London's top 50 restaurants
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By Time Out Food & Drink editors
Updated: Fri Oct 28 2011
British | Gastropubs | Indian | Oriental | French | Italian | Vegetarian | Modern European | Spanish | Best to impress | Best service | Best for grazing | Something different | Map Best restaurants offering something differentFeature continues-
Kopapa
32-34 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9HA
The team behind Providores and Tapa Room – you might have heard of chef Peter Gordon – have just opened this upscale café/wine bar/bistro with shared tables on Seven Dials in Covent Garden. What makes it special are the extraordinary dishes – you’ll not find this sort of thing in Chelmsford. For example, inari pockets – Japanese fried tofu envelopes – are filled with spicy, clove-flavoured dahl, then deep-fried in tempura batter, and served with deep-fried plantain. Blimey.
When to go: When your palate’s jaded by every other cuisine.
What to have: Order a few dishes to share, because they tend to be small. Read more
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Morito
32 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QL
This offshoot of the equally excellent Moro (which is next door) is a no-bookings tapas bar with attitude. Sam(uel) and Sam(antha) Clark’s Moro restaurant has been one of London’s must-visit restaurants for more than a decade now, and Morito follows suit – but is cheaper. The ever-changing, always challenging menu isn’t afraid to incorporate flavours from all around the Mediterranean – (Mr) Sam has been edging towards Turkey and Syria and away from the ‘Moorish’ food that made their name. An exciting place to eat, drink and be very merry indeed.
When to go: On a quiet night early in the week.
What to have: The Turkish-style dishes are the ones currently tickling Mr Sam’s fancy, so let them tickle yours. Read more
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Mangal Ocakbasi
10 Arcola Street, E8 2DJ
Stoke Newington is Turkish territory and a fine place to eat, but kebab connoisseurs know to head down a quiet side street to this longstanding ocakbasi favourite. The in-out service and occasionally raucous atmosphere doesn’t make it a place for relaxed dining, but as an informal dinner stop-off it’s perfect and still brilliantly cheap. Choose one of the juicy skewered meats on display, enjoy the anticipation as the dextrous grillsmith chars it to perfection, then tuck into one of the best meaty meals in the city.
When to go: Only when seriously hungry. Far more than just a ‘kebab shop’.
What to have: Lamb shish. Read more
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The Modern Pantry
47-48 St John's Square, EC1V 4JJ
Chef Anna Hansen used to work with Peter Gordon at Providores, and stylistically, her eclectic cooking reflects this shared heritage. A signature dish of sugar-cured New Caledonian prawn omelette with spring onion, coriander and smoked chilli sambal is a winner, and we love the ambition and invention in the likes of Vietnamese-style braised pigs’ cheeks with pickles, Thai basil and deep-fried chilli; or tonka bean shortbread with lemon custard, gooseberry compote and prosecco jelly. Modern Pantry’s particularly appealing in the summer, when you can sit outdoors in a quiet square.
When to go: It’s the best place in London for alfresco dining.
What to have: Breakfast and brunch are just as appealing as the dinner menu. 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.