Eating out in London?

[janji]

Going to London over the weekend with dh and 2 dc (aged 6 & 8). Have previously done the touristy food like tea at ritz, snacks in Harrods but would like ideas for something else for this visit. London seems so huge to a country bumpkin like me and don't really know where to start?

Whereabouts will you be going? What areas/attractions?

Coventry garden, Knightsbridge, regents street and natural history museum. Dc love zipping about on the tube though so wouldn't mind travelling around city if eatery is good / recommended!

Joe Allens in Covent Gdn used to be v good! Top end of Regents Street has a fab Turkish restaurant called Ozer - their meze platter aand indeed their cocktails used to keep me very happy when we lived in London!

We went to Abeno yesterday for Japanese pancakes. Was nice. And just steps from the British Museum.

Lupita is good for authentic Mexican. Not spicy unless you want it to be though! Informal, good value. www.lupita.co.uk/?gclid=CIuknOyB-7ECFXIQtAodb04Aog

Benihana would be good for the kids. They make the food right in front of you and it's a bit of a show www.benihana.co.uk/piccadilly_benihana.html

Jamie Oliver's place Union Jacks would be good too. www.unionjacksrestaurants.com/

And here for amazing cake! You can take away or eat in hummingbirdbakery.com/our-bakeries/south-kensington/

The Stockpot on Old Compton Street in Soho does school dinner type food for knock-down prices (set menu is about £6 for 2 courses, puddings around the £2 mark). It's been there for years, very local feeling.

Chinatown if you fancy Chinese, I find the ones on Lisle Street are the nicest.

Canteen in Covent Garden Market is nice, especially at breakfast.

Kopapa on Seven Dials (also Covent Garden) is lovely.

There's a Mexican called Cafe Pacifico just off Long Acre by Covent Garden station which is lovely. Agree with TellyBug on Lupita, it's great.

Thank you all so much for your help. Am off to do lots of googling! Can't wait to try some of your suggestions out.