18th bday restaurant for just 4 nuclear family around London.

[QuiteUnbelievable]

So far I'm thinking.... The waterside at bray for lunch, hakkasan, sketch possibly.... Anywhere else? Budget 300 ish
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£300 definitely won’t go far at The waterside Inn (assuming you don’t mean £300ph!) Hakkasan is fab but lunch can be quiet and it can get expensive quickly especially with drinks. Are you going on a weekend or week day? From my experience, teens like instagrammable places - Brasserie of Light, Ivy Asia at St Paul’s, Lucky Cat in the city, Roka, Sexy Fish (there is a great limitless sushi deal during the week) I haven’t been to Sketch in ages but it always was quite expensive. Bob Bob Ricard is fun (push the button for champagne). Where does the Birthday person want to go?

The buffet at the Glasshouse at The Grove is eat all you like. It's £69 per head M-Thur. But probably will end up more like £100 with drinks and service. We went for my son's 18th and again for his 21st last week. He loved it. It has a nice sense of occasion

Thanks both, not sure on dates or times yet it's a few months away, I want something memorable.
I've not heard of the glasshouse.

You would get great views of London from the Oxo Tower Brasserie or one of the restaurants in the Shard.

£300 for 4 people? Thats not going to go far in most of those places. I’d budget £200 a head and go for somewhere fun and insta rather than stuffy.

What does the celebrant want? Have a look at Gary Eats or Greeno eats on YouTube. What about a set lunch somewhere expensive? Waterside is prob 200 ph now for a la carte.

@Turmerictolly where is fun and insta?

She doesn't know yet I'm doing the research and will give her the options.

Others to consider perhaps?
The River Café.
Pied à Terre
Duck and Waffle (views over City of London, open 24 hours!)
Quaglino's

I would second River Cafe - we've been a few times for special meals (birthdays, anniversaries) including lunch for DD1's 18th. Lovely food, a treat but nothing too weird. DH doesn't drink and two of our nuclear family of four are vegetarian, which does also keep the cost down, but they often have lunch set menu offers too.

Wr have DD's 21st and DD2's 18th coming up this year, so will also keep an eye on other people's suggestions!

Yep for £300 total for 4 you need to rethink (but lunch does give you more options than dinner!). Some already suggested so also seconded. Some you might want to check the menu for prices…

The Wolseley is classic British, likely to see a celeb in there but not especially trendy. Can feel quite ‘brasserie’ but I like it. 4 can have lunch for £300

Rules in Covent Garden is proper old school British, one of the oldest restaurants in London. Think steak and mash, bangers and mash….

Brat, Shoreditch. Welsh Michelin chef’s place. Unassuming building but chef is the dog’s bollocks.

Rochelle Canteen, Shoreditch. Looks quite informal but gets rave reviews.

Dean Street Townhouse, decent. Potential to celebrity spot but will also be busy with members!

The NoMad, Covent Garden. Not cheap but lovely setting in a big greenhouse thing. Good food and cocktails, check it’s within your budget before suggesting though!

Bob Bob Ricard is fun, buttons on the tables to order more drinks (as mentioned above). The lobster mac & cheese is delish.

Temper, bbq / steak place in soho. Buzzy and really good food. Went there with a ‘very particular’ chef friend (he chose it).

Fitz’s Brasserie, Bloomsbury. Steaks! Modern take on British food.

Any of Angela Hartnett’s places (Murano is one of my absolute faves, Cafe Murano the cheaper option but still nice), Italian but not a massively extensive menu iirc.

Sketch is eye-watering expensive, even for lunch. Went there not so long ago and our bill for 2 was over £500 (lunch in the Library). Afternoon tea might be a better bet there.

Check out some of the hotels. The ME has a rooftop bar / restaurant. It’s a great spot and depending when you want to go could be an option.

Sky Garden is also worth checking out. Not eaten there myself but it’s a good spot and has good views.

How is being a ‘nuclear’ family at all relevant?

My dd likes Big Easy, Tandoor Chop House, Wahaca, anywhere in China town (she’s suggested several over my visits), oh and a Nepalese place was good. The whole thing is spending time together not it being a really expensive restaurant

Oh also…

Dalloway Terrace for perfect insta shots. Very pretty!

The Ned, feels a bit ‘done’ but good for photos and cocktails. Not sure on the food these days or lunchtime atmosphere (only been in the evening when it’s buzzy)

The Standard, super-cool hotel with an insta-friendly terrace and good food. Nice for lunch if the weather means you can be on the terrace

Is the vegetarian selection there good? I’ve always thought it quite fishy (maybe just the open kitchen smells?!). Delicious food though!

Sarastro https://www.sarastro-restaurant.com/menus/ its super weird funny and I have fond memories of some weird singing show going on

Coppa Club at tower bridge

I’ve always found a few things to choose from, going with a starter and then usually a couple of options on the primo/pasta course bit of the menu are vegetarian. I suspect vegan is probably trickier….

Brasserie Zédel.

@MoveOnTheCards thanks we did rules a few years ago the meal was quite ok money wise under 200 with some drinks and we all really enjoyed it.
Also Dean street is a favourite.
Not been to the others

@ThePussy we have walked in and used to go in my youth so I like the space but the menu never seems enticing? Chopped this and that.... One dd is a fussy eater.
We did Asia ivy and they both really liked that and again we ate for just under 200.
That was Mayfair one though and not St Paul's

Something with a novelty factor, maybe the shard? I've looked into duck and waffle also before and that looks good.

I always prefer central because I know where I am and feel relatively safe

@tiredbuttried I think because I was making it clear it's for us not somewhere for her and her friends or maybe just us and not wider family ie normal restaurant not private rooms.

We took her to Tokyo restaurant in heddon Street and that was a cheap noodle place but great theming and she really enjoyed that

Bump just in case any exciting new idea come forth