Lunch in London

[AprilSmiles]

I'm meeting a friend and want to treat her to lunch in London as she has been very kind to me. She earns a LOT more than me and has quite refined tastes, but will be impressed by anywhere on trend or of the moment. (E.g a million years ago when I lived in London and had my finger on the pulse, I took her to Jamie Oliver's Fifteen, which was new and she loved, and another time a wander around Spitalfields market.)

She doesn't live in London so it's unlikely she'll find somewhere tired or clichéd.

Budget ideally around £30 per head for lunch (excluding drinks). Ideally central London, accessible by tube. Any ideas?

Circolo Populaire

There is a pizzeria in Elephant and Castle that has won a national (?) competition for best tiramisu. I really want to go!

www.theospizzeria.com/elephant-castle/

*Popolare

Seven Dials Market is pretty cool!

Ooh yes I'm a big fan of the bottomless cheese bar there on a Weds (sadly not there on a Weds with her.). Any particular Seven Dials recommendations?

Thanks for recommendations so far - checking them out now.

Zédel.

Not remotely cool, but unusual in that it's old-fashioned, classy and Austrian-ish: The Delaunay at Aldwych.

Which station will you be coming into? If you are coming into Kings Cross, I like the German Gymnasium. There are lots of other restaurants in the area too though.
April Set Menu - German Gymnasium

I'll be coming into Marylebone. She'll be coming into Euston. Happy to travel anywhere in Zone 1 (but prefer to stay north of the river if possible - unless it's worth the effort!)

Pick and Cheese (the cheese and pickle sushi style bar) is there which is a novelty but also actually good! I had Ong Ong and a Booley Crepe last time which was great. Plus, best chai in London by Chai Guys.

Sexy Fish, Berekley Sq

But theres the conveyor belt cheese place in seven dials.

Oh - drip feed (in the least interesting way)... she's a bit flaky and prone to cancellation so whilst I'd like the security of booking somewhere (not just turning up and hoping for the best), I want to be able to cancel without penalty. I know Pick and Cheese (at least on a Wednesday) take a booking deposit.

@TakeMe2Insanity Yes, that's what I meant. On a Wednesday you can pay £25 and have infinite cheese! I go there far too often to be reasonable.

Sadly I'm not there on a Weds with my friend and I think I'd resent paying for each individual cheese! 🧀

If you like cheese you might like La Fromagerie on Lambs Conduit Street.

lafromagerie.co.uk

Eataly by Liverpool Street station.

I recently went to Shack Fuyu in Soho. It was described as relaxed Japanese bar style dining. It was delicious and slightly different.

Brasserie Zédel do a lunch menu which is reasonably priced and I don't think take a deposit. (They will charge if you don't cancel though).

Brasserie Zedel. They do a few different set menu options too which usually work out quite good value. The venue is gorgeous!

Rudd's by Blackfriars station is fab Thai food

Borough Market has some very nice restaurants and it's a fun place to visit

My cousin took me here about 18 months ago www.chamisse.com/. Food is amazing and the service is excellent, also very good value.