London restaurant recommendation for early 20s couple, special but not too expensive

[BarrelOfOtters]

DSD boyfriend taking her out for special meal 8n London. Wants a recommendation for something fun or romantic but a bit special. Budget needs to be sensible…..

if they like Indian food …. Mowgli. Indian tapas, lovely food and a twinkly lit up vibe with swinging seats. My early 20s DDs love it (so do I)

What is 'sensible'? A budget would be helpful.

Can you be more specific on the budget? What sort of food do they like?

Circolo Popolare or Ave Mario

Ivy Asia is popular with 20s and 30s at the moment. It’s a sort of one off place but I don’t think astronomical. As above depends on budget of course!

Also Ivy Asia is near St Paul’s so they could pop by to the rooftop bar afterwards to see over London. Can’t think of the name of that rooftop now. Maddison?

If they want somewhere more fun there’s the Big Easy or Burger and Lobster. Some of these places may do set lunch menus. DH and I often go for lunch to these places instead of dinner as (a) it’s cheaper (b) fills us up for the day anyway and (c) we like London in the daytime!

Any food and about £100 to £150 for both with drinks…

I’m a bit out of touch with London prices. So that might be unrealistic . .

And anything but fish.

You can definitely have a nice meal in London for those prices if you’re careful! As above of amenable target lunch instead of dinner. My above suggestions work.

DH and I don’t drink which helps us, so if they want a few drinks they’ll tip the bill up dramatically as often £15 plus for a cocktail.

Brasserie Zedel

Sketch.

No idea what their prices are like now though.

12.51 in Islington. Tasting menu. Think it's £60 a head.It's really relaxed there but the food is amazing.

The Taste of Hakassan menu is about £40 each but includes a cocktail. It’s really good value if you don’t have extra drinks (which are extortionate).

Hoppers or Dishoom for buzzy atmosphere and reliably decent food, but definitely not intimate/romantic.

The Wolseley for afternoon tea with bubbles at about £40 each.

Gunpowder and Kriket both look great, but I haven’t managed to get to them yet.

Definitely look for set lunch menus. Gymkhana has a good one.

I was going to recommend Zedel too, it’s gorgeous, lovely french food, beautiful setting, and they often have live music as well, and if you go with the set menu you can get 3 courses and a glass of wine for £30. Absolute bargain!

Agree with Zedel too although I haven’t been for a few years.

Ps: much prefer Dishoom to Mowgli - did not like the latter at all much to my sadness!!

Ave Mario or any of the other big mamma Italian restaurant. Fabulous interiors, reasonable priced decent food. Amazing cocktails!

I've only been to Ave Mario but the others look good too.

she likes dishoom but it can be a bit production line at night for a date night. Zedel she liked but been fairly recently.

circolo populare and ave Mario look good. She loved Viet in soho.

Sarastro in Drury Lane. Very theatrical decor, Turkish/Mediterranean food, reasonable-ish priced set menu.

www.sarastro-restaurant.com/gallery-2/

Brasserie of Light in Selfridges

brasserie-of-light.co.uk/?utm_source=YextGoogle&utm_medium=Organic

Blacklock soho. Best around.

Mallow - excellent vegan (Borough Market)
Wild By Tart - buzzy cool space, great food (Victoria)
Kapara - Middle Eastern (Soho)

But terrible food!

Or one of the restaurants in The Ned (Bank).

Realising I spend too much time eating out as I don’t think most of the suggested places are special enough for a date, more standard dinner out