eating in London... [GB]

There are two categories of restaurants blogged for London: Tottenham Court Road establishments and others spread out over the city.

I attended a weeklong program of Theatre. Staying at the Radisson Edwardian Grafton Tottenham Square, I put all the restaurants within walking distance of the hotel into one long blog entry. These are labeled London and Tottenham Square Road. The other restaurants are blogged separately and labeled simply London. Enjoy!

eating in London, Tottenham Court Road... [GB]

THE COURT

Three of us had a nice lunch here. Bustly little place with a bit of atmosphere.

My Texas Steak Melt [£4.75] was 'tasty but tough', Chicken/Bacon Salad [£4.75] 'lots of onion' and a Classic BLT [£3.45] 'good, quite large'

bloginfo: on the corner of TCR and Maple, across from Cilantro
blognote: most places you order and pay at the bar and then are served at table

NORTHUMBERLAND ARMS

This is one of the two best I tried on TCR.

They are all British food. I had the slow cooked Homemade Steak, Guinness and Onion Pie with skin on Mash and Onion Gravy [£8.50] with a side of Mushy Peas [75p] and a San Miguel beer [£4].

Also saw a Cheddar/Tomato Chutney sandwich with Chips [£3.75] that looked real good.

bloginfo: on the corner of TCR and Grafton Way [look for the Indian YMCA sign]



CILANTRO

Just had a Peach Smoothie [£2.85] here and sat outside. Great tables for people watching on TCR. There is breakfast available and free newspapers to read. A good selection of to-go sandwiches. Inside looked nice but preferred to sit outside.

bloginfo: on the corner of Maple and TCR
blognote: check out the cute website





ASSER

Stopped here for a late night snack [after a wretched set meal]. This is a Lebanese restaurant.

Had a Sambousek Lahem [£4.50] which was like a 'Shanghai style' egg roll. It was filled with ground lamb and pine nuts and came with a potent garlic [mayo] sauce. Very good!

bloginfo: 117 TCR
good website click here


LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN

This is the runner-up to the best on TCR [other was Northumberland Arms]. Le Pain Quotidien [the daily bread] is a bakery/restaurant/communal table.

I had Limeade with mint, an organic Egg Salad Tartine [£6.80] with olive oil, wild capers and anchovies presented on whole grain bread open face. Also had a cup of the soup of the day; Gazpacho [£3.60] with a sampling of two other breads. Ended with a small Café Latte [£2.20]

bloginfo: corner of TCR and Goodge
website is super
blognote: desserts looked fabulous

PRET A MANGER


This is the ubiquitous salad and sandwich to-go gem in London!

Had two half baguettes for lunch: Line and pole caught Tuna with mayo and cukes [£1.35]
and a Prosciutto and Italian matured cheese with tomato and whole leaf basil [£1.75]. Also had a cup of Miso soup [£1.50] with a can of Sparkling Bunny Detox [99p] with ginger and echinacea. Ordered at the counter and found a stool at the window to people watch.

bloginfo: Prêt á Manger are everywhere in London
blognote: The name is a play on Paris fashion 'prêt á porter' or ready-to-wear = ready-to-eat.


JAPANESE CANTEEN


Had a quick lunch here and was very surprised at the quality of the food. Just a modern student hangout at 162 TCR on the corner of University.

The Beef Yaki Udon [£5.95] was well spiced and along with the udon noodles and tender beef there were carrots, onions, bok choy and ginger. The sparkling Ginger/Lemongrass soda [£1.65] was spicy also.

blognote: sat outside, lots of young Asians eating here.

Aside from a coffee at the Jack Horner [I had to eat there for the name!], that is just about it for TCR [Tottenham Court Road] where the Radisson Edwardian Grafton Hotel is located.

Forum Café [GB]

Visiting the British Museum I stopped for a Cappuccino [£2] at the Forum on Great Russell Street. Nice sidewalk tables facing the main entrance to the museum. Actually the inside is more like a Greek deli. Everything looked good but I was on my hunt for Wagamama.

Azzurro [GB]

Attractive Italian Bar and Kitchen in Waterloo near the National Theatre.

We had a set menu that ranged from okay to slightly awful; our first meal in London. But the set meals all turned out to be rather dreadful. As Shakespeare might have said: "Beware the onslaught of London chicken."

The food going out to other tables looked good and the place was quite busy. If I were to be in the neighborhood for theatre, I might give it a try.

Wagamama [GB]

Yes! I found it. Actually you can find a Wagamamas all over London but I was looking for the one in Bloomsbury. I had eaten here before and have their funky website on my favorites.

I had the lunch special ABSOLUTE WAGAMAMA [£13.05] which consisted of three Chicken Gyoza, Yaki Soba and an Asahi beer. Also had a small sparkling water.

Same great open kitchen atmosphere with great noodles. Last time here they was a queue on the stairs, this time it was just about empty.

blognote: It's down an alley on Streatham via Good Luck!

Tate Modern [GB]

Visited this wonderful museum just at lunch time. Ate in the restaurant upstairs with a gorgeous view of the Thames River and the skyline centered around St. Paul's Cathedral.

There were three of us and we started with a carafe of Monte Aliña 2008 [£5.30] with 2 glasses only.

Starters: Tanche and Lucque Olives and a Bread selection [£2.60 each]

Mains: Swiss Chard and Comte Cheese Tart with Apple Coleslaw [£7.50], my Smoked Duck Salad with roasted figs and dandelions [the large portion £10.95] and a Dessert item for Main, British Farmhouse Cheeses with walnut bread and apple chutney [£7.50] and a side of Spring Greens [£3].

The food was great, the portions good sized, the view exquisite and the service excellent. Translated into dollars it came to $25 each.

bloginfo: The Tate Modern can be reached by walking over the Millennium Bridge or by the Tate to Tate ferry up and down the Thames connecting the Tate British with the Tate Modern.
blognote: There were many galleries not open as the exhibitions were changing. I have had much better luck in the past.