Where to eat - London

[kiethton]

Guys a little help if possible,

Its my girlfriends birthday next week and I was thinking of taking her to dinner somewhere in town next weekend. The plan is to head over to the Ice Bar - Mayfair afterwards.

I'm looking for a restaurant that will serve v. good food and wont cost the earth (£20-£40pp for 2 courses - she doesn't drink wine which is probably for the better of my bank balance!) other things which may help suggestions is that fish/sea food isn't her thing, although I am a dustbin and will put almost anything away....

Any recommendations are greatly received, they can be anywhere but ideally close to/a tube away from The Ice Bar/station, We will be coming in from SE London so if its near to Charring X, Victoria, Cannon St, Lon bridge or Waterloo it will help

[Mobile Chicane]

Your problem is... Mayfair. Not cheap.

However you could do a lot worse than The Guinea, if you don't mind somewhere that's a bit old-fashioned. The staff are a hoot.

Try the famous pies.

[kiethton]

That does look like good food......Just from thinking in traditional PH fashion whats the OXO tower brasserie like, could get a cab over?

[okgo]

I made a similar thread that was jammed with great suggestions

[kiethton]

okgo said:

I made a similar thread that was jammed with great suggestions

Brilliant, thanks for that - off to search through your history

ETA. - Based on reading through your thread I've booked a table at Clos Maggiore, fingers crossed it works out well

Edited by kiethton on Sunday 25th September 21:12

[Matt80M]

kiethton said:

Brilliant, thanks for that - off to search through your history

ETA. - Based on reading through your thread I've booked a table at Clos Maggiore, fingers crossed it works out well

Edited by kiethton on Sunday 25th September 21:12

Went there a few months ago.

The food in there will make your bks tingle.
/layercake mode

Enjoy.

[okgo]

That's where I'm going too you copy cat

[Wadeski]

Call me a snob, but i would avoid the Ice Bar as well. Sorry. You are in and out in about 30 mins, the drinks arent very good, and its expensive.

Some suggestions for food & drinks:

- Hawksmoor, Covent Garden & City: best steaks in London and some of the best cocktails, too
- Lost Society, Clapham: really relaxed and fun, good food, nice cocktails, perfect for a birthday party
- Bentleys Oyster Bar an Grill: Fun place, few guiness and some oysters start the evening off well! - edit, just saw the fish thing! d'oh!

Bars:

- Kanaloa, City: Its a tiki bar, so a big party. A *slightly* less wky version of Mahiki, but fun with a big group. Open late.
- Nightjar, Old St: Very cool bar, exceptional drinks.

Edited by Wadeski on Monday 26th September 16:56

[5potTurbo]

Mobile Chicane said:

Your problem is... Mayfair. Not cheap.

However you could do a lot worse than The Guinea, if you don't mind somewhere that's a bit old-fashioned. The staff are a hoot.

Try the famous pies.

The Guinea, whilst good, do take the piss with service charges and cover charges on their bills. The Sommelier's a laugh though, Lebanese - and not that knowledgeable about wine - so I wind him up about that!

Be careful not to order the expensive Port after dinner. That makes a bill smart a bit.

[kiethton]

Wadeski said:

Call me a snob, but i would avoid the Ice Bar as well. Sorry. You are in and out in about 30 mins, the drinks arent very good, and its expensive.

Some suggestions for food & drinks:

- Hawksmoor, Covent Garden & City: best steaks in London and some of the best cocktails, too
- Lost Society, Clapham: really relaxed and fun, good food, nice cocktails, perfect for a birthday party
- Bentleys Oyster Bar an Grill: Fun place, few guiness and some oysters start the evening off well! - edit, just saw the fish thing! d'oh!

Bars:

- Kanaloa, City: Its a tiki bar, so a big party. A *slightly* less wky version of Mahiki, but fun with a big group. Open late.
- Nightjar, Old St: Very cool bar, exceptional drinks.

Edited by Wadeski on Monday 26th September 16:56

Thanks, I did look at ICE but their fully booked, some of those suggestions look great...must have read my mind as I was about to start looking up bars

[M12Noblebeast]

if your thinking indian you gotta try the veersawmy definitely

Edited by slinky on Tuesday 27th September 06:43

[dazco]

Wherever you choose, sign up to toptable and see if they offer discount or a deal.

[Ed5995]

Arbutus, Frith Street, Soho? http://www.arbutusrestaurant.co.uk/

[kiethton]

Just to give people an update:

We went to Clos Maggiore in covent garden last night. The food and service was amazing. The only piece of advise i would give is book well in advance, i booked a week ago and they only had a 5pm or 10pm slot, all others were taken.

Going on from there, we went to the sky bar in the Millbank tower, however it was closed, so just had a stroll down the river to the south bank.

thanks for all the advice on here, much appreciated!