London - somewhere for a special meal

[posey]

Not exactly a weekend break (we live in London!) but dh and I have a couple of days child free (first time in about 14 years ) which coincides with our 21st anniversary.
Want to eat out somewhere special, but not somewhere we would feel uncomfortable. Just good food and wine, preferably central or north London.
Any recommendations?

bump

anyone?

What do you like eating? Awana is nice for Malaysian food in South Ken. Scotts in Mayfair is wonderful for fish. Wiltons (Mayfair?) is supposed to be really nice British food but I have never been... Locanda Locatelli is great too, very laid back, one time Sven Goran Erikson was on the table next to us! River Cafe in Hammersmith is really nice and relaxed?

Thank you for those ideas. Its so long since we ate out without children...
We like most food and are up for trying new stuff.

Don't know London well enough to recommend - but hope you enjoy it wherever you go :)

I love Amaranth in Soho. They recently opened a new restaurant called Les Deux Salons which seems great and has a lovely french bistro feel so quite relaxed but still fantastic food and wine - and all the wine can be bought in 250ml carafes at exactly 1/3 of the bottle price so you can try a few things which is great.

I like http://www.navarros-tapas-london.co.uk/sliders/test2/ but haven't been there for a while
I also like http://www.cafegallipoli.com/bistro/index.htmlin Islington.
Both places are laid back, good food and wine, won't break the bank

I love Orso (Covent Garden), Zefferano (Chelsea/Kensington) and The Ivy (Covent Garden).

I don't know where thos elinks came from, sorry!
Gallipoli here
Navaaros here

River cafe is Hammersmith is lovely, also like E and O in Notting Hill, for top notch oriental food

Clos Maggiore

Was recommended to me by a Mnetter, took dh to London for his birthday and we went here as a pre-theatre treat. Have since been again with s friend as another treat

Really havent eaten anywhere like it, the main room is phenomenal, service is out of this world and the food the best I have ever had. Was very reasonable pre-theatre menu (bout £20pp I think) but the wine list is a bit like the yellow pages and I think thats where the money is made.

Please have a look at the website, its lovely. Covent Garden, King Street I think

Oh, I love Andrew Edmonds on Lexington Street. It's a small place with tables a bit crammed in but the food is lovely and the atmosphere great.

www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/80123/Andrew_Edmunds

You can only book up to a week in advance. You're looking at around £80-120 for three courses for two, including wine and a glass of fizz.

I know it's a cliche, and it probably isn't as good as it used to be, but I really like Quaglino's.

ooh, Clos Maggiore is lovely! And had rather an extensive wine list....

toptable normally have offers on

Oooh loads of suggestions, thank you!
Am ging to get ds to bed shortly, dd already away on her school trip, so will peruse them all properly later.
I am so excited

Some great suggestions - the River Cafe is fabulous but the location (in the middle of a residential area near Hammersmith) means you miss out on having a nice wander round London, same as Locanda Locatelli, also amazing but stuck behind Selfridges so kind of out of the action. Much nicer in Soho/Covent Garden where there is a real buzz and you can go for drinks before and after. Unless you are looking for Michelin type food and formal setting I would have to second Andrew Edmunds, it is in the middle of Soho and so cosy and romantic, such a lovely atmosphere and also a great, but very reasonably priced wine list. Start with cocktails at the Charlotte Street hotel bar and then wander down through Dean Street towards Lexington St!

Enjoy

Have got to say that being in the centre of things really appeals, esp Soho where we went a lot in our younger days
Def feel like being in London...now off to check out all those websites

oh - and if you do fancy N London then the York & Albany is very good!

Clos Maggiore is lovely - try for a table in the conservatory.

Ditto Clos Maggiore.

for something a little different would recomend Fino - Spanish and le Cercle - French.

both great food, upmarket but not overly posh and lovely staff.

Can I recommend Corrigans in Mayfair, first unlike alot of celebrity chefs places the big man is there cooking nearly every day. It has a small intimate dining room, lovely friendly staff. The have won awards for best square meal and I would challenge anyone to leave there hungry.
We went for hubby's birthday last and where totally spoilt by the staff.

I would definitely reccomend Clos Maggiores too, beautiful decor, amazing food and great service!

Dean Street Townhouse is v nice but my fav london restaurant is Galvin Bistro on Baker Street.

Proper frenchified food, lovely bistro style atmosphere but not snobby. It's not cheap but very lovely.

Locanda Locatelli - beautiful room, gorgeous food and wine - really, really lovely. It's upmarket and feels very special, but not at all intimidating. Waiting staff are very knowledgable.

Definitely recommend for a special occasion.

I'll have a look at some of these suggestions as I'm also looking for somewhere new to go with friends in a couople of weeks.

Last couple of times I went to Plateau and Joe Allen Restaurant (13 Exeter Street, London, WC2E 7DT). I went with friends, I don't know how it would work as a more romantic setting.

I always suggest Sophie's steakhouse in Covent garden. I eat there everytime I visit

Amazing steaks, lobster rolls, huge cocktails. Big lofty area full of after work crowds. Join the mailing list and they often give you freebies like so much off a meal or a free bottle of wine!

www.sophiessteakhouse.co.uk/