London 2010

Best and worst restaurants:

Best: Moon and Sixpence (Bath), Jamie's Italian Restaurant (Canary Wharf and Bath), La Bouchee Bistro and Casa Brindisa (both S. Kensington)
Why: Moon and Sixpence was listed as a favorite of the Brock's Guest House and the food was innovative and tasty. Wonderful Italian food at reasonable price at Jamie Oliver's restaurant at Canary Wharf. (He also has one in Bath, which was very popular, though we didn't eat there.) La Bouchee had a sinfully good tarte tatin, as well as delicious entrees. We discovered the Casa Brindisa near the tube station, which is a Spanish tapas restaurant that had a variety of tempting small plates. (2 or 3 selections per person, plus shared dessert makes a hearty meal.)

Worst: Seafresh Fish Restaurant
Why: Perhaps I just made a bad selection, but the fisherman's pie was 3/4 mashed potatoes with very little fish or vegetables beneath it.

Janelle Sanda in Fargo, ND USA 11/01/2009

Best: Dounia, Bayswater, London
Why: Dounia serves Lebanese food and is located at Whiteleys Shopping Centre (on the ground floor) in the Bayswater neighborhood, near Notting Hill. They serve authentic Curry Chicken, Masaka, and salads, and are owner-operated. Also in the shopping centre are excellent public toilets located on the third floor and a Marks & Spencer grocery store. Across the street is a Tesco's grocery. My girlfriend, who is Syrian, raved about the food. Small serving is £4 and a large is £5. The owner allows you to mix-n-match foods of your choice to fill the plate.

Perna in San Diego, CA USA 10/14/2009

Best: St Martin in the Fields and Ebury Wine Bar
Why: Wonderful food in an unusual setting. Price is right. Hubby and I ate a huge lunch for less then $14.00 / 2 independent tour guides wanted to know how we had found the place ... I showed her my guidebook! They were impressed :-)

Ebury Wine Bar / next to Lime Tree was very nice. "bar food" much more than just snacks. I had an herb omelette with a lovely salad and my hubby had a ceasar salad with grilled chicken. Very pleasant wait staff.

edna in murphey, ky USA 09/15/2009

Best: Yo! Sushi
Why: Great concept with conveyor belt bringing dishes by. Food was excellent, and reasonably priced.

Worst: Jenny Lo's Tea House
Why: While not bad, I wouldn't recommend it. The food was surprisingly bland.

Nancy in Columbus, OH USA 09/13/2009

Best: Seafresh Restaurant
Why: pleasant, not too pricey, good fish and chips and mushy peas.

Laura Wilson in Fredericksburg, TX USA 09/05/2009

Best: Pret and Eat sandwich shops & M&S grocery stores
Why: Just about the most reasonably-priced options.

Vic S. in Idyllwild, CA USA 08/05/2009

Best: E.A.T. and Marks & Spencer
Why: Great for picnic supplies and to grab a quick sandwich for lunch, inexpensive

Joy in Dayton, OH USA 07/23/2009

Best: CHIMES ENGLISH RESTAURANT & GALLERY PUB
Why: Blades Hotel recommends a variety of places to eat locally in Pimlico/Victoria area. we found the Chimes Restaurant served excellent English food great meat pies with amazing pastry. This is in Churton Street in Pimlico. They also recommended we try traditional English pub food and we tried out The Gallery Pub in Lupus Street - next to Pimlico underground Station. Very good choice, great steak and the traditional English fish and chips were very tasty! Really lovely traditional pub with good service - though you order at the bar (very English).

Walter and Anna in Atlanta, GA USA 06/10/2009

Best: Eat and any other sandwich shop
Why: The sandwich shops were a total surprise to us as we had never been to London before. We loved being able to grab what we would consider a fresh gourmet sandwich to go. In the US prepackaged sandwiches are kind of scary!

Holly Nunn in Raleigh , NC USA 05/09/2009

Best: St. Martin's in the Fields
Why: Lunch was great- we felt that we were eating traditional food, but a bit more healthy than a pub.

Worst: Maggie Jones
Why: The service was a bit shotty for the prices paid. I remember it being great, and it was nice, but not great.

Catherine Conger in Greenville, SC USA 04/19/2009

Best: Cherry Court Hotel
Why: We enjoyed our stay at this hotel-owners were very nice and helpful, clean room,fresh fruit and towels everyday, location was excellant-rooms were small but we knew that but we were only sleeping there and the beds were real comfortable.

Linda Manning in South Windsor, CT USA 04/17/2009

Best: Georgian Cafe at Harrod's
Why: It was such a lovely atmosphere, very traditional English tea setting. The music from the piano was a very nice touch and the food served in the afternoon tea was scrumptious. I went by myself and had to eat all of it because it was so delicious. If you only have afternoon tea once, Harrod's is definitely worth the splurge.

Grace in Seattle, WA USA 04/05/2009

Best: Belgo Centraal, Yo! Sushi, Wagamama Noodle Bar, La Bouchee Bistro
Why: We just returned from four wonderful days in London. We tried all four of these restaurants and we would recommend each one. Belgo Centraal is fun, has great mussels and can get you in and out quickly if you're on your way to the theater. Yo! Sushi has great sushi in a fun, modern atmosphere. We stopped at Wagamama Noodle near the London Eye for lunch one day and were pleasantly surprised by a very creative menu. And finally, La Bouchee Bistro is one of the finest French bistros we've experienced. Great atmosphere, food and service. Try the Coq au Vin.

Mark in Baltimore, MD USA 03/10/2009

Best: Seafresh Fish Restaurant
Why: The best fish restaurant that I have ever eaten in. Gloriously fresh fish, grilled or deep fried, served with clean fries or new potatoes. The grilled Salmon is exquisite! Inexpensive wine by the glass and side orders of fresh vegetables. A dinner for two with wine, fish, dessert and coffee runs about 50 pounds, which is half the price you would pay ordinarily in London. After sampling other recommended restaurants, we ate there four times! Five minutes away from Rick's recommended Victoria hotels. Unpretentious but quality food at reasonable prices.

Worst: La Poule au Pot, Andrew Edmunds
Why: La Poule au Pot is pretentious (the waiters claimed to speak only French!), overpriced, and the food is not very good. Andrew Edmunds is cozy but the food was, again, overpriced and not good. They served me lamb's shank which was so tough I couldn't eat it!

Jack M. Potter in Olympia, WA USA 02/16/2009

Best: Chimes Restaurant in Churtorn Street London SW1
Why: Traditional English food - great pies and excellent English cider (VERY POTENT DRINK).

Patrick Finlay in Toronto, Canada 02/14/2009

Best: La Bouchee Bistro Cafe
Why: Delicious food, charming waiters, interesting customers

Mimi in Atlanta, GA USA 12/02/2008

Best: ASK, by Paddington Station
Why: We ate there twice and really enjoyed the food, good service and this was after we were coming from Italy.

Ruth in Walnut, CA USA 11/24/2008

Best: Gordon's Wine Bar
Why: This was a great place to see a bit of the 9-5 crowd from London and visit with them. The setting is very intimate, so people share tables...and stories.

Rene Woolery in Denver, CO USA 09/27/2008

Best: National Portrait Gallery
Why: we chose to have afternoon tea there because of the great view and it was worth it!

Amani in Columbus, OH USA 07/20/2008

Best: Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Jenny Lo's Tea House, Sainsbury's Victoria, Chutneys
Why: Great values and no waiting.

Randy in San Francisco, CA USA 06/30/2008

Best: The Orangery at Kensington Palace
Why: Rick recommends it in his section on Afternoon Tea; we were too early for tea, so we enjoyed a lovely lunch. The food was very enjoyable, and the cost reasonable. It was a nice way to finish up our tour of the palace.

Sue in Boston, MA USA 06/20/2008

Best: Belgo's - Theatre district
Why: Fabulous mussels, beer... BUT with London being one of the most expensive cities in the world, our mussels and beer lunch (for 2) ended us costing about 80 dollars!

Nancy Vice in Atlanta, Ga USA 06/09/2008

Best: Jugged Hare Pub
Why: Very convenient to our hotel (Winchester) - lovely, cozy pub with delicious food - try the pot pies!

Nancy Vice in Atlanta, Ga USA 06/09/2008

Best: Duke of Wellington Pub near Victoria Station and Churchill Arms pub @ Notting Hill
Why: wonderfully authentic British pub experiences so convenient to recommended B&Bs

Michael Dontje in Cleveland, OH USA 05/31/2008

Worst: Il Falconiere Restaurant
Why: Classy ambience and the attentive owner did not make up for at best very mediocre Italian cuisine, rendering this a poor value.

Paul Zwiebel in Littleton, CO USA 04/04/2008

Best: The Jugged Hare Pub, near Victoria
Why: The service was great, food ok, not too kid friendly but they knew they had to try everything

Toni Valenzuela in Murrieta, CA USA 04/01/2008

Best: Westminster Arms pub
Why: Got in no problem for lunch at around 1230 on a Monday with group of 7 (4 adults, 3 kids), and they let us share entrees with no question. The food was fine, the portions were ample, and with the exchange rate so astronomical it really helps with the cost.

Worst: Lord Moon of the Mall
Why: Even though the signs along the street said family friendly, when we tried to eat there on a Monday evening around 6:15 pm after visiting the National Gallery, we were told they did not welcome children after 6pm!

Rob Craig in Ellicott City, MD USA 03/15/2008

Best: Le Suquet
Why: Best Bouillabaise I've ever tasted.

Helen Read in Calgary, AB Canada 01/03/2008

Best: Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Why: The history, the ambience AND the food. Wait staff very pleasant and helpful. We were there in mid-afternoon, so had the Chop House almost to ourselves. The rest of the place was busier. So glad we stopped there.

Nancy Mahoney in Springfield, OH USA 10/07/2007

Best: Pomegranates
Why: A friend of ours took us to this local hangout in Pimlico. While the outside might be accidentely missed, the inside has a yesteryear elegance. I had the shrimp which was excellent and my wife and our friend had the lamb which was wonderful. The owner who wasn't there that night(but called and offered us a drink on the house) is somewhat of a character. The service was excellent and well worth the money in these sinking dollar days.

Beth Hutten in Winter Haven, FL USA 09/29/2007

Best: Maggie Jones
Why: Rick's right, blow your money here and get it over with. Its pricey but delicious. The service is friendly and the eclectic decor is eye catching. The menu, and long list of daily specials, is vast and the patrons are local regulars.

Belgo Centraal is fun with good an easy menu and huge selection of beer.

With the weak dollar, eating well is prohibitively expensive for those on a budget. Eat at cheap ethnic places or get take out sandwiches, pasties, or simple pub grub to save money.

All the museums and St. Paul's have inexpensive cafes inside. They're good, cheap and a timesaver to boot.

J.D. D'Amico in Sanford, FL USA 09/27/2007

Best: Pomegranates Restaurant
Why: Discovered this on a previous recommendation. The Pomegranates restaurant is slightly of the beaten track but almost next to the River Thames in Pimlico - not far from Westminster. Great atmosphere and excellent service. Not cheap but the meal was the dining highlight of our trip to Europe. We are steak fans and they only serve Scottish Aberdeen Angus steaks - the best ever! They also have plenty of other choices on their menu. Certainly a restaurant to recommend. Pomegranates is at 96 Grosvenor Road, tel. 020/7828-6560.

P.S. While we were there we received a discount because we were staying at the Blades Hotel. Maybe this works for other hotels too - ask!

Neil in Tampa, FL USA 09/07/2007

Best: Old Cheshire Cheese Pub
Why: Just very cool. The room in the back is swirly marble and art deco. It was just way cool.

Ron in Damascus, MD USA 09/04/2007

Best: Indian restaurants on Drummond street, esp. Ravi Shankar, and Yo Sushi
Why: Ravi Shankar: So yummy and reasonably priced. We were really feeling the terrible exchange rate on this trip, so these restaurants filled us up without spending a fortune. Yo Sushi was pricey, but so much fun. And you can easily manage how much you're spending because you keep the plates on your table.

Worst: Jenny Lo Teahouse in Victoria
Why: Staff really wanted to close right at 10 pm and made us feel it the moment we walked in the door (at 9:30.) The noodles in my dish were not properly strained, so the dish was watery and flavorless. The prices are fake cheap: they make a big point to let you know service is not included, so you need to add a tip.

Aimee in Oakland, CA USA 08/26/2007

Best: Goya Spanish Tapas
Why: Great eats for a great price!

Worst: Jenny Lo's Tea House
Why: Did we miss something here? Maybe this place was recently sold to someone else? Our party of 4 each ordered a different dish and ALL were unedible. The won ton soup was like water and the noodels on the bottom were like a brick of top raman that had not come back alive yet. We sent that back. The lamp tasted like beef, no difference and the chicken was boiled or something but so bland that nothing could save it. And it was certainly not worth the price. Go anywhere else!

Kelly Rivera in Portland, OR USA 08/20/2007

Best: Wagamama and Yo Sushi
Why: Both had good food and reasonable prices and good service.

Worst: Goya Spanish Restaurant
Why: We were on our way to a play. Although food was OK, service was incredibly slow without any explaination or apology.

John USA 07/14/2007

Best: Limegrove Hotel
Why: We stayed here 6/3/07 between flights from the US to Scotland. It is a great place for budget travel, clean and really convenient. Before our bus to our flight we had time to walk to Buckingham Palace and nearby parks and gardens and there were many theaters and restaurants within just a couple blocks. Joyce and Neesha were kind and pleasant hosts and it is independently and locally owned and operated for those concerned with supporting those values.

Michael Wehling in seattle, WA USA 07/12/2007

Best: Maggie Jones
Why: The Onion Soup has become my new standard for judging all future bowls of Onion Soup. The Roast Duck with Orange Sauce was amazing and the Spinach had the perfect amount of spicing. It was one of the most complete and delicious meals I've ever eaten. Expensive, yes; but the quality and amount of food more than made up for it. The atmosphere was gret and the service friendly, but not over-bearing.

Steve Clunn in Burnt Hills, NY USA 07/04/2007

Best: We loved Royal China Restaurant and Wagamama
Why: Royal China has truly wonderful food in a beautiful setting. Presentation was great, with exotic flavors. Different that the Chinese at home,

Wagamama we loved. The tastes, noise, energy, and service were wonderful Our wish was we had one at home. Great value with many cool locations.

Steve Roddy in Penn Valley, CA USA 07/03/2007

Best: pubs always good
Why: reasonable $$ tried a couple recommended $$$ in London & Bath,very nice, expensive tho - once was enuf...very much enjoyed "take away" sandwiches & pastries at sidewalk stands

Dallas & Karen Renoud in Petersburg, IL USA 06/16/2007

Best: Marks & Spencer (Simply Food)
Why: Marks and Spencer stores have opened up a chain of Deli/Stores in and around London that can't be beat. We found them in the Tube stations as well and had a field day. There were several days on our last vacation where the thought of going to another Pub or restaurant was just not in the cards so we would stop at Simply Foods and bring back the most delicious meals back to our room.

We got pasta salads or green salads, delicious containers of mixed fruit, sandwiches, crisps, desserts, beer and a good selection of wine. They even supply the plastic ware and napkins! And it's cheap compared to the rest of the food in the UK right now. It's a great way to have a nice picnic in one of Londons abeautiful parks too. Give it a try.

Lauretta in Oakland, Ca USA 06/14/2007

Best: Busaba Eathai
Why: The best Thai food I have had and a fun eatery!No reservations, so get there before 7PM or wait in the queue. Address: 106-110 Wardour. Tubes: Picadilliy Circus or Totenham Court Road.

Peter in Hamilton, NJ USA 05/30/2007

Best: Ebury Wine Bar in Belgravia
Why: Friendly, great food and wine! Convenient to the hotel. Would recommend it totally!

Diane in Mansfield, PA USA 05/25/2007

Best: Moti Mahal Indian Restaurant
Why: The food was excellent and the service was helpful and friendly. It was the best Indian meal we have ever had!

Maureen & Joe Schneider in Spokane, WA USA 05/23/2007

Best: Belgro Central
Why: They are still serving wonderful food & beer. They also are still doing the beat the clock menu.

Evelyn Clark in Montain View, Ca USA 05/21/2007

Best: Martini's in Bath
Why: Food, service, price and atmosphere were all excellent

Worst: Il Falconiere, South Kensington
Why: you are handed bread before getting a chance to view the menu which states that you will be charged forthe unappetizing bread, if you ask for water, they ask still or sparkling only so as to charge you for that rather than bringing you free tapwater, the spagetti tasted like Chef Boyardee canned. Please remove from guidebook,

sharon quinn in Grafton, Wi USA 05/18/2007

Worst: National Galleries Restaurant for Afternoon Tea
Why: The food was abysmal! The pastries were stale, the tea was cold and the service was beyond description.

lm in ny, ny USA 05/17/2007

Best: Everywhere
Why: I was told that British food was bland but this was not the case. The ale, atleast what i can remember after three or four pints, was the best but be sure to do the long pull and sample the most crazy names that you can. The fish and chips with the mushy peas? Please sir, can i have some more!

Worst: Belgrade Pub
Why: It was a sports pub and did not carry a lot of choices of food or drink. We were on the patio and the entertainment was a mouse that kept coming out to eat the crumbs off the floor. Even so, it was not that bad.

Jerry DeWitt in franklin, tn USA 05/09/2007

Best: Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich
Why: Excellent food (fish and chips were fantastic; but not billed as 'fish and chips' on menu). Prices were higher than stated in the book.

Martina EF Horwitz in Chicago, IL USA 05/01/2007

Best: Rules Restaurant, West End
Why: Gracious old world restaurant with a lot of game on the menu. A great splurge meal for London.

Tom and Kathy Stone in Orange, CT USA 04/22/2007

Best: St Martin in the Field cafe
Why: great selection for a fair price.

JS CA USA 04/08/2007

Best: Wagamamma's
Why: Great food, outstanding and fun staff, and quick service. Went there the first day we arrived- great way to help overcome the jet lag.

L.C. Anderson in Woodland, CA USA 04/06/2007

Best: Belgo Centraal, London
Why: Great food, atmosphere, and location.

Hank Thon in Roswell, GA USA 04/03/2007

Best: Jugged Hare
Why: Please, where is this pub/restaurant? there's a few recomendations but we should know the location, thanks.

Lauretta in Oakland, Ca USA 03/30/2007

Best: Mickey's Fish and Chips
Why: A block from Paddington and St. David's Hotel, has the best fried fish --light crispy crust and fresh cod or haddock as a daily special. Take away(take out) is cheaper. The steak and kidney pie was delicious.

Worst: The Swan, near Hyde Park
Why: Small servings, higher prices, a tourist trap mostly. There are other pubs where locals hang out, like Sawyers Arms, likewise a block from Paddington Station and St. David's hotel.

George Glines in Independence, KS USA 03/30/2007

Best: Westminster Arms pub
Why: Good pub lunch, accomodating staff, near the Cabinet War Rooms.

Alison in Chicago, IL USA 03/26/2007

Best: Gordon's Wine Bar
Why: The employee's were very friendly and helpful. It felt like we were back in time. The food was surprisingly good and a large selection of wine. Do yourself a favor and make it a must drink here on your to do list.

Worst: Ebury Wine Bar
Why: Although friendly, I was expecting cheaper prices and an English atmosphere, not French. Not worth the walk off the path.

Bill in Buena Park, CA USA 03/26/2007

Best: The Jugged Hare
Why: Excellent atmosphere, great food, and not unreasonable prices (by London standards).

Irving Jaye in Memphis, TN USA 03/22/2007

Best: Goya
Why: Good food at reasonable prices.

Anita Elder in Seattle, WA USA 03/03/2007

Best: Andrew Edmunds
Why: Wonderful food and atmosphere.

Cathy Westbury in Aurora, CO USA 02/21/2007

Best: Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub, Wagamamas, Le Cage, Toff's Fish & Chips
Why: Ye Old Cheshire Cheese had history and atmosphere. The Wagamama chain was excellent; went there 3 times. Le Cage Imaginaire in Hampstead was good, as was Toff's Fish & Chips, about a 15 min walk north of the Highgate tube station.

Nancy Mulder in Minneapolis, MN USA 01/28/2007

Best: Stockpot and various pubs
Why: Plates full of meat and veggies at reasonable prices made it possible for two parents and three growing teens to eat some real food...to offset the Cadbury chocolate, scones, biscuits, etc. Because we were there during winter, we couldn't do takeaway outdoor picnics.

Worst: Pizza Express
Why: Individual pizzas cost 7 GBP and up - and they just weren't good enough...or big enough! No real complaints, but no real compliments, either.

Beth AL USA 01/22/2007

Best: Jugged Hare
Why: very traditional English Pub with excellent food.

Lois Stober in Reinholds, PA USA 01/17/2007

Best: Sticky Fingers
Why: Everyone knows about the Hard Rock Cafe, but I have never read anything about this just-as-interesting-restaurant dedicated to the Rolling Stones. Sticky Fingers is owned by Bill Wyman of the Stones. It's on Phillimore St, right off of Kensington High Street. Like the Hard Rock, it is floor to ceiling a history of the Stones. Now, I haven't eaten there in a few years, but when I did, and it was more than one time, the food was very, very good. Go to their website and "noodle" around, they are newly remodeled, and I think you "rockers" out there will really find it a great experience. Cheers!

Lauretta Kliest in Oakland, Ca USA 01/16/2007

Best: Pret a Manger
Why: Good food and coffee at reasonable prices. Try the ham, cheese & tomato croissant; it is to die for!

Carrie McKenzie in Wauwatosa, WI USA 01/04/2007

Best: Pubs in general
Why: A quick note to John in CA---most pubs require you to order at the bar. You don't get "waited on" like in American restaurants. That could explain why you sat there for 25 minutes. Once you've ordered, you will either pick up your food at the bar or they will bring it out to you.

Pubs in general offer the best value and many now offer a wider menu selection---not just the "traditional" fish and chips.

Karen USA 01/03/2007

Worst: King's Arm Pub
Why: Very poor service. I was by myself and waited for over 25 minutes for someone to wait on me. I finally got up and left.

John Kreick in Bakersfield, Ca USA 01/02/2007