London dwellers, what's your favourite laid-back + amazing food restaurant?

[Toadthewetsprocket]

Going for a weekend in a few months. DP and I are wannabe foodies (minus the London budget!) and want to go somewhere really nice.

Last trip we went to Dishoom (really enjoyed it) and Soho House at BBC Television centre (underwhelming food and £££).

Criteria are:

• Unpretentious/casual style
• Not too £££ but happy to pay for really good food.
• Fairly flexible about cuisine but probably not Indian again.

We're staying in Notting Hill. Happy to tube it for somewhere amazing.

Ta ☕🥐

Farang. Great Thai restaurant in North London. Relaxed, informal atmosphere.

Riding House Cafe in noho is always delicious but very relaxed and cosy atmosphere

Can I sneak in here and ask for recommendations around Victoria?

Temakhino, a Brazilian sushi restaurant near Tower Bridge. Food is incredible, lovely cocktails and the interior super stylish and fun.

Palomar in soho is amazing. So delicious and really buzzy.

I just saw a new Middle Eastern restaurant has opened in Notting hill called Haya I think and the menu looked great.

Roka brunch at the one near the strand is great and good value (bottomless drinks).

Market Hall near Victoria is good for a lunch.

Can I sneak in here and ask for recommendations around Victoria?

Victoria is really easy because there's two big food places - Cardinal square and Nova - which have essentially everything you could ever want. But Market Square is a big fancy food hall with a roof terrace so you don't even have to be decisive, you can eat all the food!

Cork & Bottle wine bar near Leicester Square.
Very relaxed basement bar with a great selection of wines and cheeses, and delicious unpretentious meals like beef bourgoignon

The German Gymnasium near Kings Cross if you are into that type of cuisine

For lunch on the go, Borough market has great stalls, esp near Christmas

This is ace. Thanks so much.

Just to clarify, we don't want stalls/food market style. Would prefer an actual restaurant but just not a wanky posh one!

Poor op, this thread is full of stalls recommendations😂😂

Lupins. Flat Iron Square.

If you can hack the queue Padella is pretty good too but you won't be allowed to linger.
Top Padella tip is start queueibg at about 16:30 (they open the Q officially at 17:00). Buy some borough market snacks/drinks.

Get your restaurant table reserved and go to Bedales for a glass of wine plus or mins some cheese before dinner.

Vivat Bacchus which is in the area is also pretty good.

They also have a second branch nr. Smithfield Market.

Sure you want to stay in Notting Hill and not in SE1. It's where all the food action is. (I might be biased!).

Where the Pancakes Are (also Flat Iron Square) is great for Brunch.

All evening options - not sure if that's OK with you but :
1 The Sea The Sea - behind Sloane Square.
It's a fish monger during the day and a super casual restaurant at night with the most amazing seafood sharing plates

1. Lyles Shoreditch - amazed no one has reccommended this so far. In the top 10 UK restaurants but fantastic value with a £60 set dinner menu

1. The Laughing Hart Hackney - very vibey sharing plates menu again with a fantastic set dinner menu

OBTW I know all my reccommendations are East London and you staying are in Notting Hill but the best and most interesting food is definitely in East London at the moment

I like Yalla Yalla for Lebanese food. There's one in SoHo (tiny) and another off Oxford Street.

Mildred's
Caravan
Maroush near Bond At hi

Camberwell/ Peckham has so many good places (bit far - and train not tube - but if you fancy trying a new area) - Silk Road, Ganapati, Nandine, Theos, Crooked Well...

or these are good guides: london.eater.com/maps/best-value-restaurants-central-london-cheap-eats-not-cheap

london.eater.com/maps/best-value-restaurants-west-london-cheap-not-cheap-eats

london.eater.com/maps/best-value-restaurants-west-london-cheap-not-cheap-eats

Can I just say that we went to Jason Atherton's Pollen Street Social under the mistaken belief that it was good food in an informal environment - wrong on both counts - the food was ok and the service was very formal and lacking - very lacking.

Black axe mangal at Highbury corner is amazing, chef is from St John.

Patty and bun do amazing burgers. They've got a special on at the moment which is aged beef patty with a cheddar mayo sauce and omg it's to die for. Lots of branches all over the place.

Nopi in soho is fab. Especially if you like veggie food. There is plenty of fish/meat but we enjoyed the veggie stuff best.

Borough Market is amazing for a very casual lunch - lots of options and you can 'graze' across stalls.

I love Ethos off Oxford Street - it's a pay-by-weight high quality veggie and vegan buffet; I love how you can try a bit of everything.

Cicchetti's in Covent Garden (nicer setting that the Piccadilly one) - is absolutely out of this world - Italian tapas - the most delicious Italian food you will eat and sharing plates size.

Make sure you fit in a cinnamon social from Ole and Steen

Kricket or The Palomar would be my picks.