Favorite London Restaurants

The Current Favorites
I thought I would compile a list of our favorite restaurants here in London for when people as me where they should eat while visiting. Obviously we keep finding new "favorites", but this is as good of a place to start as any. So here it goes......

Dabbous
Summed Up: FANCY PANTS
The menu is a work of art and the service is perfect. You'll never get a resy, don't even try......I got REALLY lucky on a Wednesday night and got in. Do not despair though, they have a basement bar where you can try an imaginative cocktail and a few of the menu items - without a reservation.


Da Polpo
Summed Up: AFFORDABLE
This is our no-reservations standby restaurant. Everything is good and the food is served on small plates so you can try lots of dishes. Plus it is inexpensive. Have one of their awesome Negronis while you are waiting for a table, because you will likely have to wait a while.

The 10 Cases
Summed Up: TINY AMAZING MENU
A friend introduced us to The 10 Cases a few months ago. They have a menu on the wall of just a few items, all creative and tasty. I went there recently and had a pig cheek salad, which was outstanding. The have an affordable wine list that focusus on wines from smaller vineyards.

River Cafe
Summed Up: GORGEOUS ENVIRONMENT
We have only eaten here once because: a) it is pricey, and b) it is out in Hammersmith. However, the architecture, setting along the Thames, and heavenly Italian-esque food make the River Cafe a perfect lingering-lunch location.

Shoreditch Street Food
Summed Up: WORLD FEAST, VEG HEAVY
I love going to Shoreditch for a delish street food lunch on a sunny day, so does the rest of London. It gets really crowded over there, but you cannot beat the variety of foods on offer (Moroccan, Caribbean, Cuban, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Irish, you name it). 


Borough Market
Summed Up: FARMERS MARKET DELUXE
Get your groceries for the week and have lunch while you are at it. This is the best farmers market (hands-down) that I have been to in London. After shopping I'll grab a Brindisa chorizo sandwich with arugula and roasted red peppers, washed down with a glass of Prosecco, then maybe a flat white from Monmouth Coffee.Yum.

Sartori
Summed Up: NEAPOLITAN PIZZA
Wood fired, thin crust pizza - enough said. It is superb, and easily the best I've had in London so far.

40 Maltby
Summed UP: LOCALVORES ONLY
This tiny restaurant is located under a railway arch, I am serious. The kitchen is about the size of my bathroom (miniscule), but the cooks do magical things in there. The wine and food menus require an adventurous appetite - get ready for entrails - but so good. No reservations of course.

Hawksmoor Guldhall
One Word: MEAT.
And I don't even really like meat, but the perfectly cooked steaks here are amazing. The service is hit or miss, but the food makes up for it. If you are on a diet, don't go here.

Pimlico Fresh
Summed Up: POST-PARTYING BREAKFAST
This place is right by our house. They have a super-friendly staff serving divine breakfasts and lunches. I am not sure what they put in their scrambled eggs (probably heavy cream) but man are they good. No wifi, so sit your ass down and enjoy your food, no work allowed.


Soif
Summed Up: MODERN FRENCH-ISH
When you order a wine and it is sold out but then the French-speaking staff recommends a cheaper, better wine - you know you are in a good place. While a bit far from a tube stop for me, the French/Mediterranean food is well worth the trip on my bike. Now if it would just stop raining here for that bike ride.

More Work to Do
Here is where we want to go. Please suggest other restaurants, I love a good recommendation.

• Barrafina
• Petersham
• Fox and Anchor
• Texture
• Terroirs Restaurant and wine bar
• St. Johns
• Pit Cue Co
• Brawn
• Roti Chai
• The Corner Room
• Trangallan
• Cotidie
• Dukes Brew and Que
• High Life
• Les Deux Salons
• Mishkins
• Salt Yard
• Opera Tavern
• Bread Street
• Ducksoup