London Recos

Sarah_Kirschbaum · October 1, 2019, 5:20pm

Sorry Trishna didn’t do it for you. I’ve always had very good meals there. Since Gymkhana is still closed, we’ll be going to Trishna again later this month and I will see if maybe it’s gone downhill.

John_Davis · October 1, 2019, 7:44pm

We really enjoyed the Taj St. James’ for a hotel. Great location, great staff.

JD

Greg_Pierce · December 17, 2019, 10:46pm

Bumping this to see if there are any additional thoughts/comments as we are leaving on Saturday.

Thanks to all who have weighed in so far.

Brad_England · December 18, 2019, 4:43pm

Where did you decide to stay? Have fun!

Sarah_Kirschbaum · December 18, 2019, 7:31pm

We went to Brat for the first time when we were in London in October, and liked it so much we went back again a few days later. The food is excellent, the wine list is quite good, and they are BYO friendly if you prefer. Staff is warm and friendly and competent. The whole turbot competes for best I’ve ever had. I highly recommend it for a casual and highly enjoyable lunch. I’m sure dinner is great, too, but I have only been for lunch. They take walk-ins at the counter as well as reservations.

Dan_Hammer · December 18, 2019, 9:26pm

Just got back (on Saturday) from a 10 day stay in London. Here’s a brief review of what we liked and disliked about where we stayed, restaurants, etc.

We stayed at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in Kings Cross/St. Pancras. An historic hotel originally opened in 1873, closed in 1935 and reopened (with major modernization) in 2011. A very comfortable stay. And if you’re there on the weekend, a very worthwhile 1 to 1 1/2 hour tour of the hotel is recommended.

Also at the hotel is a Marcus Wareing restaurant, the Gilbert Scott. Not wanting to venture far from the hotel the first night, we had dinner there that night and it was delightful. Beautiful room, impeccable service, delicious food and a fine wine list with lots of affordable choices.

We went to see “SIX:The Musical” on Sunday so we booked another Wareing restaurant before the show, Tredwells. Another top notch choice. Casual setting in Covent Garden, excellent food, service and affordable wine list. Oh, BTW, great show, and it’s coming to the states.

Of course we did some of the standard tourist stops (but not that many as we’ve been to London several times in the past). Actually, we enjoyed using our oyster cards to travel on many buses through neighborhoods we’ve not typically been to.

Back to the restaurants. We were not as enthused as other board members with Tryshna. My wife found the waiter to have an attitude, I was too busy having a great discussion with the somm. The food was just OK and we made a point to order a variety of typical regional Indian fare.

La Trompette, however, put us back on track. We were there years ago, loved it, and we were just as pleased with this visit. Service was a tad off (they may have been pressured by how busy they were) but the food and wine made up for it. Great meal.

We also did a few local restaurants, one Italian storefront that was good for what we were looking, the Fellow, a gastropub and Camino, a “Spanish” chain (this one a couple of blocks from the hotel. Tasty fare.

The last night was a splurge. Zafferano, an Italian restaurant in Belgravia. Service was excellent as expected, as was the food. The Somm, it turned out, was a dick. I discussed three possible wine choices with him so he would have a good idea as to what I wanted. In fact, I really didn’t need him make my choice but I appreciated his input. MISTAKE. He made an alternative recommendation (based on my idea?) and I accepted it. Instead of one of three wines that “said” Italy, he brought a wine from Bolgheri (yeah, it’s from Italy) but it was Italy in name only. More like a Coombsville cabernet. In retrospect, I think he was just pushing that wine, not servicing me, the customer. And when I left, I let him know of my disappointment.

Overall, a good trip. More pluses than minuses.

This will help with our return trip in the spring. Thanks.

Adam_Frisch · December 19, 2019, 5:18am

Used to live there for a decade. Things change fast, but a couple of unmissables:

RESTAURANTS
St Johns - the OG nose-to-tail restaurant run by Fergus.
Wolseley - just world class brunch luxury or afternoon tea
Ronnie Scott’s - if you like jazz
French House - great little pub in Soho where a lot of writers and poets go, only serve half-pints as it’s their tradition.
Bar Italia - the original Italian coffee place in Soho - an institution and the best place to people watch.
J. Sheekey - luxury fish restaurant in Covent Garden. Great food, been there for ages.
The Ivy - classic London luxury fine dining.
Rules - Oldest restaurant/steakhouse in town. Absolute luxury classic.
River Cafe - Google it, amazing stuff.
Tayyabs - I think the best Indian in London. And that’s up against some pretty stiff competition. In historic Whitechapel.

HOTELS
I like to stay at one of the Firmdale hotels:
Charlotte Street Hotel
Covent Garden Hotel
Ham Yard Hotel

They’re all excellent.

If I’m paying myself, I love to stay at Hazlitt’s. I love those quirky little 1700’s chambers and creaky stairs and it still feels luxury. But they don’t have a restaurant there and only an honor bar, so you can’t really get meals sent up. But since it’s right in Soho, you’re so close to other stuff anyway. Lovely little hotel.

Jeff_Twersky · December 19, 2019, 3:38pm

We just got back from a few days in Lindon. Our meal at Kutir was excellent.

Dave_McCloskey · December 26, 2019, 4:44pm

I lived in Essex Court, which is a stones throw from the Stafford Hotel. I agree with your assessment. I was just there back in March. Love that place.

Andre_M · January 12, 2020, 1:22am

Any recommendation for wine stores that have good price and selection for champagne and red burg? Thank you.

jprusack · January 25, 2020, 3:51pm

berry bros? wouldnt say good prices but good selection.

noble rot is a must for dinner and wine in lambs conduit…surprised it hasnt been mentioned.

lastly, the bloomsbury hotel is our regular hotel for central london. great location, very comfortable place to stay and not too terribly priced.

John_W_Osgood · January 31, 2020, 11:14pm

Just returned from a few nights in London.

Noble Rot was a nice meal, enjoyed the atmosphere and wine selections.

Bright was delicious! Wine list leans natural.

Barrafina was as good as always with a nice Spanish wine selection BTG.

M.Kaplan · February 4, 2020, 3:26pm

Barrafina is great. The Soho branch is down the street from our London hotel and I eat there at least once a visit.

Good News: Gymkhana is reopening on Feb 18.

Jay_Miller · February 4, 2020, 6:01pm

Great news, thanks for the update!

davidkong · February 12, 2020, 6:01pm

I need to go to Soif, they had Miroirs on their list as of Dec 19, wonder if it’s still there

todd_waldmann · February 16, 2020, 10:19pm

We are seeing Hamilton in the West End next month. I’m looking for restaurant suggestions. We’ll be with our two teenagers, who are moderately adventurous.