Page 2 • London Restaurant Recommendations • Non-Gaming • Food • Eurogamer.net

deem 14 Aug 2008 12:33:55 31,667 posts
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Hawksmoor is the best place in London for steak.

The_Foo_Fighter 14 Aug 2008 12:36:12 724 posts
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I'm trying to remember the name of a vegetarian restaurant - might be near Bank, near Gordon's... supposed to be very nice but can't think of the name! Any help?

Deleted user 14 August 2008 12:50:12

if you like pie then one of the two Canteen's

1Dgaf 14 Aug 2008 12:55:02 5,211 posts
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Vrisaki in Bounds Green. Excellent mezze meals.

Crystal's Kebab House in Holloway. Good food, good value. No pretension. Listed on the BBC's hitchhiker pages as one of the world's best kebabs.

Shinji 14 Aug 2008 14:37:54 5,902 posts
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1Dgaf wrote:
Vrisaki in Bounds Green. Excellent mezze meals..

There's a point, Noura on Lower Regent Street is awesome if you like middle eastern / Lebanese food. Great food and service, and not too pricey. I'd avoided it for years since I assumed that the location meant it was a tourist trap, but it's actually genuinely excellent.

jonsaan 12 Sep 2008 11:09:49 27,052 posts
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Going here tonight. I hope it's tasty!

Deleted user 12 September 2008 11:22:50

Apparently Wagamama's is the highest rated restaurant in London. So there you go.

Deleted user 12 September 2008 11:23:15

jonsaan wrote:

Going here tonight. I hope it's tasty!

If by tasty you mean cripplingly expensive, yep.

gang_of_bitches 12 Sep 2008 11:31:20 5,707 posts
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MrED209 wrote:
Apparently Wagamama's is the highest rated restaurant in London. So there you go.

Its shit. People tell me it was great back in the day, but based on a couple of recent visits I have no idea how it ended up being rated so highly, even if you do take price into account.

Goban 12 Sep 2008 11:32:17 10,121 posts
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MrED209 wrote:
Apparently Wagamama's is the highest rated restaurant in London. So there you go.

Shows you how poor most peoples food tastes are.

Deleted user 12 September 2008 11:33:54

I like Wagamama's thanks very much. And I have great taste. It's like a sort of noodley McDonalds but not quite so bad for you. I have no illusions about their authenticity, really.

I don't think you can put Waga's and an extremely expensive Gordon Ramsay 'dining experience' in the same boat, really, and I wasn't trying to either.

Load_2.0 12 Sep 2008 11:34:03 33,582 posts
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I have never understood why Wagamama's scores so highly. It's pretty good food reasonably priced. I class it as a takeaway though, rather than a restaraunt.

GingerMagician 12 Sep 2008 11:35:00 3,011 posts
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MrED209 wrote:
Apparently Wagamama's is the highest rated restaurant in London. So there you go.

Wagamama has gone down the pan in recent years imo.

Give me Busaba Eathai over WM all day long - ironic given it's an Alan Yau chain and that he originally devised and owned Wagamama.

Goban 12 Sep 2008 11:36:18 10,121 posts
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MrED209 wrote:
I like Wagamama's thanks very much. And I have great taste. It's like a sort of noodley McDonalds but not quite so bad for you. I have no illusions about their authenticity, really.

I don't think you can put Waga's and an extremely expensive Gordon Ramsay 'dining experience' in the same boat, really, and I wasn't trying to either.

I think it's ok, just not something to get excited about.

jonsaan 12 Sep 2008 11:37:31 27,052 posts
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MrED209 wrote:

jonsaan wrote:

Going here tonight. I hope it's tasty!
If by tasty you mean cripplingly expensive, yep.

The menu doesn't look too outrageous?

Deleted user 12 September 2008 11:37:39

Well we're all agreed then.

jonsaan 12 Sep 2008 11:37:50 27,052 posts
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I prefer Miso to Wagamama.

Deleted user 12 September 2008 11:37:59

jonsaan wrote:

MrED209 wrote:

jonsaan wrote:

Going here tonight. I hope it's tasty!
If by tasty you mean cripplingly expensive, yep.

The menu doesn't look too outrageous?

Actually you're right, it doesn't.

That chef's a nice guy, too.

GingerMagician 12 Sep 2008 11:41:21 3,011 posts
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MrED209 wrote:
That chef's a nice guy, too.

I'd be shocked if he's even stepped inside the place, let alone cooked there.

gang_of_bitches 12 Sep 2008 11:49:25 5,707 posts
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MrED209 wrote:
I like Wagamama's thanks very much. And I have great taste. It's like a sort of noodley McDonalds but not quite so bad for you. I have no illusions about their authenticity, really.

I don't think you can put Waga's and an extremely expensive Gordon Ramsay 'dining experience' in the same boat, really, and I wasn't trying to either.

I was being a bit harsh maybe when I said it was shit, I'm just shocked it got that award, there are loads of better restaurants at all price points in London.

Deleted user 12 September 2008 11:49:25

GingerMagician wrote:

MrED209 wrote:
That chef's a nice guy, too.
I'd be shocked if he's even stepped inside the place, let alone cooked there.

Huh?

I'm not talking about Ramsay, I'm talking about this guy. And yes, he cooks there.

GingerMagician 12 Sep 2008 11:59:09 3,011 posts
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MrED209 wrote:

GingerMagician wrote:

MrED209 wrote:
That chef's a nice guy, too.
I'd be shocked if he's even stepped inside the place, let alone cooked there.

Huh?

I'm not talking about Ramsay, I'm talking about this guy. And yes, he cooks there.

Fair enough - thought you were talking about Big Sweary.

GrandTheftApu 12 Sep 2008 14:36:35 6,117 posts
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ToonMonkey wrote:
Kansas Fried Chicken on Tooting Broadway is a culinary masterclass.

Pah! Morley's is far superior.

johnlenham 18 May 2009 13:19:28 4,000 posts
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Give this abit of a bump but its my Birthday on June 3rd and my Mrs suggested going out for a meal now last time we went to Crazy Bear (someone suggested it on here actually)

now anyone have anything new to recommend? looked at gaucho, Fire and Stone, Cocoon, on called Harlem etc etc

Big meat fan so leaing towards gaucho but that burger thread with the Kobe beef sounded lush if there anywhere like that?

Whatever, anything but Indian food really.

IJ 18 May 2009 22:35:19 1,028 posts
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My London Restaurant Review:

1) Hawksmoor - Steak place in the city mentioned above. Fantastic steak, laid back setting (but not romantic) and very *city boy* is it even open at the weekend? I'd vote more a place with friends...

2) OXO Tower (top restaurant, not the brasserie) - Gets lots of negative reviews as being overpriced (and it is very expensive) but I had a very good meal with my girlfriend here, fantastic views, fantastic service, amazing wine list. Food isn't quite good enough for the price but as an experience it's worth it.

3) Gaucho Grill - Must have been to one of these at least 6 or 7 times in the last 18 months. Good, dependable steak in a funky setting. Good with mates/parents/girlfriend. Go to the Tower Bridge one and request a table next to the window on the 2nd floor for a great view and a great steak. Go for the argy wine as well, tends to be cheaper and is generally very good. Also a fillet here is a must as a rump is too tough and the other cuts aren't really that much more tasty than the fillet.

4) Maze Grill - Another top steak place, again a little more casual and business-styled than perhaps Gaucho. Only been here once but had the wagyu steak (�110!) and it was out of this world...wouldn't pay that much out of my own pocket but it was a new steak experience!!

5) Maze - Modern 'grazing' experience. Had the tasting menu �75 and it was just superb. This is one of my favourite london restaurants and definately one for a special night/anniversary type evening with the girlfriend. The beatroot and goats cheese is one of my favourite ever dishes, simple yet perfect.

6) Boxwood - One of the Ramsey empire, dependable but a bit boring and generic. Better places to go for your money.

7) Gordan Ramsey (Royal Hospital Road) - It has 3 stars for a reason, a small, perfectly decorated restaurant. The food, the service, the extras...just out of this world. An entire step above the other restaurants in London. This is THE best restaurant in central London and is still the best meal I have ever had.

8) Tom Aikens - I think this might have shut now actually. But it was a 2* restaurant...I went with two other foody people and we all were very disappointed. Unique food but at the expensive of...well...taste. One to avoid, especially considering the price.

9) The IVY - Say what you want but this is a fantastic place. The food is a little hit and miss (never bad) but have the roast chicken with fois gras (share between 2) and you'll have had the best roast chicken you've ever had. Sounds plain and normal but thats the whole point of the ivy! Dependable, traditional food cooked to a very high standard. The restaurant itself is lovely, understated and very classic. Every table is good. Celeb-spotting is all part of the fun. A fav for a reason!

10) Le Gavroche - Maybe it was because i went to royal hospital road before this but i was disappointed. You expect a �50 starter to be something unique, out of this world amazing. Instead the food was just 'very good' traditional food. There is nothing wrong with this place, old-school and excellent for it. But the price is just obscene considering the quality and style of food can be found at other (admittedly top) restaurants but for 40% less. One for the show offs.

11) Corrigans - A new restaurant in Mayfair. Very good unfussy food with very strong flavours. Wasn't quite to my taste but if you like your food natural and straight its a good option.

12) Scotts - THE best fish restaurant in London. Nothing else to say other than its very difficult to get a table.

13) Roka - Very good sushi restaurant. Less expensive and slightly lower key than Zuma. Eat in the bar downstairs for a very funky evening.

14) Zuma - Great fun to look at the old business men with their escorts. Excessively expensive but the food is very good (black cod is fantastic) and it's one of those things you have to do once.

Got a bit carried away there. Anyway, thats my experience of top london restaurants over the last two years, so hopefully you'll find it useful.

johnlenham 18 May 2009 23:30:43 4,000 posts
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Wow thanks for that ;o

Hawksmoor is open on a sat according to the site but my birthday is on a tuesday so its abit of a non-issue anyway but being a strong hater of wine I feel they would look at me in disgust when I ask for some form or cider or god forbid a coke ;p

GingerMagician 18 May 2009 23:51:19 3,011 posts
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johnlenham wrote:
Wow thanks for that ;o

Hawksmoor is open on a sat according to the site but my birthday is on a tuesday so its abit of a non-issue anyway but being a strong hater of wine I feel they would look at me in disgust when I ask for some form or cider or god forbid a coke ;p

One of Hawksmoor's other specialities are the juleps - brilliant cocktails and really good staff making them.

When I went with the missus (on a Sat - and the atmosphere was much more chilled due to the lack of swinging-dick city types), we pitched up half an hour early and sat at the bar for a couple before dinner. Perfect way to start the evening.

In no particular order, here are a selection of other London places I'd recommend. Pretty much all of them have websites if you're interested:

Roka (best Japanese in London imo, but priciest place on this list)
Bocca Di Lupo (fantastic new Italian)
J Sheekey (trad fish place run by The Ivy people, but far better - again, pricey)
La Trompette (brilliant neighbourhood French place)
Chez Bruce (as La Trompette - & owned by the same people)
Arbutus (fantastic value rustic French in centre of town)
Fino (great, high quality tapas)
Salt Yard (as Fino, but slightly more chilled)
Quo Vadis (like The Ivy with out the rubbernecking - this is a good thing)
Magdalen (best place in London Bridge area)
Galvin (Le Bistrot version on Baker St, not the wildly expensive place at Windows)

You wouldn't got wrong with any of those imo.

deem 18 May 2009 23:58:34 31,667 posts
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johnlenham wrote:
Wow thanks for that ;o

Hawksmoor is open on a sat according to the site but my birthday is on a tuesday so its abit of a non-issue anyway but being a strong hater of wine I feel they would look at me in disgust when I ask for some form or cider or god forbid a coke ;p

Not at all, Hawksmoor is very informal and laid back - it's in Shoreditch after all. But go for a cuba libra rather than a coke.

Best steaks (all from the uk) in London imo, and the triple fried chips are awesome.

johnlenham 19 May 2009 01:06:38 4,000 posts
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One thing I neglected to mention but i assume you can get there by Tube right without to much trouble? Crazy Bear was great in that it was literally 1 min from it.

London Restaurant Recommendations • Page 2