Recommend a good London Restaurant in Zone 1

[Clementine1]

We are going to London for my birthday treat and would love if you can recommend your fav. restaurant with a bit of atmosphere in Zone 1. Budget is negotiable so I'd like recommendations from the very reasonable to expensive. Thanks.

What sort of food do you like and how many people will be going?

If you are going in the day with children I can highly recommend Smollensky's (which is on the Strand near Covent Garden). On Sat / Sun lunchtimes they have a magician / conjuror who entertains the dcs - so you can have a chat - also everyone else has kids and they are not expected to stay in their seats - so a stress free meal for all.

We've been a couple of times as a big group and it has worked really well.

Blimey, how long is a piece of string?

If you like fish then J Sheeky's is great (the potted shrimp is like fishy heaven on earth!)

We had a great meal at Locando Locatelli, but it's quite formal. Food is amazing though. The best Italian in central London IMO.

Zuma is good if you like Japanese food, and it's got a pretty buzzy bar so good for laughing at fashion victims people watching.

If you don't mind going at an odd time, and you can get a booking The Ivy is always fun, lots of people watching there, the food is very old school, shepherds pie, scrambled eggs with truffles, spotted dick etc...

Oh I didn't realise we had to factor children in, I wouldn't really say any of the above I've recommended are restaurants children would find interesting.

Gaucho Grill is always good if you like steak and cocktails in a moody setting... There are, of course, the classic restaurants ie Claridges, but I don't find them that fun. Hope that helps!

I like Le Boudin Blanc in Shepherds Market. Go to Clardiges for a glass of champagne before hand.

It's just my husband and I - we like all types of food.

I've always wanted to go to Racine, it's meant to be fabulous too....

Arbutus in Soho is fab. Very good food (michelin starred) at very reasonable prices, esp if you go for the menu. also the wine list is good, well priced and everything can be bought by the carafe ie 2 glasses.

Wild Honey - similar, but a bit poncier.

Smiths of Smithfield.

cinnamon club - if you like curry in Westminster.

I have eaten at a couple of the Gordon Ramseys (Claridges and the Connaught), but not for a few years. They were excellent.

Galvin at Windows.

Enjoy - have fun!!!

PS I fancy Racine, but haven't been there yet!

Arbutus. Fantastic food, good service and you can buy the wine by the 250ml carafe, allowing lots of opportunity to try a bit of everything.

I was just recommending Bocco di Lupo on another thread which is also great - and a bit newer and edgier.

If you like tapas and don't mind sitting at the bar, Barrafina is fun too and the food is excellent. There's also a great tapas place near Goodge Street - Salt Yard - which is more sit down and really good food. There are a couple of others down between Carnaby Street and Regent Street like Dehesa, but you can't book which can be annoying.

Le pont de la Tour is quite formal, but it's a great spot down by the river on the North Bank across from Tower Bridge.

Les Providores on Marylebone High Street is a great place for lunch - really buzzy atmosphere and interesting, unusual food.

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon is also an amazing restaurant - the food is stunning and the restaurant itself is v trendy (but not in a wanky medja way, IYKWIM) with a great atmosphere.

I agree about Pont De La Tour, had a fab meal there with MIL...

Also, Bluebird on the King's Road is buzzy and lovely food IIRC

Has anyone an opinion on Fifteen?

Fifteen is rubbish according to DH!

He gets wined and dined alot through work and loves this restaurant, says the wine list is amazing - it isn't the dearest but isn't super cheap either and is tucked away in Covent Garden.

He has only taken me once and I have to say I would go back.

Banares is one of his faves too - Atul Kutcher - the indian guy from Great British Menu's restaurant.

Sorry - this restaurant was called Clos Maggiore.

I haven't been to Clos Maggiore since they changed it - am interested that it's still good. Used to be fab - and very romantic if you were looking for a good meal with a partner.

I liked Fifteen actually. But the portions are huge. Feels very wasteful and not in line with Jamie's approach to food.

Not sure about zones but Ev is by Southwark tube station, very lively and food amazing - Turkish I think. Service delightful. Not expensive. When you get there they bring lots of delicious nibbly things to tempt you.

Club Gascon. The food is lovely.

Go for pre-dinner champagne to Vertigo bar. At the top of the Nat West tower. Marvellous views of London, then a nice stroll to club Gascon.

Andrew Edmunds is my favourite for meal with dh. def good for atmosphere, yummy food, adult but not ridic prices.

Chez Bruce good food but always feels a bit grown up for me (also not zone 1, so ignore!)

Thank you - I have booked Arbutus as I had a look around some other sites and it has good reviews. Thanks again.

Whoo hoo! Someone on MN finally used MY suggestion

Visit this site, I have recently discovered it.

It is a collection of the best restaurants, pubs, and takeaways listed throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
It is quite appealing and a good source of information for all the food lovers like me. There is an extensive list of restaurants and takeaways for which it lets you search by restaurant type of county. You can even place your order online. It's is really cool site and is well worth checking out.
It has reviews, menus, pictures, driving directions and online ordering.

The website is

www.sideorder.co.uk

Pasha is excellent, Morrocan, totally yummy good food (even the stuff I thought I wouldn't like), great atmosphere. We went in a 4 with my PILs and shared rather than ordering separate things.
I want to go again now, which might be trickier with a 9 month old.