Restaurants

Whatever your particular culinary preferences, you can hardly fail to find something to suit your palette in London. The UK has suffered from (and deserved) a reputation as the world capital of dull, uninspired food. Until the last decade (or so) that is! In recent years there has been an amazing renaissance in British cuisine, which has been reflected, or possibly reflects the growing appetite for cookery programmes in the UK. It seems you can barely swing a pan-fried fillet mignon in London these days without hitting a Michelin starred celebrity Chef.

London, of course is the centre of this new explosion of food fever. The best known celebrity chefs all have splendid, outrageously expensive restaurants in the capital. The best known of these Gordon Ramsay, has a clutch of restaurants all of which are consistently rated the best in the city, Gordon Ramsay at Claridges has a Michelin starred chef and will set you back around £100 per head. Jamie Oliver runs Ramsay a close second and despite not wield the Michelin gravitas of the likes of Gary Rhodes and Aldo Zilli, Jamie’s TV exploits have made his restaurant Fifteen hot property. Fifteen is as much about social responsibility as it is about fine dining, as Jamie set up the restaurant to give troubled teenagers the chance of a career in catering. The prices here reflect the amateur status of the staff; however Jamie is often at the helm and even makes the odd appearance in the restaurant (when he’s not filming). For more Michelin starred restaurants, you won’t have to travel too far in London. In the West End you’ll find Nobu, Sketch, L’escargot and the famous 3 star-rated La Gavroche.  

Of course most of us won’t be spending too many nights at these celebrity food spots, luckily there are plate-loads of excellent cheap eateries to sample. There is also an almost unlimited variety of cuisine at the Londoner’s disposal. Here are some of the top restaurants recommended by Top Table.

Indian/Sub Continent – The Chutney, The Cinnamon Club, The Red Fort and Akbar

Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese/Japanese - Shanghai, Cicada, Gilgamesh, The Blue Elephant, Mango Tree, Soho Thai 

Riverside – The Ivory, Ghillies on the River, Just the Bridge

Italian –, Bertorelli, Caravaggio , Café Rialto

French – The French Table, Papyion Brasserie, Le Garrick

Turkish/Middle East - Kazan, Maroush V , Al Sultan 

Mexican/Latin – Cactus Blue, Navajo Joe, Floridita

Speciality – Kiwi Kitchen, Gourmet Burger Kitchen

Vegetarian - Manna, Bankside, Eat and Two Veg

Chains – Wagamama (Asian), Ask (Italian) , Nando’s (Portuguese), Pizza Express, Chiquito’s (Mexican).

Although dining in London can an expensive indulgence there are a few websites that offer cheap deals at even the most exclusive restaurants. Check out Top Table, Lastminute and London Eating for some of the best meal deals in town.