Bull & Last, NW5 © Alys Tomlinson
London's top 50 restaurants
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By Time Out Food & Drink editors
Updated: Fri Oct 28 2011 -
Time Out asked its food critics to come up with a list of the 50 best places to eat in London. And here it is: from capital curries to great gastropubs, as well as suggestions for where to eat on the cheap, if you want to impress, or are just looking for great service and value
British | Gastropubs | Indian | Oriental | French | Italian | Vegetarian | Modern European | Spanish | Best to impress | Best service | Best for grazing | Something different | Map
Best British restaurantsFeature continues-
Hawksmoor Seven Dials
11 Langley Street, WC2H 9JJ
The original Hawksmoor in Spitalfields is a great bar and grill – but this newer branch is a truly sensational one. The entrance is a bit hidden, despite the Covent Garden location, but once inside it’s a real beauty of a basement which looks as if it’s been there a century – in fact, it only opened as a restaurant at the end of 2010. The meat’s better quality, and better cooked, than at many more expensive Mayfair steak restaurants. Hawksmoor’s not cheap, though – you’ll easily part with more than £50 per head, but dining here’s quite an experience, and very ‘now’.
When to go: When your carnal urges will only be satisfied by something big and bloody.
What to have: A small steak – because the large ones would feed a family of bears. Read more
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Hereford Road
3 Hereford Road, W2 4AB
When it opened in 2007, the trend for bold, British cooking wasn’t as prevalent as it is now. Tom Pemberton, who cut his teeth at St John and St John Bread & Wine, was one chef who helped propel British cuisine into the limelight. The menu continues to change daily (it’s updated online diligently), and common ingredients include plenty of offal (calves’ brains and kidneys, lamb's sweetbreads) and classic British puddings (vanilla rice pudding, apple crumble). Hereford Road may no longer seem as revolutionary as it did back then, but the food still has the power to wow.
When to go: When you want solid British cooking on the west side of town.
What to have: Hone in on the mains made for sharing – whole lamb shoulder or oxtail, say. Read more
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Hix
66-70 Brewer Street, W1F 9UP
Given Mark Hix’s kitchen pedigree and status among the fashionable, it was clear his Soho bar and restaurant would be a huge hit when it opened in late 2009. For those of us not on the A-list, Hix is just as welcome and sums up what Soho dining should be all about. It’s permanently buzzing, the design’s cutting edge and the clubby bar downstairs is exceptional and worth a visit on its own merit. Mark Hix’s hand is clear in the boisterously British menu, which pairs prime ingredients with confidence. A special occasion place (although maybe a bit exuberant and loud for a first date).
When to go: For an uproarious and memorable Soho meal with pals.
What to have: The roast chicken with garlic sauce to share is hard to beat. Read more
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St John
26 St John Street, EC1M 4AY
As ‘British cuisine’ continues to establish its own identity, it becomes clearer how groundbreaking Fergus Henderson’s Smithfield restaurant really was. It’s far from faddy, and St John’s commitment to well-sourced, simply cooked traditional food has stood the test of time: it’s still one of the most reliably exciting places to eat in London. Forgotten cuts and obscure ingredients grace the twice-daily-changing menu, and while this stripped-down luxe doesn’t come cheap, St John remains a model other restaurants aspire to.
When to go: When entertaining serious food lovers.
What to have: Something you’ve never heard of or wouldn’t normally try. It will be great. Read more
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British | Gastropubs | Indian | Oriental | French | Italian | Vegetarian | Modern European | Spanish | Best to impress | Best service | Best for grazing | Something different | Map-
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22 comments
Agreed - karma curry is AMAZING. I live above it and hear them preparing everything freshly every day. 100% recommended.
This is to inform you that bar 61 restaurant has won lambeths favourite business award 2011 and south londons favourite business award HSBC bank also lambeths favourite business award winner 2012 Barclays bank .it is a family owned &run business thank you
Karma, W14, is THE best Indian food I have eaten in my 40 years, and I am very fussy about good curry.
Karma, W14, is THE best Indian food I have eaten in my 40 years, and I am very fussy about good curry.
Why is most of the best veggie restaurants not actually vegetarian!? If I wanted to limit my choices to just the 'veggie options' of a menu, I would go to any place on the high street. More actual vegetarian restaurant reviews would be nice
The Moti Mahal in the best Indian category? The food we had bland, uninspired and pretentious. Surroundings are pleasant enough and the staff are friendly but the food we had was dull and quite frankly, I have often had far better Indian food in my local High Street. £150 for two with wine made it vastly overpriced for what it was. Save your money and head for Brick Lane
I went to Hawksmoor in Spitalfields for lunch last year with great expectations. Was very disappointed. Firstly, was shown to the bar first instead of a table even though the restaurant was almost empty. Would have preferred having my drink at the table. I had a very expensive burger which was fatty and lacking flavour. This might have been a one-off but I doubt I will go back.
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I haven't any word to appreciate this post.Thanks a lot for sharing.... Looking forward to reading your next post.
Song Que ??!!!! One of the best oriental restaurants in London??!!!! My God... HOW??? That's it for me getting my recommendations from Time Out. Greasy, poor service, too salty and it goes on....
Who the hell are these reviewers!!!!!
I went to the Steak Exchange restaurant and bar on exchange square last week and its a little gem. I usually go to Hawksmoor when im craving a good feed but a friend recommended we try Steak Exchange and we are so glad we did the steak was just as good if not better than Hawksmoor. Great atmosphere on a busy friday night, the staff could not do enough for us and the pudding list was to die for. I Think this new steak restaurant is a real winner and should be featured as its definately one to visit in london.
Have been to Hawksmoor in Covent Garden several times and so pleased to see it high on the list. It is truly great, not only because of the amazing steak and other dishes (ohhhh the desert menu!!!) but for it's amazing cocktails, lovely, warm staff and beautiful venue.
Maybe it was an off night when I went to Veeraswamy but feel there are several better Indian restaurants in London (Cinnamon Club & Tamarind)
I'm surprised to see Magdalen in Tooley Street missed off this list !
Mien Tay is the worst Vietnamese restaurant I've been to, so I'm not surprised it is nowhere to be seen.