Suggestions for a fabulous lunch in central London please?

[WritingHome]

Myself and a Friend will be in London for a day soon. We don't live in the uk but we both know London reasonably well. We would like to book somewhere REALLY nice for lunch. It will be midweek.

We have been looking at the Chiltern Firehouse which looks lovely but if there are any other suggestions that would be great

We will be visiting the Tate and the Hayward so in those general regions

We both eat everything and love nice surroundings!!
Many thanks!

[Rifka]

I recommend Brasserie Zedel, it's just off Piccadilly so not very near the Tate but it has really delicious French food, great service & atmosphere. You can eat for quite a reasonable price if you have simple dishes, or you can go for their 'luxe' section on the menu if you want amazing lobster, whole sea bream with braised fennel and chervil butter and various others. Wines are good too. I took my daughter and my sister there yesterday for my daughter's birthday and we had a really great experience.

[fufulina]

Sexy fish. Gorgeous dining room. Good food. Excellent service.

[SquirmOfEels]

Near the Tate, try www.shepherdsrestaurant.co.uk

[WritingHome]

Thank You both. I will look up those suggestions now.

Is the restaurant called 'sexy fish?'

[FeckinCrutches]

Clos Maggiore or The Shard.

[fufulina]

Yes. Shit name. Great place.

[MsRinky]

Pollen Street Social.

[fufulina]

Or social eating house. Any Jason atherton - food incredible.

[Rioja123]

If you like Indian I highly recommend Dishoom

[WritingHome]

Oh thank you everyone - this is fantastic. I shall spend the rest of the evening looking all these places up. Such a treat! We figured we could push the boat out as we are only around for lunch. With no kids!

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

Skylon is along the Southbank, so would suit for locale. I have only had cocktails and nibbles mind you, but the menu looked lovely.

[Flyingprettycretonnecurtains]

Have friends who rave about the tasting menu at Pollen Street social.

[FruSkogKattOla]

Le Colombier www.le-colombier-restaurant.co.uk in Chelsea.

[Haggischucker]

The best meal I've ever eaten was lunch at Gordon Ramsey's Royal hospital road restaurant. I've eaten out at lots of different places and price ranges but this is my stand out dining experience. It was reasonable too!

[Wigeon]

OXO Tower - has two restaurants: a brasserie, and a posh restaurant. And amazing amazing views over the Thames. South Bank.

Cinnamon Club - gourmet very posh Indian inspired. Westminster area. Amazing food in very pretty old library, amazing cocktails.

Bleeding Heart - French restaurant near Farringdon.

Les posh but very classy: National Portrait Gallery restaurant, views over Trafalgar Square.

[Wigeon]

Do you mean Tate Modern or Tate Britain? Cinnamon Club is walking distance from Tate Britain, Oxo Tower walking distance from Tate Modern.

[WritingHome]

It's Tate Modern but I suspect we will be covering a lot of ground that day as we will be packing in as much as possible!

Actually - is there anywhere nice for coffee / breakfast near Tate Modern that you would recommend? We will be arriving early enough, so will eat nearby, then see the show and then lunch afterwards in the early afternoon

Also some nice bars for the odd stop off for a glass of something along the way would be great!

One final thing - do these restaurants have a no trainer policy? I was planning on wearing some discreet black new balance trainers which have a gold N on the side but otherwise dark, with dark skinny jeans and a jigsaw dark navy coat. But don't want to risk being barred for wrong footwear!!!

[Backingvocals]

For a London special I would go to the Wolseley. It's just so glam. On Piccadilly though so not near Tate but easy on the Jubilee line to Green Park.

[PerpetualStudent]

Monmouth Coffee in Borough Market for breakfast (between London Bridge station & Tate Modern) and Swan Bar at the Globe for a glass of something would be my vote

[notyummy]

I ate at Gauthier Soho last week. It was really fabulous. Wonderful food and great service. Very popular even at 1215 mid week so you would to book asap. Waiters were both handsome and charming!!

[fufulina]

Agree with Borough market for breakfast - Monmouth coffee and a croissant. In the corner of park street and stoney street - SE1. 10 mins leisurely along the south bank to the Tate Modern. Or aqua shard for breakfast is good - but they are (already!) letting standards slip. When I was last there - food was good but service crap. But the view is gorgeous.

[londonfeather]

Have a look at Sketch - really cool and memorable or Bob Bob Ricard. If you want a real experience have a look at restaurant story - it's London Bridge though but not a million miles away from Tate modern.

[fufulina]

Actually - brindisa in Borough is also a favourite. Lovely food and a great atmosphere. You can't book, but if you've time to wait with a glass of wine - delicious tapas

[NinonDeLanclos]

The Wolseley is good, Ivy Café, Sheekey if you like fish, Rules is fun if you fancy the oldest restaurant in London and very English food.

[Nightmanagerfan]

How about Spring at Somerset House? Amazing surroundings and fresh, tasty food. They have a fairly reasonably priced lunch menu.