worth the wait.

Favorite Dish: The goats cheese and sundried tomato pizza. All of their pizzas are thin-crust, and, like all other pizzas I saw in the UK, are not pre-cut into slices as they almost always are in the States, so keep your knife handy!

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Theme: Pizza
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: On almost every block in London :)
Website: http://www.pizzaexpress.co.uk

Restaurant Name: Sofra

I got the recommendation to eat here from the excellent book Cheap Eats in London. There are several Sofra restaurants in London (as well as one in Ankara and on in Finland!?), but this one boasts a great location, tucked away behind Covent Garden. The wait staff barely speaks English, but that adds to the charm. :) They were extremely eager to please, constantly refilling the bread bowl and water glasses, and giving excellent service. A live band was warming up in the rear dining room when we were there for a pre-theatre dinner on a Friday night. The atmosphere is very simple, but the emphasis here is on good food at very reasonable prices for London.

Favorite Dish: Great vegetarian selections about here, since they have a veggie "mezes" selection of about 10 different little dishes, such as hummus, olives, moussaka, falafel, dolma, etc. They serve full main dishes, too, but I think the mezes platters are the best deal, and easily feed two. The baklava is great for dessert!

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Theme: Middle Eastern
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: 36 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden
Directions: Just east of Covent Garden Market, about five minutes on foot.
Website: http://www.sofra.co.uk/

Restaurant Name: The Dorchester

Since Brown's was closed for refurbishment in 2004, we chose another London institution for our big splurge on a ritzy afternoon tea--the Dorchester Hotel on Hyde Park. The atmosphere reeks with class (but may also smell of smoke, unforunately!), and the tea service is superb. Three courses--tea sandwiches, scones, and pastries, with your choice of any of over 20 tea varieties. Go with the Dorchester's own blend for a tea that compliments each course excellently.

It's definitely a splurge, but any tea-lover needs to do this once on every visit to London!

Favorite Dish: The pastries, of course--baked fresh and almost too beautiful to eat!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Address: Park Lane
Directions: A five to ten-minute walk from the Knightsbridge Tube station.
Website: http://www.dorchesterhotel.com/

Restaurant Name: The Dorchester

For all my fellow foodies out there, here's a closer look at the pastries in the Dorchester's tea service!


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Theme: Other
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Rock and Sole Plaice

Traveling with my seafood-loving parents, I did some thorough research on the best fish 'n chips in London on my 2004 trip, and this was one of two I had chosen from various recommendations. Wow, we weren't disappointed! The decor is very casual inside, but the place is cute as a button. Hanging plants cover the outdoor sidewalk seating, and indoor you'll find plenty of locals who don't mind mixing with tourists to enjoy the fabulous fish and chips!

The name of the place is very clever--Rock, Sole, and Plaice being three types of fish they serve here. :)

Favorite Dish: See below...

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +44 (0)20 7836 3785
Address: 47 Endell Street, London, WC2H 9AJ
Directions: About a five-minute walk north of Covent Garden -- try Holborn Tube if the Covent Garden stop is too busy!
Website: http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/info_restaurant_5070.html