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  • Remembering London's best cheap eats

  • By Time Out editors

    Posted: Tue Oct 20 2009

  • Not all of London's best cheap eats have stayed open over the years. Here are the budget eateries that Time Out has loved and lost

    Remembering London's best cheap eats

    Ooze © Rob Greig

    • Arkansas Café

      Bubba’s barbecue pit in Old Spitalfields Market baked its last hog in 2007.

    • Crowbar Coffee

      One of the first new-wave coffee bars, which pulled its last espresso in 2000.

    • La Galette

      Crêpe restaurant in Fitzrovia that was London’s finest between 2001 and 2006.

    • Heather's

      Vegan restaurant in Deptford that was much loved by locals. Closed in 2001.

    • Hodja Nasreddin

      Kitschly decorated Turkish in Canonbury that closed in 2000.

    • Mandeer

      Indian vegetarian restaurant on the spot now occupied by Hakkasan. Closed in 2000.

    • Mandola

      Sudanese restaurant in Notting Hill, replaced by Bloody French. 1995-2005.

    • Market Café

      Gilbert & George ate many of their breakfasts and lunches at this caff next door in Fournier Street, Spitalfields for more than 30 years. Closed in 2000.

    • New Piccadilly

      Iconic 1951 caff at Piccadilly Circus which eventually closed in 2007.

    • C Notarianni & Sons

      Italian pizzeria in Battersea High Street with 1950s interior. Closed in 2005.

    • Ooze

      Not a smart choice of name, but a smart ‘risotto bar’ on Goodge Street.The food court concession at Westfield just isn’t the same. 2006-2009.

    • Pizzeria Castello

      The Elephant & Castle's long-established pizzeria closed in 2007.

    • Regent Milk Bar

      An old-fashioned caff up the Edgware Road with a lovely interior. 1945-2002.

    • Schnecke

      Alsatian food, but their bark proved louder than their bite. 1998-2001.

    • Spiga

      The best pizza place in Soho, 1997-2009.

    • Stanley's

      S&M (sausage and mash) north of Oxford Circus. 1997-2005.

    • Tartuf

      Served Alsatian tarte flambée (a sort of French pizza). 1999-2003.

    • Tibetan Restaurant

      The only place near Leicester Square where you could get some yak butter tea. Closed in 2001.

    • Tobia

      London’s best Ethiopian restaurant, housed above an Ethiopian community centre in Swiss Cottage. 2004-2008.

    • Tsukushi

      Japanese caff in Camden. 1994-1997.

    • Upper Street Fish Shop

      Charming Islington chippy that closed its doors after 20 years. 1980-2000.

    • Wisteria

      Crouch End tearoom that poured its last cuppa in 1998.

     

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6 comments

  1. Posted by Sara Masson on 12 Nov 2009 10:20

    I still cannot bear the fact that Poons has gone. My quality of life has seriously diminished

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  2. Posted by Peter Archer on 03 Nov 2009 10:43

    Are you all mad? There is only one closed-down doyenne of cheap eateries- Soho's CENTRALE!! Superb Italian home-cooking- dished out in steaming great platefuls. Perhaps we are all trying to erase the memory because it is just too painful. However, Tsukushi in Camden (already mentioned)- SUPERB! Will we ever see their likes again?

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  3. Posted by Brian on 24 Oct 2009 01:54

    Tuk Tuk on upper street Islington, iconic Thai. Their Guey Teow Kaw soup cured all ills.

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  4. Posted by Kirstie on 22 Oct 2009 18:37

    Kwan Thai, excellent thai food in London Bridge, it was in Hays Galleria right next to the Thames. :o( miss them lots x

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  5. Posted by Leona on 22 Oct 2009 13:59

    The little okonomiyaki place that I think was on Windmill Street in Soho - can't remember the name - circa 1997

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  6. Posted by Emma on 20 Oct 2009 16:59

    Goddards pie n mash shop in greenwich

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