Where to eat in London, England

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Goons with Spoons > Where to eat in London, England

TorpedoFish: Feb 19, 2006; Tingly.

Two separate requests, any suggestions welcome. This is not my first trip to London and I have no problem trekking across the city for good food, because this is the first trip where I have a reasonable amount of money to spend.

1. A good kosher restaurant. I'm assuming there's some around Golder's Green but would love any recommendations. (I'm not strictly kosher, but I try and follow certain rules, and it would be a lovely change from eating out in rural Germany.)

2. Microbrews. Preferably, a bar/pub with a wide selection of micro/craft brews and a kitchen that can serve something both tasty and meat-free. If I can't have both, I'll take a place where I can try at least a couple unconventional new beers.

# ? May 23, 2013 16:53

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# ? Apr 19, 2024 16:46

therattle: Jul 24, 2007; Soiled Meat

TorpedoFish posted:

Two separate requests, any suggestions welcome. This is not my first trip to London and I have no problem trekking across the city for good food, because this is the first trip where I have a reasonable amount of money to spend.

1. A good kosher restaurant. I'm assuming there's some around Golder's Green but would love any recommendations. (I'm not strictly kosher, but I try and follow certain rules, and it would be a lovely change from eating out in rural Germany.)

2. Microbrews. Preferably, a bar/pub with a wide selection of micro/craft brews and a kitchen that can serve something both tasty and meat-free. If I can't have both, I'll take a place where I can try at least a couple unconventional new beers.

As kosher goes, limited choices for good. Bevis Marks in the City is OK; Reuben's on Baker St has a casual upstairs and more formal downstairs. Ate upstairs recently. Tastes good but no finesse. Apparently a place called Adafina i think is opening this month. Where? Solly's in GG is good for simple grilled meat dishes I think.

# ? May 23, 2013 19:42

sweat poteto: Feb 16, 2006; Everybody's gotta learn sometime

TorpedoFish posted:

2. Microbrews. Preferably, a bar/pub with a wide selection of micro/craft brews and a kitchen that can serve something both tasty and meat-free. If I can't have both, I'll take a place where I can try at least a couple unconventional new beers.

Probably a tonne of places I don't know about but Brewdog is a good standby. They have lots of other beers in addition to their own (excellent) line up. The Camden branch is less rammed so better for food. The vege pizza option is interesting (in a good way) or there's plenty nearby eg Hache. Also Craft Beer Co in Angel has an excellent selection of beers but not sure about food (again, plenty of options nearby).

# ? May 23, 2013 23:01

Kaiho: Dec 2, 2004

Out of the craft beery places, only Cask pub and kitchen and the brewdog bars do any food aside from meat-heavy snacks that are pretty drat anti-kosher.

Fake edit: The Old Red Cow has a constantly changing menu and a half dozen good UK micros on draft, alongside continental and other stuff. Also, it's a drat cosy bar.

For craft beer elsewhere, you can't go wrong with the Craft Beer Companies (and Cask) and Euston Tap.

Kernel brewery do an open morning on Saturdays, Redchurch are open Thursday nights and Camden Town brewery Thu-Sat. Also a shameless little plug for the Cock tavern in hackney, with its attendant microbrewery, Howling Hops, on site. No food aside from pork pies though, but worth a visit.

Kaiho fucked around with this message at 23:24 on May 23, 2013

# ? May 23, 2013 23:20

The_Doctor: Mar 29, 2007; "The entire history of this incarnation is one of temporal orbits, retcons, paradoxes, parallel time lines, reiterations, and divergences. How anyone can make head or tail of all this chaos, I don't know."

Does the Meantime brewery still have that place in Greenwich?

# ? May 24, 2013 00:28

Kaiho: Dec 2, 2004

Yes (The Old Brewery) but I find it overpriced and the beer not that great.

# ? May 24, 2013 09:48

Loving Africa Chaps: Dec 3, 2007; We had not left it yet, but when I would wake in the night, I would lie, listening, homesick for it already.

Shameless plug but my brothers pub near old street, the three crowns, does quite a few draft beers plus lots of different bottles. Great food too but not kosher and not much for veggies.

In crouch end the kings head has a big selection of beers but craft brew pubs aren't really a big thing in England as a whole really.

# ? May 24, 2013 10:14

Steakandchips: Apr 30, 2009

Going to Goodman at the he wharf today. Never been. Hear the burg is legendary.

# ? May 24, 2013 14:09

therattle: Jul 24, 2007; Soiled Meat

Steakandchips posted:

Going to Goodman at the he wharf today. Never been. Hear the burg is legendary.

"The burg"? Are you too lazy to type an extra two letters? :viggo:

# ? May 24, 2013 19:05

Steakandchips: Apr 30, 2009

therattle posted:

"The burg"? Are you too lazy to type an extra two letters?

I cut it short as I was typing one handed; your mom wasn't appreciating the absence of a second fist.

# ? May 25, 2013 14:24

Muga: May 7, 2004; Exercising My Demons

A couple of SW reviews...
Lamberts in Balham last night turned out well. Decent prices �6-9 starters, �15-19 mains) and some good choice. Pigeon Wellington was tasty with decent pastry although the concept doesn't really work since a pigeon breast is too small to hold that sort of shape! Chocolate fondant was very good but the accompanying stout ice cream was very average and lacking the flavour I expected.

Took a walk to Brixton today and having never eaten in the market I think I lucked out. Queues at Franco Manca and Honest Burgers led us to take a seat at The Joint.
WOW. They only offer pulled pork or slow cooked chicken, both in a bun or wrap, and about 5 sides. But that's fine because it was the best pulled pork I've ever had. And the buns are vanilla and olive infused brioche made on site. It was fantastic! And it's bring your own. I highly recommend checking it out.

Edit. This thread needs more photos. Tell me you don't want to try this!:

Muga fucked around with this message at 19:27 on May 25, 2013

# ? May 25, 2013 19:19

TorpedoFish: Feb 19, 2006; Tingly.

Loving Africa Chaps posted:

Shameless plug but my brothers pub near old street, the three crowns, does quite a few draft beers plus lots of different bottles. Great food too but not kosher and not much for veggies.

In crouch end the kings head has a big selection of beers but craft brew pubs aren't really a big thing in England as a whole really.

Yeah, I know the whole craft brewing thing is still pretty much an American thing, but the same as kosher food - I figure there's a better chance of finding something interesting in London than in rural Germany (where they take their beer goddamn seriously, but are completely uninterested in anything new, beer-wise.)

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll see what I can check out when I get there.

# ? May 25, 2013 21:50

NLJP: Aug 26, 2004

TorpedoFish posted:

Yeah, I know the whole craft brewing thing is still pretty much an American thing

There's a massive amount of craft brew in the UK and has been for a long time. Also, as an aside, it's spreading out over Europe now. Lots of decent craft beer in Italy and Scandinavia especially these days. Germany seems conspicuously absent but they seem very tied to their styles, not that there's anything wrong with that. It's funny to see how english styles get interpreted abroad too, been fun to see it evolve.

The Harp near Trafalgar Square is, imo, the best pub in central but often crowded (try upstairs, I often get space there), there's the Euston Tap and Cider Tap just outside Euston station, Jerusalem Tavern near Farringdon is also pleasant if a bit fakey and lastly my favourite pub at the moment is the Southampton Arms in Gospel Oak. All of these have at least half a dozen constantly changing ales and ciders, barring the Jerusalem which only stocks the one brewery.

Those are just off the top of my head and I haven't lived in London that long, there's lots more if you look a bit.

Craft ale in England is rare? I can usually find one or two real ales kept decently in any random pub I go into. Well, mostly Doom Bar and London Pride (not precisely 'craft beer', granted; it's something though) but our bog standard chain pub up the road has recently been doing three pumps of constantly changing micro brews and that's not unusual these days.

Kosher food is a different story, I grant you. Lots of halal but not much kosher. I guess Golder's Green and Highgate would have some, yeah. I think I maybe heard Bevis Marks is ok? http://www.bevismarkstherestaurant.com/

Anyway sorry about the rant, I like my ales :shobon:

I'll buy you a good pint when you come to london if you want, torpedofish.

NLJP fucked around with this message at 14:28 on May 26, 2013

# ? May 26, 2013 14:06

Kaiho: Dec 2, 2004

Doom Bar, being Sharp's, being MillerCoors, is the definition of what is not craft, though.

I'll grant you there's good ale to be had in London, and your list is pretty much the who's who of where to find decent cask in the city (I'd add Holborn Whippet if you're in the neighbourhood) but a lot of it is pretty bland...

# ? May 26, 2013 14:33

NLJP: Aug 26, 2004

Kaiho posted:

Doom Bar, being Sharp's, being MillerCoors, is the definition of what is not craft, though.

I'll grant you there's good ale to be had in London, and your list is pretty much the who's who of where to find decent cask in the city (I'd add Holborn Whippet if you're in the neighbourhood) but a lot of it is pretty bland...

Well yeah, there's lots of basically lager only pubs pubs but it's completely inaccurate to portray craft beer as being somehow unusual in England. Similar situation in the U.S. The majority of bars will be serving almost exclusively lager, with maybe some bottled microbrews, while there will be a few excellent places specialising in craft brews.

And I mentioned doom bar more as a passable 'ale' that you find in pretty much even the most ale averse places, not as craft beer. I clarified a bit in an edit, I think.

NLJP fucked around with this message at 14:41 on May 26, 2013

# ? May 26, 2013 14:38

angor: Nov 14, 2003; teen angst

I'm still really butthurt that Mason and Taylor shut down. They had tons of awesome stuff on tap.

I hear really good things about this place: http://www.thenorthpolepub.co.uk/beer.html
I haven't been personally, but I've been told it's an excellent place to get your hands (mouth) on some great beer. There's also The Rake at Borough Market.

# ? May 28, 2013 09:25

Kaiho: Dec 2, 2004

angor posted:

I'm still really butthurt that Mason and Taylor shut down. They had tons of awesome stuff on tap.

I hear really good things about this place: http://www.thenorthpolepub.co.uk/beer.html
I haven't been personally, but I've been told it's an excellent place to get your hands (mouth) on some great beer. There's also The Rake at Borough Market.

The North Pole is lovely, as is the Earl of Essex. Worth going. I'd say that the NP, EoE and the Hops and Glory are the most like what M&T were like. Pricy, though, but then again everywhere seems to be...

# ? May 28, 2013 11:41

Snipeo: Mar 29, 2004; Happy Camper

Went to BRGR.co in Soho this weekend and had their afternoon tea special: Beef, chicken & lobster sliders, fries, cheesecake, donut, brownie, liquified ice cream, pomegranate and mint iced tea, prosecco all for �17.

It was pretty special.

# ? May 29, 2013 00:12

Neris: Mar 7, 2004; don't you dare use the word 'party' as a verb in this shop

I am so all over this.

# ? May 29, 2013 07:44

Bollock Monkey: Jan 21, 2007; The Almighty

Ooh I saw that the other day and was going to look into it, looks fun!

# ? May 29, 2013 18:22

Bollock Monkey: Jan 21, 2007; The Almighty

Where do I go for the most crispy, delicious pork belly?

# ? May 31, 2013 17:33

Muga: May 7, 2004; Exercising My Demons

I thought Brindisa's pork belly was pretty good.

# ? May 31, 2013 22:23

angelicism: Dec 1, 2004; mmmbop.

Momentary thread hijack: is there a thread for general food/cooking in London? To inquire about food festivals (is that a thing here?), where to get good spanish saffron, maybe putting together potlucks or checking out a new restaurant with other people who like good food?

# ? Jun 2, 2013 18:07

finnegan: Apr 1, 2005

sweek0 posted:

What would one you recommend as a good place to go for a quick meal before going out in Brixton?
Franco Mana is unfortunately ruled out because I'm going with a celiac friend.

I would go to Bukowski grill for short rib or burgers.

# ? Jun 2, 2013 20:08

DaveP: Apr 25, 2011

Recents:
Ate at Hix in soho, went for porterhouse steak with a lady friend with full trimmings, definitely the best steak I've ever ate. Great service, nice decor, all round pretty awesome.

Clove Club's taster menu in shoreditch is tasty but very.. Minimal in terms of portion sizes. Not really a full meal by the end of it. Lush fish

Porky's in Camden does fairly average BBQ, the pulled pork burger is good but I wouldn't recommend much more of it

Callooh Callay's shoreditch cocktails are really, really good. Go!

Hawksmoor might be doing a pop-up in wapping soonish

# ? Jun 2, 2013 20:49

Brand New Malaysian Wife: Apr 5, 2007; I encourage children who are bullied to kill themselves. In fact, I get off to it. Pedophilia-snuff films are the best. More abused children need to kill themselves.

Friend of a friend is opening a cafe in Tufnell Park soon, Vietnamese/French. Free BYO in the evenings too!

http://cardiganclubcafe.co.uk/

# ? Jun 2, 2013 21:08

The Jenk: Apr 18, 2009

Has anyone here been to NOLA in Shoreditch? http://nola-london.com/

The idea intrigues me, so I'm keen to hear if it's worth a visit.

# ? Jun 3, 2013 19:36

The_Doctor: Mar 29, 2007; "The entire history of this incarnation is one of temporal orbits, retcons, paradoxes, parallel time lines, reiterations, and divergences. How anyone can make head or tail of all this chaos, I don't know."

The Jenk posted:

Has anyone here been to NOLA in Shoreditch? http://nola-london.com/

The idea intrigues me, so I'm keen to hear if it's worth a visit.

What an awful website. But, as someone who lived just outside of New Orleans for 5 years, I have to say I'm intrigued. Also, eminently suited to go and try these things and scoff accordingly.

# ? Jun 3, 2013 19:55

Muga: May 7, 2004; Exercising My Demons

Heads up, Shake Shack opens in Covent Garden on the 5th July. I'll be heading there for a peanut butter milk shake!

# ? Jun 4, 2013 18:34

angelicism: Dec 1, 2004; mmmbop.

Muga posted:

Heads up, Shake Shack opens in Covent Garden on the 5th July. I'll be heading there for a peanut butter milk shake!

I'm so excited for this there aren't enough words. Just. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! :3:

# ? Jun 4, 2013 22:39

Squibsy: Dec 3, 2005; Not suited, just booted.; College Slice

Went to Tonkotsu Ramen last night with my sister. Dropped in on a whim while walking to Koya due to having seen the name here and there.

We really loved it. Had the Tonkotsu and Tokyo ramen and shared them so we had equal amounts of each; gyoza and the tomato salad to start (which was beautifully simple); and a couple of cocktails (hers was better - something with a lot of ginger.)

# ? Jun 5, 2013 00:45

Ahdinko: Oct 27, 2007; WHAT A LOVELY DAY

angelicism posted:

I just moved to London from NYC and I'm going to be living in Angel; hopefully you guys can help me out with a couple things.

Specifics: good Korean food (willing to travel a bit from Angel for this); great burgers; places to get solid yakitori; good Brazilian, specifically properly done p�o de queijo and picanha, I don't dare hope for a�ai; good Ethiopian; best place to get afternoon tea given that I'm a wide-eyed American that hasn't had "afternoon tea" and thinks it's a novel idea.

General: a site like nymag.com where I can get restaurant recommendations given a neighborhood, cuisine, and price range, with reasonably consistent reviews (yelp and its equivalents are terrible) for when I want to find someplace new.

Thanks for any help!

I don't know if its "good" Brazilian food, but there's a restaurant called Rodizio Rico in Angel that serves Brazilian BBQ all you can eat meat. That picanha might be there (they had like 30 different kinds of meat and I lost track after a while). We went there for a good meet once and it was so awesome I've travelled back into London 3 times just to eat there.

# ? Jun 7, 2013 11:08

powertoiletduck: Feb 19, 2004; dance dance dance

Best picanha I've had in london is in the "Little Portugal" area near Stockwell. There are 4-5 bars and restaurants in a row that do great Portuguese and Brazilian food.

# ? Jun 7, 2013 23:08

sweat poteto: Feb 16, 2006; Everybody's gotta learn sometime

Anyone been to The Shed near Notting Hill Gate? Stumbled in late on a Wednesday night recently and had a drink since the whole place was booked for dining. Not bad for being open 6 months. Must be doing something right?

# ? Jun 11, 2013 20:49

Neris: Mar 7, 2004; don't you dare use the word 'party' as a verb in this shop

What's a good pub for food in London Bridge-ish-area? Or a mid-range restaurant?

# ? Jun 14, 2013 11:26

Owithey: Aug 16, 2009

Neris posted:

What's a good pub for food in London Bridge-ish-area? Or a mid-range restaurant?

Borough Market has a couple of good pubs for food, they can get pretty busy on Fridays and Saturdays though. The Wheatsheaf does a street food style bbq which is pretty good and cheap. Not really a pub but Katzenjammers does good German beer and food. I haven't been but Brindisa is meant to be good tapas as well. It's difficult to go wrong around that area.

# ? Jun 14, 2013 13:20

Snipeo: Mar 29, 2004; Happy Camper

Went to MEATliquer yesterday for the first time. Pretty good, fun atmosphere. Didn't have to queue, just waited 15mins in the bar for a table. I had the Dirty Hippy and the girlfriend had the Mushroom Swiss - we both agreed they were very good. Fries were nothing special and the onion rings were very oily. Drinks were very expensive (�4.20 for a tiny can of lager!) which made it overall around �20 dearer than Honest Burger which has better sides and nicer drinks.

The battle of the best burger in London continues! So far we've been to MEATliquer, Honest Burger, BRGR.co, Byron, GBK, and Ed's. Where to next?

# ? Jun 24, 2013 12:11

The_Doctor: Mar 29, 2007; "The entire history of this incarnation is one of temporal orbits, retcons, paradoxes, parallel time lines, reiterations, and divergences. How anyone can make head or tail of all this chaos, I don't know."

Go to Hach� in Camden! They've got a really good menu, and the burgers are pretty decent.

# ? Jun 24, 2013 12:20

Spuckuk: Aug 11, 2009; Being a bastard works

Down to Brighton and get a burger from the Trolls Pantry @ the Hobgoblin.

Hands down beats MeatMarket/Liquor and the rest. Only bad thing is them inevitably selling out early, and the toilets at the Hobgoblin being a portal literally into satans anus.

# ? Jun 24, 2013 12:21

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# ? Apr 19, 2024 16:46

peanut-: Feb 17, 2004; Fun Shoe

You've missed Dirty Burger and Patty & Bun which (imo at least) are the best two currently. Shake Shack opens on the 5th July too.

I went to the London Gin Club at The Star at Night over the weekend, which turned out to be good fun. Gin tasting menus are a concept I can get behind.

# ? Jun 24, 2013 12:25

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