Good eats near London tourist attractions?

[Dixie68]

Any suggestions for places to eat near any of the London tourist traps? My girlfriend and I are going to be wandering around most of them if she has her way, so I'd like to break it up with a decent lunch. I'm not going to spend the day in my suit as I'll no doubt be walking miles, so the restaurant will need to be jeans-friendly and, more importantly, sell an awesome steak
A walk-in place would be essential so I don't need to book ahead.

Thanks for any advice

[H_Kan]

Being vege, I'm not the best person to recommend a steak place, but I would say that most places in the West End should be ok with jeans. Lot of creative industries round there who tend to dress casually, so bars and restaurants are a bit more chilled out.

[okgo]

Sophies Steakhouse in Covent Garden does a decent steak (and cocktails) and is big enough to seat without the need to book most of the time.

Not too pricey (unless you want it to be) and the food is good.

[Ultuous]

Went to the Wharf on the South Bank a couple of months ago and was very impressed - lovely location on a sunny day, food was of a high standard, prices weren't bad at all (even without considering the fact it's slap-bang in tourist-ville) and the waitresses were very hot!

[enioldjoe]

Unless you're looking for something 'proper like', I think this chain is quite good: http://www.lepainquotidien.co.uk/#/en_UK/about.

Informal with an individual style, nice food and to be found in several locations!

[Dixie68]

Thanks all, I'll have a look at them.

[Todzilla]

Steak restaurant near tourist attractions? It's gotta be this surely...:
http://www.thehawksmoor.co.uk/sd.php

[Dixie68]

Todzilla said:

Steak restaurant near tourist attractions? It's gotta be this surely...:
http://www.thehawksmoor.co.uk/sd.php

Ooh good call! What's near there that's touristy?

[okgo]

Todzilla said:

Steak restaurant near tourist attractions? It's gotta be this surely...:
http://www.thehawksmoor.co.uk/sd.php

Well yes, its not cheap though but as far as steak goes, its pretty top notch.

[Hoover.]

Hix - Soho on Brewer St,

Had a lovely lunch in there a fortnight ago.

[LooneyTunes]

H_Kan said:

Being vege, I'm not the best person to recommend a steak place

OP, if this sounds tempting, perhaps have a google of any places whose name includes "Steakhouse" before you visit. One chain gets a pasting on another site I visit.

ETA: a few London based friends really rate Hawksmoor.

[Dixie68]

LooneyTunes said:

OP, if this sounds tempting, perhaps have a google of any places whose name includes "Steakhouse" before you visit. One chain gets a pasting on another site I visit.

ETA: a few London based friends really rate Hawksmoor.

Yeah I think that's what I'll go for.

[okgo]

Angus steakhouses are crap.

Go to something above.

[Todzilla]

Dixie68 said:

Ooh good call! What's near there that's touristy?

It's just off of Covent Garden... doesn't get much more touristy than that!

[6th Gear]

Goodman - Mayfair

http://www.goodmanrestaurants.com/

The Wolseley - Piccadilly

http://www.thewolseley.com/

La Petite Maison - Mayfair

http://www.lpmlondon.co.uk/

Edited by 6th Gear on Tuesday 23 August 11:43

[LooneyTunes]

OP, just been to Hawksmoor this evening - definitely on my good food list:
Redeye - very moreish!
Steak tartare - one of the best I've had.

Personally think there was better atmosphere in bar vs restaurant, but quite early due to time of train I was aiming for.

[Wadeski]

bar at Hawksmoore has some of the best drinks in london, too.

National Gallery restaurant is excellent, overlooking trafalgar square.

[LooneyTunes]

Another possible: Roast (Borough Market)... anyone been?

[Romanymagic]

Try Quo Vadis - www.quovadissoho.co.uk - went there with clients recently and had a really good meal, excellent wine, fantastic service etc.

[Romanymagic]

LooneyTunes said:

Another possible: Roast (Borough Market)... anyone been?

Yes, many times! Fantastic food, last time I went I had duck egg benedict starter which was sublime, followed by pork belly and the meal was excellent, service first class, atmosphere really good (lunch time client meeting).