The 100 best dishes in London 2012
Our food critics have tried and tested dishes across the capital - here are their favourites
Salt beef bagel at Brick Lane Beigel Bake
There are tens of thousands of places to eat, and millions of options of what you might eat. So if your time and your appetite are limited, we’ve just made choosing a little bit easier for you.
Time Out’s food and drink critics anonymously visit more than a thousand bars, cafes, gastropubs and restaurants every year, both the spanking new and the classics, so that the reviews on our website are regularly refreshed (and refreshing, as our critics never accept invitations or freebies).
Our key critics have now pooled our expertise to come up with shortlists of their own favourite dishes of the last year. After many weeks of discussions, we eventually settled on the lists you find below in no particular order, though we have grouped them by type (desserts or vegetarian dishes, for example).
Of course Time Out’s critics aren’t the only people with opinions on London’s best dishes, so we also cast the net wider. We asked the brains behind our ten favourite dishes to come up with their own top ten dishes, and also asked ten of our favourite London food bloggers for their recommendations.
However, no list like this can ever be definitive, as dishes disappear off menus, chefs change, good kitchens go bad, and new venues come along which dazzle. But we think this is a good place to start. Now, get out there and try them for yourself.
Guy Dimond, Time Out London Food & Drink Editor
Dishes chosen and compiled by Tania Ballantine, Guy Dimond, Anne Faber, Euan Ferguson and Charmaine Mok
Have your say: on Facebook | on Twitter using #100dishes | in the comments box below
100 best dishes by category
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Barbecue and grills
Satay, pulled pork, ribs - these charred delicacies all make a well-earned appearance on our list.
See our best barbecue and grill dishes -
British
British cuisine continues to flourish in the capital, whether it be the much-loved classics or a twist on traditional dishes.
See our best British dishes -
Desserts and sweet treats
From baked alaska to salted caramel, sweet-toothed Londoner's will enjoy our list of sweet delights.
See our best desserts and sweet treats -
One-bowl dishes
One-bowl dishes are perfect for those chilly days in the capital but also a great good-value and hearty meal.
See our best one-bowl dishes -
Meat
Burgers, charcuterie, salt beef and Wiener Schnitzel. The capital's carnivores have never had it so good.
See our best meat dishes -
Seafood
There's no shortage of great seafood in London but we've managed to net the best dishes around.
See our best seafood dishes -
Signature dishes
Meat fruit? Smoked eel? Squid burger? These superb signature concoctions made our top 100.
See our best signature dishes -
Small plates
From deep-fried pickles to venison puffs, we wish these small dishes were a whole lot bigger.
See our best small plates -
Street food
Who needs fine dining when food stands and stalls are this good? Check out our top street food spots.
See our best street food -
Vegetarian
Forget a simple salad and check out the most vibrant vegetarian plates in the capital
See our best vegetarian dishes
More food and drink features
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London's top 50 restaurants
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.
See London's top 50 restaurants -
The 100 best bars and pubs in London
To help you find a place to drink that won't disappoint, our critics have rounded up their favourite 50 pubs and 50 bars in London.
Discover the 100 best bars and pubs in London -
Best restaurants in London for..
Find the best restaurants for all cuisines in London, including Italian, Mexican, British and many more.
Find the best restaurants in London for all types of cuisine
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