London/Restaurants

From World Wikia

London offers international cuisine from around the world. With the creative and refined high-quality of its chefs, London has become the Mecca of gastronomy. Global Food, modern European and Cal – Ital ( a mix of Italian and Californian) are the terms used to describe this phenomenon. The majority of the restaurants serve lunch from 12.30 to 2.30 and dinner from 7pm to 11pm.

Many pubs also serve food, ranging from the most basic "pub grub" (fish and chips, sausage and mash, etc) to the restaurant-like food served in the rather posher "gastropubs". The most common pub opening hours are roughly 11am to 11pm Monday to Saturday and noon to 10:30pm on Sunday; but note that some pubs will close in the afternoons, particularly on Sundays. It's always safest to check in advance. Some pubs serve food all day, others only at lunchtimes and evenings, others only at lunchtimes, and others not at all.

[edit] Favorite Sushi Restaurants:

• Donzoko is a great little find tucked in Soho just between Carnaby Street and Liberty department store. It's best to go for dinner, since the menu is more extensive than at lunch time. The traditional sushi is delicious, as are some of the smaller cooked dishes like nasu dengaku, spinach, and whitebait fish. 15 Kingly Street, London W1B 5PS, 0871 332 8395
• Ten Ten Tei is a typical small sushi restaurant that's just perfect for lunch in Soho. People working locally tend to come here quite frequently. The lunch specials are good here, as well as any of the dishes from the more extensive menu. The pork curry is also quite yummy here. 55 Brewer Street, London W1F 9TJ, 0871 332 8399
• Jin Kichi is perfect if you're in North London, located just around the corner from Hampstead tube station. Another small place in London for great sushi and cooked food as well, including superb skewers like chicken wings and asparagus. 73 Heath Street, London NW3 6UG, 0871 332 8406
• Ubon is the essence of high-end, pricey sushi in the Docklands. If you book a table by the window and go for dinner, you'll also be treated to a wonderful view of the Thames river as it snakes into central London. This is the second of the Nobu restaurants in London, and gives diners all they have come to expect from Nobu in any city around the world - exquisite quality, extensive choice, and an exorbitant bill ;-) 34 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 8RR, 020 7719 7800

[edit] Great Sandwich Places When You're On The Go:

• Benugo's sandwich chain is just fantastic! You'll be pleasantly surprised by the interesting mixture of sandwiches on offer here, and you can even ask for custom-made sandwiches if you'd like to make your own creations. The salads here are also really yummy, as are the egg muffin breakfast sandwiches and deserts. The original location is in Clerkenwell, and you can also find them on City Road, Corzon Street, Great Portland Street and Shoreditch. They've even opened a location at the Victoria and Albert museum now too.
• Apostrophe is another refreshing sandwich chain with selections of sandwiches and pastries reminiscent of great French and Italian eateries. The coffee is also excellent here, as is the Italian style hot chocolate (though not for the faint-hearted). The original location is at 42 Great Eastern Street, London Ec21 3CP, 0871 332 0874. But you'll also find other Apostrophe locations across London - they're hard to miss with their hot pink store fronts.
• Walking into Bar Italia is like walking into a corner of Italy right in the middle of London's busiest Soho streets. This 24 hour restaurant is packed all day and night long. An old bar with original vintage fixtures and till, a slight obsession with boxing paraphernalia, and a large screen in the back which usually shows music videos or Italian football games. The coffee here is outstanding, and the chicken foccacia sandwiches are simple but yummy and huge (so be ready to share with your friends!). 22 Frith Street, London W1D 4RF, 020 7437 4520.

[edit] Modern European Restaurants Around Hoxton Square and Spitalfields:

• Home Bar and Kitchen has an eclectic and frequently changing menu but that is predictable only in that the dishes are always wonderful. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is somewhat loud and laid back. Check out the uni-sex loos too. The bar downstairs is also nice. 100-106 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4RH, 0871 3328482.
• Great Eastern Dining Room is another good bet in this funky and lively neighbourhood. Located just around the corner from Home, the atmosphere in the Great Eastern Dining Room is less eclectic than Home and more typical of what you'd expect from a London restaurant with "pan-Asian" food. The food is good and there is usually plenty of energy in this place. 54 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3QR, 0871 3327616
• Cantaloupe is almost across the street from the Great Eastern Dining Room. This is a popular bar in a fairly large open space. The food is also good here, but this is definitely less of a typical sit-down dinner type of restaurant than either Great Eastern or Home. 35-42 Charlotte Road, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3PD, 0871 3328501
• Cargo is a restaurant and night club which is practically around the corner from Home, Great Eastern and Cantaloupe. The location is fun and fairly unique, with Cargo located under a viaduct so the ceilings are high with large arches and the walls are all made of brick. This is a good place for drinks, dinner and live music. Weekend brunch is also a favorite at Cargo, particularly for locals. Kingsland Viaduct, 83 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3AY, 0871 3328480