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London restaurant recommendation pls - very specific criteria!

96 replies

mixandmatch · 26/03/2026 15:00

Hi - I live in London and know lots of restaurants but I'm looking for something quite specific for a special occasion meal which is a really nice restaurant (for me, DH, one teen, one tween). Happy to consider all sorts of cuisine, but what I care about most is the vibe. So needs to feel special and treaty but not unbearably cool and/or noisy and/or dark. So many good restaurants are one or all of these things now. I also don't want silent/unbearably stuffy and starched white tablecloths either. But just nice and relatively laid back, a bit special and not too loud or dark and small-platesy. Any ideas?

OP posts:
similarminimer · 26/03/2026 15:01

Maison francois?

oneoneone · 26/03/2026 15:03

Sorry - you do or don't want small plates?

Archymum · 26/03/2026 15:03

Price range?

similarminimer · 26/03/2026 15:04

Brat?
one club row?

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 26/03/2026 15:06

Hide or Ledbury

You could also look at olea social if ypu want small plates

drinkwithanumbrellainit · 26/03/2026 15:06

I love Arabica in Borough Market, gorgeous cocktails and amazing food. It is a bit small plate-y but they do bigger mains as well.

Whosthetabbynow · 26/03/2026 15:07

Savoy Grill. Nice vibe

sittingonabeach · 26/03/2026 15:08

Budget?

GeniusofShakespeare · 26/03/2026 15:09

The Wolseley would tick all these boxes for me or the (proper) Ivy- always a jolly atmosphere, not too cool, not too stuffy.

WellingtonQueen · 26/03/2026 15:09

The Wolseley? Feels fancy-ish but not stuffy or pretentious.

oneoneone · 26/03/2026 15:10

@similarminimer One Club Row is a good shout.

The Dover?

oneoneone · 26/03/2026 15:11

I feel like they aren't even trying with the food at the Wolseley any more.

Chelsea26 · 26/03/2026 15:12

Berners Tavern?

TheFuturesSoBright · 26/03/2026 15:13

J. Sheekey if you like seafood.
Clos Maggiore?

Nosejobnelly · 26/03/2026 15:13

Brasserie Zedel? I haven’t been there for a long time though.

oneoneone · 26/03/2026 15:14

Bouchon Racine
Noble Rot

WellingtonQueen · 26/03/2026 15:20

oneoneone · 26/03/2026 15:11

I feel like they aren't even trying with the food at the Wolseley any more.

Oh no! I haven’t been for years so that is really disappointing to hear.

similarminimer · 26/03/2026 15:32

River cafe?

firstofallimadelight · 26/03/2026 15:34

Tom kerridges bar and grill

2026Y · 26/03/2026 15:36

similarminimer · 26/03/2026 15:04

Brat?
one club row?

We went to BRAT recently and it was awesome, chilled vibe but the service was amazing and the food was great.

2026Y · 26/03/2026 15:38

Nosejobnelly · 26/03/2026 15:13

Brasserie Zedel? I haven’t been there for a long time though.

It's not what it once was. It got sold and it's gone down hill. It's ok, but not amazing.

ChamonixMountainBum · 26/03/2026 15:38

Noble Rot, soho

BluePoet · 26/03/2026 15:39

Cora pearl or brasseried Zedel

TokyoSushi · 26/03/2026 15:40

Circolo Popolare! We (me, DH, DS 14 & Dd12) loved it there https://www.circolopopolare.com/restaurants/circolopopolare-london