To Eat Or Not To Eat

A guide to eating in London

By Isaac Overman

June 18 2022

Table of Contents

A. Best 25 list

B. Best cheap eats

C. Best individual items

D. Best markets

E. Tips to maximize eating in London

Introduction: Food is personal for me. It is one of the main reasons that I chose this trip. I love every bite, every savory note, every sting of acid, every rush of sugar and every meal that I have. Not all food is created equal but it all seeks the same goal of making us whole again. My advice for eating in London is to just go out and have great food. It is tempting to spend all your time and money on theatre but I urge you to take the time and have a truly special meal. I promise that you will not regret it.

A. These are the best 25 restaurants that I had in London and Bath

Da Terra: Brazilian and Italian. Best of the best. I hope to make food like this someday. Simply the best I have ever had. Amazing service and ambiance. No frills just amazing food. Tasting menu style. Michelin two stars. Price paid: $400
1. Rating 11/10
1. Stand-out dish: Expression of Chicken
1. You will need a reservation, book weeks in advance
1. Time dining: three hours
1. Location: 8 Patriot Square, London E2 9NF
Seven Park Place by William Drabble: French. Second best for a reason. Amazing service and ambiance. Tasting menu style. Michelin one star. Price paid: $280
1. Rating 10/10
1. Stand-out dish: Foie Gras with ginger done three ways
1. You will need a reservation, book weeks in advance
1. Time dining: three hours
1. Location: 7-8 Park Pl, St. James’s, London SW1A 1LS
The Ninth: French. This was the hardest and most contested spot on the list as it beats out the number 4 spot. Good service and ambiance. Three course menu style. Michelin one star. Price paid: $70
1. Rating 9.5/10
1. Stand-out dish: The Sea Bass Carpaccio with Salsa Verde
1. You will need a reservation, book days in advance
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 22 Charlotte St., London W1T 2NB
Sketch the Lecture Room and Library. Modern European. Good food but it struggles next to the extravagance of the service and the environment. If this list was based on experience rather than taste this would be over the Ninth but it ultimately just did not taste as good to me. The best service and ambiance possible. Tasting menu style. Michelin three star. Price paid: $550
1. Rating 9/10
1. Stand-out dish: the Grand Desert
1. You will need a reservation, book months in advance
1. Time dining: three hours
1. Location: 9 Conduit St, London W1S 2XG
Gymkhana: Indian. Stunning food. A bit dark but great environment. A great meal to save for. Tasting menu and course styles. Michelin one star. Price paid: $130 but can be done for $50 comfortably.
1. Rating 9/10
1. Stand-out dish: Chicken Tikka Masala
1. You will need a reservation, book a week in advance
1. Time dining: two hours
1. Location: 42 Albemarle St, London W1S 4JH
Bancone: Italian. One of the best bang for your buck meals out there. An amazing option for a nicer lunch. Great environment. Course meal style. Bib Gourmand Michelin rating (just under a star). Price paid: $30
1. Rating 9/10
1. Stand-out dish: Mushroom Ravioli
1. You do not have to have a reservation but it is advised
1. Time dining: an hour
1. Location: 39 William IV St, London WC2N 4DD
The Elder: Country-side. Very traditional food done very well. Felt like I was in a hunting lodge. Course meal style. Michelin recommended (the lowest of the five levels). Price paid: $50
1. Rating 8.8/10
1. Stand-out dish: Venison (deer meat)
1. You do not have to have a reservation but it is advised
1. Time dining: an hour
1. Location: 2-8 S Parade, Bath BA2 4AB
Hoa Sen: Vietnamese. The best Pho I have ever had. Small but pleasant restaurant. Great food for a budget dinner. Super filling. Kind staff. Menu style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $18
1. Rating 8.7/10
1. Stand-out dish: Saigon Sate Pho
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 22 Drury Ln, London WC2B 5RH
Bun House: Cantonese. Bao Buns need no further explanation. Small but pleasant. Menu style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $12
1. Rating 8.7/10
1. Stand-out dish: Lamb Bao Bun
1. You do not have to have a reservation but arrive early as this is a popular spot
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 26-27 Lisle St, London WC2H 7BA
Pataka SOHO Bar and Kitchen: Indian. Cool environment and close to the West-End. Menu style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $20
1. Rating 8.7/10
1. Stand-out dish: Biryani
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 53 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 6LB
Hiba Street Food: Lebanese. Cramped by worth it. One of the best bang for your buck Menu style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $15
1. Rating 8.7/10
1. Stand-out dish: Spicy Humus
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: an hour
1. Location: 10 Tottenham St, London W1T 4RD
North Sea Fish: British. Pick-up or sit down. The best Fish and Chips that I had in London. Close to the Royal National Hotel. Just a great piece of fish. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $14
1. Rating 8.6/10
1. Stand-out dish: Cod and Chips
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 7-8 Leigh St, London WC1H 9EW
Half Cup: Breakfast. Long wait time but worth it. Best breakfast I found. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $18
1. Rating 8.6/10
1. Stand-out dish: Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict.
1. You do not have to have a reservation but show up as early as you can. Expect to wait
1. Time dining: an hour
1. Location: 100-102 Judd St, London WC1H 9NT
The Lemon Tree: Thai-Pub fusion. Great Drink and Food. Bizarre combo works so well. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $12
1. Rating 8.5/10
1. Stand-out dish: Soya Noodles
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 4 Bedfordbury, London WC2N 4BP
Busaba: Thai. Good for larger groups. Good Thai just not as good as The Lemon Tree. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $30
1. Rating 8.5/10
1. Stand-out dish: Street Noodles
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 106-110 Wardour St, London W1F 0TR
Box: Middle-eastern. Food truck with great shawarma. One of the best dirt cheap meals. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $8
1. Rating 8.4/10
1. Stand-out dish: Shawarma
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: half hour
1. Location: CM34+7R, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9EU
Taste of Chongqing: Chinese. Solid choice and right under the hotel. Nobody speaks English, but if you know that there should be little problem. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $20
1. Rating 8.3/10
1. Stand-out dish: Braised Beef Noodle Soup.
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 40-42 Woburn Pl, London WC1H 0JR
Café TPT: Cantonese. Good but could be better. Beware of bones in the meat, it is common to cut chicken through the bone and this can be a hazard but unless careless should not be a problem. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $15
1. Rating 8.2/10
1. Chicken Rice
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 21 Wardour St, London W1D 6PN
Roti King: Eastern Asia. Good food but you have to wait for a long time to eat. And that sets it back on my list. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $20
1. Rating 8.1/10
1. Stand-out dish: Roti
1. You do not have to have a reservation but arrive early as this is a popular spot.
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 40 Doric Way, London NW1 1LH
TrattoriaVerdi: Italian. Solid and cheap. Open till 1am. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $8
1. Rating 8/10
1. Stand-out dish: Pizza
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 110 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4BL
Prima Saporid’Italia: Italian. Less good version of Trattoria Verte. Decent ambiance. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $15
1. Rating 8/10
1. Stand-out dish: Pesto Pasta
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: Jubilee Market Hall, 1-13 Tavistock St, London WC2E 8BE
Bala Baya: Israeli. Arguably the biggest disappointment. It was so expensive to eat here for what was average food at best. The only reason it is here is because the food was 8/10 but it cost so much and took three to four mains to become even mildly full it lands here. Loud music and little warning about the menu. Small Plate Menu Style. Michelin Recommended. Price paid: $60
1. Experience Rating 6/10, Food Rating 8/10
1. Stand-out dish: Humus.
1. It is not required but is a good idea to book the day of
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: Arch 25, Old union yard arches, 229 Union St, London SE1 0LR
28-50 Oxford Circus: British. I had a great time here because I had a bunch of people go with me but had that not been the case there were a few glaring weaknesses in the food. It was also extremely loud and about $40 too pricy. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $70
1. Rating 7.5/10
1. Stand-out dish: Burrata
1. You do not have to have a reservation but it helps
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 4 Great Portland St, London W1W 8QJ
Street Easy: It says Caribbean but basically Americana. Average in every sense of the word. It is a little pricy but inflation will do that to a place. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $20
1. Rating 7.5/10
1. Stand-out dish: Birra Tacos
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 55-57 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QL
Nonos Kings Cross: Mediterranean. Good food for the price of great food. They messed up one of my favorite foods—moussaka which in my mind is pretty unforgivable. But still okay if that is all you have. Menu Style. No Michelin rating. Price paid: $30
1. Rating 7/10
1. Stand-out dish: Drink menu
1. You do not have to have a reservation
1. Time dining: hour and a half
1. Location: 112 Judd St, London WC1H 9NT

B. Best cheap eats

1. Hoa Sen: great Vietnamese food. It is easy to do a meal here for $15 and be stuffed. The Pho and fresh rolls are to die for.

2. Bun House: If you want great Bao this is the place. For 11 pounds you get four extremely large Bao Buns that would fill a giant up.

3. Hiba Street Food: killer food for the value. I had to waddle home after this one and all for the low price of $15. It is hard to beat that.

4. North Sea Fish: when in London have Fish and Chips. This place offers a massive portion for under $15 that I could not even finish. It is fresh fish, beer battered and fried to perfection.

5. Roti King: really tasty Roti which is not the most common thing in America, so it can offer new flavors and a break from the monotony of Tesco’s.

C. Best Items

1. Fish and Chips – North Sea Fish

2. Best Pub food – Hung, Drawn and Quartered

3. Eastern Asain – Hoa Sen

4. Indian – Gymkhana

5. Main course – Da Terra’s Expression of Chicken

6. Starter – Hiba’s Humus

7. Dessert – The Ninth’s Carbonated Rhubarb Cheesecake

8. Cream Tea – British museum

D. Best Markets

1. Borough Market: this was my favorite and the best for anyone who loves food. The options are crazy here from fresh fish to exotic chesses to homemade olive oils. Some of the best things to look for is the fried rice that they make with different proteins. The sheer quantity of food here makes it impossible to sample everything but hold yourself back if you do not have to have something because I promise you there is enough food that you will have to have to fill you up. Plus they have the best spice shop I have ever seen.

2. Camden Market: Another foodie paradise but there is much more here than street food. The thrift scene is very strong and there are more clothing stores than food stalls. Some of the highs are fresh orange juice. It is expensive but trust me it is totally worth it. Camden has one of the largest selection of middle-eastern food, so try and get spiced lamb and some different kinds of wraps. There are a few famous stalls in Camden that are world renowned for their innovative flavors. But those are for you to find.

3. Spitalfields Market: Number three on the list but definitely not because it is not great just because your food options are more limited. More of the usual food carts are restaurants which makes the area feel more cramped which can be a hindrance when it comes to just trying to get some good food. This is an awesome place to thrift and is an excellent place to pick up unique and personalized gifts for family and friends back home.

E. Tips and Tricks when Eating in London

1. Have a plan. Know what you want before you start to look. This seems simple enough but having a basic idea of what you want and home much you are looking to spend can be a major help when searching for what you want.

2. If you can book a reservation—do it. This one is a must. You do not live here and you do not know how busy certain places will be. My rule of thumb is if it is over $25 I try and book it. This ties into tip one by having a good plan—you can book ahead and make your life so much easier.

3. Read reviews. I do not mean you need to read all thousand reviews but try and look at the most recent two or three and compare it to the overall. This helps me narrow down my choices.

4. Try not to eat a lot in one sitting. This is only for markets but when you are at a market think quality over quantity. You want to sample rather than get just one place. When I went to Borough, I had four or five small portions and was able to try whatever I wanted as long as I did not eat more than a small portion of whatever I got.

5. Tesco is your friend. Budgeting is crucial to your trip. I ate the complementary breakfast at the hotel most days and had Tesco’s for one of the remaining two meals. This helps save money for a nicer lunch or dinner.

This has been my guide to eating in London.