The last time I updated this page was way back in April 2012 – feels like a lifetime ago. The London restaurant scene continues to undergo rapid transformation, sadly some of my favourite haunts have left the game, but the good news is that lots of interesting new players have come into the picture.
This year, I decided to streamline into a list – less words, easier to scan, easier to update – and hopefully this will help you find your next meal. It is by no means definitive, just a list of places that I love. I’ve also included the few places which I was fortunate enough to visit on my travels.
(You can sort the list by clicking on the headings.)
It’s been 7 years now since I started this blog, thank you for joining me along the way and I hope you continue eating fabulous things.
Restaurant
£pp
Cuisine
Location
Public Transport
Latest Blogpost
Last visit (IG)
No. of visits
Notes
Spuntino
20 - 30
American
London, UK
Piccadilly Circus
2011
2015-03
10
Still my favourite Russell Norman haunt. Less busy these days, making it a great place to relax for long afternoon snacks.
The Lockhart
30 - 50
American South
London, UK
Marble Arch
2014-10
2015-05
4
Unassuming but really serious cooking, like this short ribs dish. Mind-blowing. Brad is really talented chef.
Bob Bob Ricard
40 - 70
Anglo-Russian
London, UK
Piccadilly Circus
2012-07
2014
5
Crazy fun and more importantly incredible wines, vodka and bubbles at decent prices.
Quality Chop House
30 - 50
British
London, UK
Farringdon
2015-07
2015-07
1
St John Group
30 - 60
British
London, UK
Farringdon , Liverpool Street
2010
2014
10
Its the quintessential classic. If you've never, you should.
The Fat Duck
255++
British Modern
Bray, UK
-
2010-04
2010
1
Can't believe it was 5 years ago. It was £150 then, now its... gasp. They re-opened this year after long refurb, now with floating pillows. I need to go back..
The Square
60 - 130
French
London, UK
Bond Street
2014-03
2014
3
Phil Howard, nuff said.
Shake Shack
10
Burgers
London, UK
Covent Garden
-
2015
10+
McDonalds 2.0
Bleecker St.
10
Burgers
London, UK
Liverpool Street
-
2015-14
2
Lives up to its hype, just solid burgers.
Tommi's Burger Joint
10 - 15
Burgers
London, UK
Baker Street
2012-10
2014-12
10
The steak burger with béarnaise. Quality.
A.Wong
30 - 75
Chinese
London, UK
Victoria
2014-02
2015-06
5
My favourite Chinese restaurant in London, both for dinner and dim sum.
The duck egg buns are peerless (in London).
I also love his beef hofun - with scratch of lemon zest, genius.
Andrew continues to innovate with his recipes. He loves visiting restaurants too, so feel free to sit at bar and chat with him. Always something different here.
Glorious BBQ King
03 - 10
Chinese
The Venetian,Macao
-
-
2014
2
Best chicken rice Ive ever had - like polished porcelain... meat has layers!
Ming Court
60 - 100
Chinese
Mongkok, Hong Kong
-
2014
2014-10
1
Because Charsiu.
Yu Ding Xiang
30 - 40
Chinese
Taipei, Taiwan
-
-
2015-09
1
The Best Peking Duck I've ever had.
Prufrock
03 - 05
Coffee
London, UK
Holborn
2011
2013
10+
Favourite cafe in London
Vintage Salt
20 - 30
Fish & Chips
London, UK
Islington
-
2015-07
3
Favourite fish and chips in London.
The Fish Shed
15
Fish & Chips
Topsham, UK
-
2012-04
-
1
Medlar
40 - 70
French
London, UK
Bus 328 to Worlds End
2015
2015-07
15-20
My favourite restaurant in London. Pics dishes through the years (1, 2, 3, 4)
Marcus
60 - 150
French
London, UK
Knightsbridge
2014-04
2015-02 (AB,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
4
IMHO the best 2 stars in London. The 3rd star must be soon. Always perfection. I still revere Marcus Wareing after all these years. Don't miss the egg tart. It really still the best in the world.
Koffmans
60 - 80
French
London, UK
Hyde Park Corner
-
2014
5
La Tante Claire reborn. The perennial classic. Every meal has been about Trotters and Pistachio Souffle, with that amazing mash, in that order.
Antidote
25 - 50
French, Wine Bar
London, UK
Oxford Circus
2014-04
2015-08
5
Change of chefs in 2015, but still bloody great. Scallops, Fish, Suckling Pork Belly. I prefer this to Hedone, so...
Roti Chai
20 - 40
Indian
London, UK
Bond Street
2012-04
2014
5
Roscioli
25 - 40
Italian
Rome, Italy
-
-
2014-01
1
The best carbonara. In the world. Likely.
They also sell the carbonara home kit. We tried it - look here. Its amazing. The Conero Guanciale.
L'Archangelo
30 - 50
Italian
Rome, Italy
-
-
2014-01
1
The best amatriciana I've ever had.
Pizzarium
05 - 10
Italian
Rome, Italy
-
-
2014-01
3
Honestly my favourite pizza place ever. They do hundreds (or thousands?) of toppings every year. It's crazy good. Took a box on the plane with me.
If pizzas were like a box of chocolates.
Trattoria Meloncello
15 - 30
Italian
Bologna, Italy
-
-
2013-07
1
Indebted to Helen for this rec. Mythic tagliatelle al ragù, and a beautiful restaurant run by two sisters.
Sushi Tetsu
40 - 100
Japanese
London, UK
Farringdon
-
2012-06
2
Like those Ginza legends, a pain to book, but absolutely fantastic sushi.
Atari-ya Swiss Cottage
30 - 50
Japanese
London, UK
Swiss Cottage
2010-06
2015-03
20-30
Long-time Japanese importer with numerous locations. Swiss Cottage branch is my favourite izakaya-style in London. Just easy and good value. Great for midweek tuna-fix like this
Shoryu
10 - 20
Japanese
London, UK
Oxford Circus
2013-02
2015
10 - 20
All about the non-ramen dishes.. The wagyu skewers, the genki don, superb prawn tempura and frozen kirin.
Engawa
40 - 100
Japanese
London, UK
Oxford Circus
2015-06
2015
2
Best during lunch, especially the wagyu katsu.
Sushi Saito
150 - 300
Japanese
Tokyo, Japan
-
2012-09
2012
1
Best sushi I've ever had.
Kyubei
35 - 120
Japanese
Tokyo, Japan
-
-
2015
3
At today's exchanger rate, you can get 10 pieces for £35 as lunch. It may have lost its reputation to the younger guys, but it's still an institution and offers ridiculous value, and the skills are still there. Custard tamago and dancing shrimp and those unagi/anago.
Sabi Omakase
110 - 220
Japanese
Stavanger, Norway
-
2015-10
2015
1
Norwegian Crab, Langoustines, Scallops, Salmon, Mountain trout + careful sushi ageing techniques + crazy good wine.
Jingogae
20 - 40
Korean
London, UK
Motspur Park
-
2015-07
3
After moving to South Wimbledon, this is my favourite of the many Korean restaurants in New Malden.
They specialise in Kalbi Tang (spare rib soup). Also their Bossam is pretty spectacular.
Smack Lobster
10 - 20
Lobsters
London, UK
Piccadilly Circus
-
2015
10+
£12 lobsters. £10 if you take-out. Come on.
Portland
40 - 75
British Modern
London, UK
Oxford Circus
2015-03
2015-08
3
Fantastic reserve wine list at great prices. Will is doing great things for to change the way we buy quality wine in restaurants.
Of course, the food is proper too. Merlin is a chef to follow.
The Manor
50 - 75
British Modern
London, UK
Clapham Common
2014-12
2014-12
1
Best meal in 2014.
Lyle's
40 -70
British Modern
London, UK
Liverpool Street
2014-10
2015-03
2
Bonhams Restaurant
50 - 80
British Modern
London, UK
Bond Street
2015-10
2015-10
1
Best meal in 2015 so far. I'm itching to go back.
The Clove Club
50 - 100
British Modern
London, UK
Old Street
2013-07
2013
1
Young Turks. Love them to bits. Those buttermilk chicken nuggets. Don't miss.
Dabbous
60 - 80
British Modern
London, UK
Goodge Street
2012
2012-02
2
It's on this list purely because I had 2 great meals, and then it became impossible to book (more accurately, they allowed crazy advanced bookings). I think its easier to get into now, so I'll be back soon...
Tango bar & kitchen
50 -75
Norwegian
Stavanger, Norway
-
-
2013. (1, 2, 3 , 4
1
Basically this is one the best restaurants in Norway. The chef, Tony Martin is extremely talented lad and has dubbed his restaurant's style 'rough fine dining'.
If you end up in the south of Norway, make this your number 1 priority.
Smokehouse
30 - 50
Pub & BBQ
London, UK
Highbury & Islington, Gunnesbury
2013-10
2015-08
5
Favourite sunday (pork) roast.
The Hind's Head
50-75
Pub & Restaurant
Bray, UK
-
2010-05
2010
1
Always thought of this as the precursor to Dinner. In many ways, Hinds Head may just be better than either Dinner or Fat Duck. Easier to get into and much cheaper, but food is just as brilliant.
The Sportsman
50 - 80
Pub & Restaurant
Whitstable, UK
-
2011-10
2011
1
As time goes by, I increasing think this is the best example of a British restaurant. I'm due a return...
House of Curry
02 - 04
Roti Prata
Brunei
-
-
2015-02
3
Forget Roti King. This is the BEST roti I've ever had in my life. It's seriously that good. Those condiments.
Worth a flight to Brunei just to eat this.
Rex and Mariano
30 - 40
Seafood bar
London, UK
Leicester Square
-
2015-04
5
Those red prawns...
Pizarro
30 - 60
Spanish
London, UK
London Bridge
2012-10
2014-10
5
Lurra
45 - 60
Spanish Grill
London, UK
Marble Arch
2015-10
2015
1
Cambio de Tercio
60 - 100
Spanish Modern
London, UK
Gloucester Road
2011
2014-06
20-30
Favourite Spanish in London. Been coming here for 12 years, never disappoints.
Copita
30 - 40
Spanish Tapas
London, UK
Oxford Circus
2011
2014-06
5
Ember Yard
35 - 50
Spanish Tapas
London, UK
Oxford Circus
2014-03
2014
1
Had to put a Ben Tish restaurant on this list. All of the Yards (and Tavern) are brilliant. Can't go wrong.
Goodman & Beast
50 - 100
Steakhouse
London, UK
Oxford Circus , Canary Wharf, Bank
2011
2015-04
20-30
Favourite steakhouse in London.
But you must also try their Norwegian king crab at Beast. Yes I know, very expensive, but it is worth it.
Peter Luger
60 - 80
Steakhouse
New York, USA
-
-
2013
1
The original. Legit.
Flat Iron Steak
10 - 25
Steakhouse
London, UK
Oxford Circus
-
2015
6
Not just serving flatirons anymore. A raft of great cuts and breeds. Incredible value for money. The burger with Béarnaise , The irish beef belly steak for £15.
Shi Yang
25 - 40
Taiwanese
Taipei, Taiwan
-
2012-01
2012
1
Perched on the side of a mountain. Unforgettable, spirit-nourishing stuff.
Bao Soho
20 - 30
Taiwanese Street food
London, UK
Leicester Square
2015
2015-06
2
Social Wine & Tapas
30 - 50
Tapas and Wine
London, UK
Bond Street
2015-06
2015
3
I do like Berners Tavern too, but I think my favourite Jason Atherton has to be this one. Food is glorious, scallops and those toasties.
Yashin
30 - 100
Japanese
London, UK
Gloucester Road, High Street Kensington
2010
2015-06
6-10
I prefer Ocean House to the original. More cooked dishes, plus they've got a good chef who does the hot food there.
Interesting things such as this Ishiyaki Sukiyaki.
The Yashin 8 still hits the spot.