We definitely went off the
beaten path on our recent trip to London.
Armed with the advice and personal guidance
of a local, we had a great time experiencing
some of these insider spots.
29 Romilly Street, W1
Tube Stop: Leicester Square
Tel: 020 7437 6437
We spent a bit of time at
the Champagne Bar at this Soho classic
(founded in 1868 by Napoleon III’s
chef). Three levels of restaurant here,
split into various dining rooms, and offering
what looked to be fairly basic cuisine.
Reportedly Oscar Wilde’s favorite
restaurant… Could be because of the
grand list of grand Champagnes, though
we suspect there may have been more to
it than that. The Champagne Bar is a good
place to rest and refresh after a walk
through Soho.
18 Wilton Row, SW1
Tube Stop: Hyde Park Corner
Tel: 020 7235 3074
After much delightful wandering,
guide book in hand, and several offers
of assistance from friendly workers, we
finally found this famous pub. Tucked
away near the end, up a small hill, around
the corner, of a mews cul-de-sac in Belgravia,
The Grenadier is worth the effort. Excellent
ambiance – picture perfect, in fact.
Just what we Americans want by way of
an English pub. (And I assume the locals
agree, judging by the crowd). Traditional
British dishes, probably at rather higher
than normal prices, given the posh Belgravia
location. We tried the potted shrimp –
very nice, thank you. Great hang out.
They say the place is haunted by a soldier
who was killed by fellow card players
after being caught cheating. As we wandered
out by the light of the huge Victorian
gas lamp outside, it seemed entirely possible
to us!
89 Regent’s Park Road, NW1
Tube Stop: Chalk Farm
Tel: 020 7586 7454
We’ve always been a
sucker for good Greek food, especially
in a boisterous setting like Lemonia.
Our meze assortment was delicious –
one of the best in recent memory. Prices
are quite reasonable, and the service
was very friendly. We weren’t entirely
sure why we made the trip all the way
out to Regent’s Park, but Lemonia
was most definitely worth it.
21A Foley Street, W1
Tube Stop: Goodge Street
Tel: 020 7436 2181
http://www.backtobasics.uk.com/
We were checking out the
Charlotte Street Hotel (sister hotel to
ours – The Pelham) one day, when
someone recommended Back to Basics as
a low-key choice for excellent fresh fish.
To say we were nonplussed at the name,
but decided to try it anyway. What a nice
surprise! Kinda kitschy, but in a cute
way. And they were right – delicious
fresh fish. We loved the crab claws served
warm in a garlicky tomato broth. Messy,
but worth it. And a good wine list with
a nice array of mostly-French choices
that beautifully matched the cuisine,
and at nice prices! As a tourist, you’d
probably never just happen by this place
– you need to take the address and
a map, and go find it. I definitely recommend
it.
137 Upper Street, N5
Tube Stop: Highbury, Islington
Tel: 020 7226 8994
Okay, the reason we were
up in this area was because this is where
St. Paul’s Cathedral is located,
which I wanted to see. From there, we
knew that Upper Street – north of
St. Paul’s – has lately become
known for the multitude of good cafes.
So off we went.
Casale Franco is apparently
one of the Upper Street trendsetters and
with good reason. We had some of the best
pizza I’ve ever had outside of Italy.
Perfect thin crust. Cooked directly on
terracotta tiles. A definite buzz in this
place – hip, in-the-know vibe, but
still relaxed. A pleasure!
6 Clarendon Road, W11
Tube Stop: Holland Park
Tel: 020 7727 3330
Our aforementioned local
is a Notting Hill guy, and this is one
of his regular haunts. Busy, small, neighborhood-y,
its limited menu (I’m talking five
entrees) features French and "New
French" dishes, prepared with exquisite
attention to detail. Very nice wine list,
also carefully-chosen, with reasonable
prices. This is definitely a place to
be savored and in which to linger. Just
as well, given the "slow food"
approach to otherwise friendly service.
