London Restaurant Tips by grandmaR

Saviour Fare: Where I find that "lemonade" is Sprite Savoir Faire Review

After we finished at the British Museum, I didn't want to eat an the restaurants right next to the museum, so we wandered over to New Oxford Street, and went to Savoire Faire

Favorite Dish: I had croque monsieur, and Bob had a steak sandwich. I found at this time that to the English, lemonade means Sprite. This was one difference between American English and English English that I had a hard time accepting. It seemed really perverse to me to call something lemonade that wasn't. It wasn't even as though the English didn't HAVE lemonade.

Later I discovered that I could get a non-carbonated, non-caffine non-bottled-water something to drink by asking for squash which is a sweetened juice concentrate. And sometimes a bartender would give me canned pineapple or some other type juice - a very small can, but regular juice.

The lunch was £13.20 (which turned up on my credit card as $20.99).

Address: New Oxford Street

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Near the British Musuem in Bloomsbury

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 2

Theme: French

Arthur's Bar: High Tea Arthur's Bar @ Liberty Review

We walked over to Westminster Bridge, and got on a double decker red bus and rode up to Regent Street. I thought we might window shop a little, so we got off and we walked up Regent Street (stopping in a china store) to Liberty's. It was close to closing time (1900), so we went down to the basement to Arthur's Bar to have tea. I think the Art Bar Café was already closed. Arthur's Bar is named after the founder - Arthur Lasenby Liberty - and has leather sofa’s at the rear

Favorite Dish: We had tea there, cucumber sandwiches, tea and Bob had a chocolate cake and I had a lemon tart (£17.89/$28.45). Bob thought the price was ridiculous for the amount of food (one sandwich although cut into tiny pieces, a pot of tea and one slice of cake).

Address: Regent Street

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 44 020 7734 1234

Rating: 2

Theme: Local

Burger King: American Import

This Burger King was right around the corner from our hotel. Some other locations in London are:

82 Old Brompton Rd, London, SW7 3LQ, UK
020 75817672

250-252 Earls Court Road, Earl's Court, London, SW5 9AD, UK
020 73702084

100 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3QA, UK
020 72290699

70 Queensway, London, W2 3RL, UK
020 77270070

27 London St, London, W2 1HH, UK
020 77234721

27 London St, London, W2 1HH, UK
020 77234721

Marylebone Rd, London, NW1 5LT, UK
020 77230030

46 Regent St, London, W1B 5RB, UK
020 74344482

1a-1b Tottenham Court Rd, London, W1T 1BA, UK
020 73236744

Favorite Dish: We ate here the first time between our arrival and leaving for a show the same evening that we arrived. I wasn't that impressed with it but my grandson liked it.

Then on the last morning, he got packed and went to Burger King for breakfast rather than going to the hotel for breakfast. He brought me back a cup of coffee (not having realized that I don't usually drink coffee) and an egg and sausage sandwich.

Address: 85 Gloucester Rd, London, SW7 4SS, UK

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Across the from the Gloucester Road tube station near Cromwell Road

Phone: 020 73702447

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 2

Theme: Fast Food

Website: http://burgerking.com

The Garden Café: Regents Park The Garden Café Review

The Garden Café will seat 300, 150 inside and 150 out, beside the rose gardens and Open Air Theatre of Regent's Park. An idyllic setting in Central London. When we were there for lunch, one part of the cafe was being used as a wedding reception location.

Favorite Dish: I sat down at a table and was waited on.

I had the spinach soup, which was listed on the bill as kale and bean soup. It wasn't exactly what I expect, so maybe it wasn't spinach soup. It was £4.95

My grandson stood in line and got a coke and a cookie.

Comparison: about average

Directions: Inner Circle of Regent's Park - entrance via York Bridge and Chester Road

Phone: 020 7935 5729,

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.THEGARDENCAFE.CO.UK

Radisson: Hotel Breakfast

Breakfast was included in our room rate. I thought it quite good, but my grandson was anxious for more 'normal' food by this time, so on the last morning, he went to Burger King for breakfast. If our breakfast had not been included, it would have been £15

Breakfast:
Monday-Friday 7.00am - 10.30am
Saturday-Sunday 7.30am - 10.30am

Favorite Dish: I had a poached egg and bacon with potatoes from the buffet, but one could also have pancakes, cold meats and cheeses, sausages, mushrooms, or baked beans, or even porridge or cold cereal.

I stayed away from black pudding because I had tried it earlier, and I also didn't try the kippers or poached haddock. We would either have hot chocolate or hot tea.

Address: 68-86 Cromwell Road

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 0207 666 1891

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 3

Theme: Breakfast

Website: http://www.radisson.com/hotels/gbvander/dinings

68 - 86 bar & restaurant: Radisson Edwardian Vanderbuilt Hotel 68 - 86 bar & restaurant Review

We came in from our trip and didn't feel like going out again so we ate at the hotel. The food was good, but quite expensive.

Lunch:
Monday-Friday 12.30pm - 2.30pm

Dinner:
Monday-Saturday 5.30pm - 10.00pm

Sunday 6.30pm - 10.00pm

Another night we came in quite late and got sandwiches. I ordered chicken and they were out, so they gave us both ham and cheese. The cheese was grated sharp cheddar which I liked, but my grandson did not.

Favorite Dish: I had a Marinated free range chicken breast salad with little green lettuce, green bean, red pepper and herbs (£7.50 -photo 2) which was a starter because I thought the main menu items would be too much for me, and then had a side of wilted spinach with butter and nutmet (£3.50) which was absolutely delicious.

My grandson had a puff pastry case filled with asparagus, wilted spinach, served with tarragon sauce (£12.00) with a side of Rich creamy mash (£3.50 - photo 3) which was mashed potatoes.

For dessert, I had a poached pear, biscuit, coffee sauce and vanilla ice cream (photo 4), and my grandson had the Chocolate tart, chocolate mousse with prunes and chocolate ice cream (both £5.50)

The whole dinner (with my grandson drinking coke and me drinking water) was £46.69 before the tip.

Address: 68-86 Cromwell Road , London SW7 5BT , UK

Comparison: most expensive

Directions: Underground Station: Gloucester Road Station

Phone: + 44 (0) 20 7761 9000

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 3

Theme: Eclectic/International

Website: http://www.radissonedwardian.com/londonuk_Vanderbilt