Help - foodies with London knowledge please

[stargirl04]

I know this is a property forum but I don't know where else to post!

Any suggestions to reroute my request gratefully received.

But the folks on this board have always give me great advice so here goes:

I have friends visiting from overseas and it is my friend's 50th birthday. She likes Thai food but as it's a special occasion we'd like to eat somewhere "naice" rather than the more basic places I know of.

We need somewhere either in central London itself or the south east London area, or Canary Wharf, where they are staying. Any suggestions gratefully received!

Anything is West or SW London is too far away. I live in SE London and they are staying with me part of the time.

I thought my friend's husband was organising it but he has asked me to do that and they will be here in two weeks, hence the call for help!

Thanks!

Have you tried Tripadvisor? You can search for Thai cuisine and by neighbourhood. They even have a map search for many of the areas of London (most of the map areas are north of the river though).

There's a naice (imo) Thai place just behind Holborn station, can't remember the name though (not helpful - sorry)

I don't know of any particularly fancy thai places but this may help www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/londons-best-thai-restaurants

Patara on greek street has decent reviews www.pataralondon.com/

not the same, but if she likes Asian food what about Hakkasan? Great chinese.

The best Thai restaurant I have eaten in is in Kent - Charing its called The Swan - I ate at the Sri nam in Canary Wharf which was nice but no way as good as The Swan - from SE London you could drive there in about 45 mins if that suits you?

The Swan

Have you looked at Bam Bou near Tottenham court rd?

That is not a 45 minute drive! It'd be an hour going now, at midnight. Much more in early evening!

Well my cousin drives from Catford to Charing in 45 mins regularly but yes wouldn't do it between 4.30 and 7pm!

I knew you guys would come up with some good ideas, thanks! I am looking at the reviews about Patara on Trip Advisor right now and it's looking good

Try these listings. Time Out is a bit behind the times, unfortunately. Nipa might be good.

Thai Square are usually quite good, they are a chain I think but all seem like independent restaurants and good food. There is a place in crystal palace that is amazing but I can't remember the name, useful! I shall have a Google...

Ah yes Tamnag Thai.

Sri Nam in CW is pretty decent, although not especially swanky.

Blue Elephant in Fulham was pretty special when I went.

What about the Begging Bowl in Peckham?

There is (or was, it's been a long time since I lived there) a Thai on the Isle of Dogs called Blue Elephant that was very nice. It wasn't at Canary Wharf but further down towards Island Gardens.

I was going to suggest Sri nam at the wharf. I've had some lovely meals there.

I used to love the blue elephant at island gardens but the last meal I had there was disappointing. Not sure if it was a one off.

Roka in CW. Feels like an occasion and food is great.
Elephant Royale by Island Gardens is the stylistic opposite but also good, tho' not as good I would say, also cheaper tbf

I'd second bam Bou. Lovely little rooms as well as good food.

Busaba Eathai. Amazing food. The Store Street branch [closest tube is Tottenham Court Road] is rather nice but it's communal eating so you share a table so an upmarket Wagamama's in many ways. They do have a private dining room so if you can get enough people to go, you could have a nice room all to yourself.

Hakkasan for properly swanky destination eating but it's Chinese. Ubon/Nobu at Canary Wharf was fantastic but closed during the recession, I'm not aware of anything else jumping into it's place out there

www.squaremeal.co.uk/selections/best-thai-restaurants-in-london

Is Victoria easy on public transport? Mango tree is v nice. About ten years ago I went to a gorgeous one near Bromley. But that is v useless advice!

I work in the foodservice industry and therefore am lucky enough to eat out quite a lot with work. I'm not entirely sure what your budget it, but agree that the Blue Elephant in Fulham is nice and Busaba Eathai has good food if you're looking for something a bit more casual. A few options that aren't Thai, but I've enjoyed recently are Roka on Charlotte Street (Japanese), Nopi on Warwick St, Oxo Tower if you're looking for somewhere with a view (or you can go for drinks in the cafe at the Tate Modern); City Social is also lovely food and a fab view (up the Heron Tower @ Liverpool St), but now that it has a michelin star might be a bit harder to book. The Riding House Cafe on Great Tichfield Street also does a great brunch and they're open all day. Really hope you find somewhere :)

Thanks so much everyone for these great ideas. My friend is celebrating her 50th and they are visiting from overseas so I do need somewhere fairly swanky. Me and her hubby have been planning it over the past couple of days and it seems that Patara fits the bill in terms of not being too casual and it is well located in central London.

Fulham is just too far away. The CW suggestions are good too and I might suggest them to my friend's hubby. However, they want to go to Camden market during the day so logistically, CW might be impractical (fancy coming all that way to hang out at Camden market!). On the other hand, Patara in Soho is easy to reach from Camden and it's easy to get back to my place in SE London too.

Bear in mind also that trains are rubbish on a Sunday.

Thanks everyone for all of these wonderful suggestions. I'm going to write them all down on a list and visit each of them at leisure!
x x

Nipa near the Hyde Park area is another option for us but the website won't let me book a table. Perhaps it is all booked out.

If they are going to Camden how about Gilgamesh. It's quite swanky and the food is great