can anyone recomment a restaurant in Covent Garden-Holborn-Chancery Lane areas?

[hatwoman]

not too expensive and preferably not a chain - for me and 2 girlfriends to go out for dinner tonight. any ideas?

I like Axis in One Aldwich

Could be a little pricey though

teah - it needs to be cheap really - one of us is prety skint. and I'll be wearing jeans...

I like Sofra. It is a chain, but not a big one. Nice, with tablecloths etc, but you can wear jeans, and it isn't expensive. The menu is on the website.

Belgo is great, it is a chain but doesn't feel like it. Resonable preiced for a dinner out.

there's a tas near british museum. and wagamamma.

i loathe covent garden belgo, it is hot and greasy and claustrophobic.

Strada - it is a chain but it is a v nice one(on Great Queen Street)
their risotto is yummy and it is not too expensive

also a new pub/restaurant has opened on Great Queen Street (and it is called Great Queen STreet) - i read a good review in one of the london papers yesterday, but i can't remember prices

oh yes its tom norrington davies isn't it?

sorry hat i didn't read op properly and have suggested chains to you!

there's a nice looking place called grape street wine bar just off new oxford street / top of monmouth street. there are a coupel of italian restaurants roudn there too but i haven't tried.

fire and stone pizzeria
www.fireandstone.com/ or the bunker beer hall are both lively and good fun.

Agree with oranges about Fire and Stone. Great pizza's, fun staff and smart, clean, unstuffy setting. You may be able to get a booking and discount through www.toptable.co.uk. Last time we went - 3 courses and glass of wine for £12. Bargain!

There's Mon Plaisir in Henrietta St I think, near Seven Dials - lovely old fashioned bistro

Christophers (american grill) or Orso's (Italian).

Sorastro's in Drury Lane. Very average food, but fantastic decor!!

well despite all your suggestions we went to a thai place next door to Ronnie Scott's. can't remember the name but the food was gorgeous. service was bad but I think that was a one off - they forgot our rice. I'd go again though definitely