Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with food and London

Quiet Uncrowded London Sweet Spots

ElmerFishpaw — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:30:50 -0800

LondonFilter: Looking for a place almost exactly like Gordon's Wine Bar without the crowds. Somewhere in central London. I love Gordon's but Im looking for a wine bar or bistro that is quieter where I can have a conversation without having to yell. Subterranian, candlelit, intimate-feeling, good food and wine. Any suggestions?

I'm glad to accept your personal Central London Secret Spots- quiet, dark, small, hidden, bars, pubs, bistros that arent crowded at night.

Pass me that menu Stat!

mary8nne — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:15:14 -0800

Quick! need a restaurant recommendation for London City / Shoreditch area, for tonight. Casual but not too casual. Was thinking St Johns Bread and Wine but I left it too late to get a table. Everywhere decent will probably be booked out I guess. Its for two, kind of a 'date'. I'm thinking not a curry obviously.

S&M / Canteen seem a bit clinical. I coudl do Viet on Kingsland Road but its a little obvious.

Help me self-catering a large party in central London

ninebelow — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:19:36 -0800

Help me self-catering a large party in central London I am organising a party for a hundred people in Holborn which will include lunch. Catering companies for events are very expensive and their per head prices don't really match my budget. So the idea is to provide a cold self-service buffet. I will be making some stuff myself (with help) but mostly I will be buying in and hopefully by going directly will get better quality for a lower price. Before starting the legwork I thought I would ask you nice people if you had any suggestions for suppliers for:

1) Meat: Whole hams, large cold pies (like pork and pickle or game), etc.

2) Fish: Whole poached salmon.

3) Carbs: I can't really be bothered making an industrial vat of potato salad so this is the sort of thing I would pay a deli or caterer for.

So any recommendations for good local butchers, fishmongers (I know they are unlikely to provide cooked fish but you never know), delis or caterers who will deliver and nothing more? There is minimal refridgeration at the venue and I won't be able to collect on the day.

Recommend quirky places to visit or places to eat/drink between London and Snowdonia...?

skylar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:02:04 -0800

I'm taking a journey by car from London (England) to Portmeirion (North Wales) and back a day later. The quickest route appears to be M1-M6-M54-A5 and then eastwards through Snowdonia and a variety of smaller roads. Along this route, say anywhere after Northampton, are there any lovely/eccentric places to stop either for some brief sightseeing or for a bite to eat and something to drink? The idea is to take a break halfway through the journey or so. I don't mind a detour of a few miles off my route if it means avoiding frightful motorway service stations with terrible food and no atmosphere. I'm seeking recommendations from people who have either taken this route from London to North Wales or who live along the route. Where would you stop for a gander and for a meal if it was up to you? Quirky, strange or picturesque places appreciated.

Finally I'm willing to consider taking a different route home, travelling southwards out through Snowdonia...so if there are some great sights or some peculiar inns in a different direction that I should visit please let me know! Thanks.

Recommend a place to eat near the Barbican in London.

handee — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:07:53 -0800

Can anyone recommend a gastropub or similar near the Barbican in London for a celebratory meal on a weekday lunchtime? Possible problem - we may have a 6 month old baby with us. My sister is graduating, and I want to take her somewhere really nice but not hyper expensive....

First time in London, help!

griffey — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:21:32 -0800

First time in London, help me plan my perfect trip! Lots, lots more inside. So, in 2 weeks (Dec 1-5) I'll be in London for the first time. I'm going under the auspices of speaking at the Information Online conference being held at the Olympia Grande the 2-4th, so I'll have that area as my "home base". I'm staying at the Hilton London Kensington, which appears to be reasonably close to at least a couple of tube stops.

I'll have 2-3 days to actively explore, and my list of "must see" touristy sorts of things are scattered. I have to visit the British Museum, and Westminster (want to see Poets Corner and Darwin's grave). I have been told not to miss the Tower of London, and would love to see the Tate Modern. But aside from that, I'm interested in just exploring London.

My interests: I'm a huge foodie, and would love any suggestions on amazing food experiences, especially those in proximity to my hotel. I'm also a huge geek, so anything in the geek pantheon (tech, games, comics) would be interesting.

What shouldn't I miss, Mefi? Anything happening that week that I should know about? What's that area of London like?

Looking for bog standard pub grub in London

Helga-woo — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:09:02 -0800

I'm looking for somewhere, easily accessible from central London, that does a bog standard 3-course roast dinner (or similar standard pub fayre) at about £15 a head for about 20 people in January. I was told, and I quote, "none of that fancy, foreign food"*

The plan was to go to a Harvester. The nearest Harvester to us is apparently an hour's drive up the A40. I vetoed this on the basis that I, and several others, already have to travel an hour to get into central London, and we would not travel to Victoria to then have to sit on a minibus on the A40. I also pointed out that we were all based in and around central London, surely there must be somewhere nearer that could cater for us.

I should learn not to speak up at times like these.

So, I'm looking for something like a Harvester, accessible from central London, zone 1 or 2, and more West-ish than East-ish.

The venue can offer fancy, foreign food, but there should be a meat and two-veg option.

Bonus points if:

- It's within the borough of the City of Westminster, as that's where we are based

- It isn't actually a pub (there's a small Muslim contingent, who don't turn usually turn up to the social events, I think you can figure out why. I would like to think we at least made an effort to find somewhere slightly more accommodating to everyone.) Baby steps, people, baby steps. I rock the boat enough by being 20 years younger than everyone else, and actually doing things. As much as I would love to capsize the whole vessel and start again, the annual social event is neither the time nor the place.

*Yes, I believe this definition of fancy, foreign food includes pasta and pizza.

Tonkotsu Ramen search: calling all London ramen fans!

0bvious — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:59:36 -0800

Ramen Filter: I live in London. I desperately crave tonkotsu ramen, the pork-based variety popular in Japan's Kyushu region (sometimes known as Hakata ramen). I have found NOWHERE in the UK that makes or sells it. Have I missed somewhere? Is there anywhere online I can buy Tonkotsu soup stock? Help! I can get shoyu, miso and chicken based ramen real easy in London, but not Tonkotsu.

I have found recipes that teach you how to make it, but I live with vegetarians who wouldn't take too kindly to a house smelling of pork offal.

How can I fill my tonkotsu void?! Why has this perfect food source not made it overseas yet?

You HAVE to have the...

roofus — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:30:57 -0800

I would like suggestions for London restaurants that are worth visiting just for one unmissable dish. I really like restaurants with a menu that is totally dominated by one stand-out dish.

Some restaurants that got me thinking along these lines:

Jen Cafe in Chinatown, where most of the customers just order the Beijing dumplings

Pham Sushi in Old St where the crunchy tuna roll is legendary

Atelier de Joel Robuchon, where everything is special, but the truffled mashed potato is actually world famous

I hope that makes it clear the kind of thing I am looking for.

Bonus marks for actual sit-down restaurants that only serve one dish.

Chippy in Central London?

HaloMan — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:12:15 -0800

Are there any proper "traditional" chip shops within central London (zone 1 and 2)? I've had several friends who live in London remark to me there's not a 'real' British chip shop like you'd find in the rest of England in central London, but rather just lots of restraunts and places that appeal to tourists. From what I've seen of London, this seems to be true, sadly. As someone who is considering moving to London, this seems very unfortunate as I like a good visit to the chippy every now and then.

Is there one that's hidden away somewhere that's managed to elude me? If not, where is the closest one?

London, Dublin, Cork, Here I come!

majikstreet — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:21:39 -0800

TravelFilter: Things to do in London, Dublin, Cork. Places to stay in Dublin and Cork. Indian Restaurant recommendations in London. General restaurant recommendations for either London, Dublin, or Cork I'll be going to London, Dublin, and Cork in August. Do you have any recommendations for things to do? Or places to stay in Dublin and Cork? I know that there is good Indian food to be eaten in London, but I don't want to just wander around trying to find food. Other restaurant recommendations also appreciated.

Thanks for sharing

sagwalla — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:25:02 -0800

Can anyone recommend a good place for rijstafel in London(UK)? My in-laws are coming to town this week and have suggested rijstafel. They have tried it once before and had a bad experience at a place around the Edgware Road. I have Googled around and found a few places that claim to do it (Bali Bali, Minang, Jakarta), but the web reviews are ambivalent. I've not had it in the UK before, so I'm not really in a position to judge.

Cheap, healthy places to catch a bite in London?

ontic — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:24:38 -0800

Cheap, healthy places to catch a bite in London? I'm going to be spending some time in London and have to live on a bit of a budget with the exchange rates being what they are. That said, I don't want to be cooking every single meal in my apartment and miss being in the city. Bonus points for vegetarian and/or fish-but-not-fish-and-chips opportunities.

Thanks!

Find this chocolate!

omidius — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 06:36:18 -0800

In london on a trip last year, I purchased a bar of chocolate (the flat bar kind, about 2.5 inches w to 5 inches L). It was a dark chocolate, and contained slightly dry sour cherries. It was by far the best chocolate my significant other and I have ever had. Help me find it again.

Good vegetarian food in central London?

hoverboards don't work on water — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 07:50:16 -0800

Restaurants that serve good vegetarian food in central London? By good I mean food created with vegetarians in mind - not merely a token dish with the meat removed.

By central London I mean within reasonable walking distance of the touristy areas.

Thanks!

A girl needs more than just a knife

jadepearl — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 04:16:53 -0800

Londonfilter: Just landed with a chef's knife and need to locate goods. Have perused the many threads on shopping in London but need to track down a restaurant supply store open to the public and baking supplies/ingredients of high quality. Robert Dylas, Argos nor Tesco Direct are not giving me the equipment nor the ingredients I need. Extra points for places near Putney but am willing to travel using tube and bus. Have already tried the Spice Shop on Portabello Road (hate to say, but the goods were not up to par especially in extracts). Thanks for any suggestions and help.

What's the best curry house in Brick Lane?

kenchie — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 07:59:40 -0800

[LondonCurryFilter] What's the best curry house in Brick Lane? .....or not in Brick Lane? Planning a curry night for my birthday - where to go?

A slice of Japan in London

0bvious — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 03:49:08 -0800

What Japanese style amenities can be found in London? Most especially I am on the hunt for group Karaoke booths (preferably with an 'all you can drink' policy) and supermarkets stocking exclusively Japanese produce.... What's out there?

Places for a good meal in/near Soho, London

Ira.metafilter — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 03:41:44 -0800

Recommendations for a good place to have a meal in or not too far from Soho in London? I'm hoping to take some friends somewhere for a meal before a stand-up comedy gig at the Soho Theatre, maybe try out a restaurant we've never been to and a type of food we've never had before. (So anything that's not Italian, Chinese or Indian.) We wouldn't really want to spend too much money - ideally less than £25 per person? Any recommendations?

Organic fruit & veggie delivery in London

yankeefog — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 04:05:33 -0800

I can't always make it to my local farmers' market, and I'd love to arrange regular weekly deliveries of organic fruits and vegetables. I'm in London (NW3). Google turns up a ton of possibilities but I'd prefer personal recommendations. Any suggestions? If anybody has suggestions for delivery of organic meat, eggs, or dairy products, in addition to fruit and veg, I'd be interested in those, too.

Sushi Search London

Wilder — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 11:52:58 -0800

Sushi in London - please, your hot tips! Yes I did Google but no luck. A friend who lived for years in Tokyo is flying in tomorrow from Murcia for a brief business trip. We'll both be in London from 5pm-8pm before a show. I really want to give him an authentic Japanese experience, but my sushi experience in London is restricted to one place in Chinatown that sells everything, Chinese Thai Japanese, or the takeaway in Wasabi at Charing Cross. Anywhere in central London and price is not an issue, help!
The Google search here on AskMe gave me some strange results!!