Current [London recs] for my friend , Oct 2024

Regional Dining Discussions U.K., Ireland
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My friend will be in London for a week, based in Kensington.

I’ve sent him my recs, including [London WC2] Rules, St John, The Wolseley, Fortnums (to browse), St John, Dishoom (which dishes should be try? He is a solo diner), an Ottolenghi restaurant (any favourite dishes right now?) and Stein’s Berlin (the restaurant I enjoyed that is located in South Kensington, not far from his hotel).

Thanks for any ideas.

My friend was raised in England, and moved to Canada as a child. He is open to spicy food, splurge food, anything good.

So far, he has sent me some photos of a delicious meal at Chet’s, a place I have not visited yet.

I sent him this thread.

Thank you for all your input.

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With my friend’s permission, I will be posting his photos of his meals in London this week.

Here is a photo of his Shrimp Toast at Chet’s, a Thai restaurant at
65 Shepherds Bush Green,
London, W12 8QE.

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Okonomiyaki from Okan Kiosk, which is located at Lower Coal Drops Yard Unit 111, Stable St, London, N1C 4DQ, east of Camden Town, this afternoon. Okan Kiosk

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Okan Kiosk is a stall with outdoor seating, which is part of Okan group, but for some reason Okan Kiosk is not listed on their site (yet, perhaps.)
Okan site, with locations in Brixton Village, Brixton East and South Bank

My friend is heading to Parlour in Kensington next. He might have been influenced by this review. :grinning:

He noshes a lot like I do!

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When I’m dining alone in London I like to go to Barrafina. You can (only) sit at the bar and I have often had wonderful conversations with others there. And the food is good.

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Thank you, @damiano !

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You already have my favourite place in the capital (Rules). I’m also a fan of Noura for Lebanese food - https://noura.co.uk/. More upmarket restaurants than my local quite casual places.

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Thank you, @harters.

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And here’s one that sails under the radar of most tourist visitors.

It’s been around for years. And rightly so. I’ve not been since before Covid but I’d be confident all will still be good.

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A good time to go to Rules as game should be on the menu. They certainly know what to do with hare and it’s hard to find.

St John is probably my favourite London restaurant. Other recs

Malaysian

Med Salleh Kopitiam
020 7792 2140

https://g.co/kgs/BvaiF6w

Thai
101 Thai Kitchen
020 8746 6888

https://g.co/kgs/Cn3BJQE

Chinese
Cafe TPT
020 7734 7980

https://g.co/kgs/hG82Db5

French
The French House
020 7437 2477

https://g.co/kgs/tbrRP3r

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A second on the French House, and would add a walk around the Borough Market.

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There is so much to see and do in London as for restaurants. I also like to just pick different parts and ‘scenes’ of London life.

  • For example, if he wants to see the City in full action, it’s fun to go to The Ned, a large open hall filled with bars and restaurants, and packed every day with local office workers. In The City you can also go to the restaurants at the top in the walkie talkie building, with a great view over London.

  • Mayfair then has the splurge food: from Gymkhana to the numerous 5 star hotels. Plus indeed The Wolseley.

  • ‘Talk of the town’ Brutto (Italian) is in the currently being redeveloped area of Farringdon.

  • I like the Barrafina (as I had already mentioned) near Charing Cross, near The National Gallery and Soho.

  • Then you have Sea Containers on the South Bank. Personally I don’t really like Borough Market, as it has become too touristy to my taste.

I miss London!

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I just had lunch at Honey & Co today. I’ve eaten there a number of times over the years and I like it better than Ottolenghi. I ate at their Bloomsbury location on Lambs Conduit St., but they have a new ”Honey & Co Daily” location where you can also get sandwiches, pastries, lunch for takeaway.

Here is today’s lunch:

  • A sumac and pomegranate cosmopolitan
  • Pomegranate molasses chicken with an herb salad
  • Their spectacular cheesecake and a latte

I loved everything.

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Looks great. Thank you.

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Here is my friend’s Full English at Café Paolo.

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Breakfast looks a decent job, although the beans look as though they are rather watery.

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I agree.

He mentioned he found the breakfast to be fairly ordinary.
I’m hoping he finds a better Full English tomorrow! :grinning:

Or, maybe he will find kedgeree or kippers somewhere, or try a Dishoom breakfast.

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Dishoom is great for breakfast. I recommend the bacon and egg naan roll.

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OMA in Borough Market - our best meal in London in recent times.

Any branch of Hawksmoor is pretty reliable - I always love a visit to a Hawksmoor.

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We endorse Rules and St. John as both tasty and “only in London”.

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I am also a St. John fan so have nothing new to add. It’s been along time since I worked in London. But I am having a complete brain freeze on another point. Does any here remember the name of the pub that was inside the circle at Broadgate in the late 90s? I used to go there after work and am drawing a total blank. Driving me nuts trying to remember the name.

Not a current rec, but anyone else go to the Criterion when Marco Pierre White was the chef and all the rage? That was a crazy expensive place. I just have these weird memories of the place.

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Agreed - although I’ve twice had very tough rump steak at their Manchester branch.

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