Restaurants
SW1Y 6AJ
London
Bury St
16
The discreet glass-front of Quaglino’s on Bury Street certainly gives nothing away about the grand and glitzy restaurant that beckons you underground. A sweeping marble staircase leads down to a 400-seater hall, where a fluorescent blue roof structure leads your eyes to a crustacean altar, showcasing the elements of the house speciality: plateaux de fruits de mer. A combination of the lighting, swirly coloured columns, tall mirrors and black dated chairs evokes the image of a luxury cruise ship during the 1990s, or as my friend puts it “a faded beauty queen” – in a charming and humorous way of course - after all Quaglino’s was a 1930’s icon which Terence Conran re-launched in 1991.
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Raoul’s is unassumingly chic with its yellow awning shielding outdoor tables and chairs from the bluster of downcast days. It’s any wonder people have had a chance to experience alfresco dining this summer, with the memorable wet spells of June-August dispelling any belief that the sun actually shines here. As if to counter all the recent rain-drenched days, it turns out to be a hot autumn day when we arrive at Raoul’s for lunch, and the sun is positively scorching the alfresco diners.
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SW3 2TS
London
10 Lincoln St
This plush Indian eatery is tucked away on Lincoln Street, just off Kings Road. Rasoi is an intimate affair with around ten tables dotted throughout its dining room. It was an unassuming mid week lunch hour when we visited, and we almost had the place to ourselves. The kitchen at Rasoi is where Vineet Bhatia regained his Michelin star in 2006, and the restaurant’s reputation has preceded it ever since.
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EC4M 8AD
London
St Paul’s Churchyard
St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral, the valued British monument that draws over 4000 visitors every day, has finally opened a restaurant, serving the best of British fare.
The area surrounding the cathedral heaves with chain eateries shouting lunchtime deals to get attention. The Restaurant at St Paul’s is, however somewhat more humble. It’s tucked underground in the arched crypt, offering diners a unique setting as well as the promise of top-notch locally sourced produce.
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SE1 1TL
London
Stoney Street
The Floral Hall
There’s a definite buzz to this place on a Saturday morning. Suits have been ditched in favour of weekend garb and people get comfortable in their seats here, as they start the morning with the most important meal of the day. We perched at the bar for a short while as our table was arranged and took in the hustle and bustle of hungry market-goers, scouring Borough Market beneath us.
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SW7 5EX
London
190 Queen’s Gate
The Gore,
There are few more civilised things in this world than good conversation over an indulgent afternoon tea. A friend and I were treated to the ‘Rock 'n' Roll’ version of this British institution at the theatrically-inspired Gore Hotel in Kensington. Nestled in the heart of Queen’s Gate, in amongst the neighbouring embassies and columned terrace houses, sits The Gore. It's minutes from the grandeur of the Royal Albert Hall, and I am told it has been and remains a favoured venue of those in the entertainment industry.
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W1U 7AB
London
24-26 Baker Street
If you love your dim sum all week round, China Royal is the place for you. With five restaurants within the Royal China Group based in Baker Street, as well as in Bayswater, Fulham and Canary Wharf, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to location as well.
We sampled dinner at Royal China’s 22 - 26 Baker Street location (there is also the Royal China Club based on the same street at 40 – 42).
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W1J 6QD
Mayfair, London
Bruton Street
Miller Harris flagship store,
Slip out of Bond Street tube, past the overspill of Oxford Street's hardcore shoppers, and head for Bruton Street. There, twinkling amongst the Christmas lights is the Miller Harris perfume house. Ordinarily the shop boasts its famed array of botanical print-wrapped scents, but from Wednesdays to Fridays you can indulge in the Ruinart Miller Harris afternoon tea, as well as a little retail therapy.
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WC2B 5JS
London
31 Catherine Street
We’re a nation of curry lovers. “Going for an Indian” is as part of our national vernacular as afternoon tea, and we indulge in naan more often than cucumber sandwiches. But just because tikka masala is now as British as a bacon sarnie, it doesn’t mean that what we’re offered is always good.
If you venture into Brick Lane anytime between midday and midnight, expect to run the gauntlet of mostly mediocre Indian restaurants, each with waiters outside trying to tempt the unwitting punter in with the offer of free poppadums or a bottle of house wine.
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