London-centered thread : Reatsuarant

[mangaman]

Hi all

I'm getting married soon and have my stag do sorted (lots of sport / food / and a few beers) and I am happy. I've been assured I wont be tied naked to a lamppost, but I suppose that could be a bluff.
Kirsty is not into drinking or dressing up

She wants a day in London with an exhibition, a play and a nice meal in central London (Covent Garden but preferrably towards Waterloo.

We are both on our 1st marriages, but both over 40 years old, so the modern hens/stags of pissed up, "L-plated" people appeal to neither of us.

I am lucky as it's been organised locally and I insisted on a day I would enjoy - so there are women coming and it has been organised to be the best day I could want, rather than "a stag do"
Kirsty has left it all up to the bridesmaid - and they are looking at a belly dancing club in South London with terrible on-line reviews.

What Kirsty would like is a quite formal meal - any style (maybe British / French / Spanish / Italian) in central London that is reasonably priced and could accomodate about 12.

Any suggestions of nice places - especially towards the South Bank / Waterloo would be much appreciated as it is driving her round the bend.

Thanks for any help.

 

[hotmetal]

Congrats to you both!

Totally with you on avoiding the typical 'stag'. How many of your mates really can afford the time and £££ to fly off to Lithuania to play with machine guns, or spend the weekend getting blunted (or watching others get blunted) in Amsterdam… And at 40+, like me you're probably past strippers followed by paintball followed by go-karts followed by clubbing, followed by a kebab, followed by the police… Yawn. My mates have done all these things, but when I was best man to my best mate recently we went to his local pub, got a big stack of finger food and a little area to ourselves, and there was a band on. Proper old school, before the 'events industry' took over…

I was going to suggest Pescatori in Dover St, but it would probably fail on 'reasonably priced'. It is reasonably priced for an upmarket fish restaurant in Mayfair, and perfect for 'special occasions', but if there's a bunch of you going, some might not like fish and some might not like ~£50 a head. Me and the birdage go there on 'Tezzies' Clubcard tokens, we appreciate fine food but have normal pockets! If you like fish maybe take her there for a romantic meal just the two of you. The ambiance is quite 'Mayfair' (oak panelling), the food excellent, the wine a tad pricey, clientele well heeled, staff have that Italian 'hauteur', i.e. professional but not overly matey. Overall it's my fave posh nosh, 8.5/10. Budget £100 for 3 courses, a bottle of wine and coffees for 2 people. Not really a place for 12-to-a-table though. The Charlotte St Pescatori is a little less formal and has a younger, more "meedja" crowd due to the local businesses being creative industry. Maybe more fun but not quite so posh and romantic.

There are stacks of restaurants along the South Bank, I've only been to a pizza place that was good but not very formal or special. You could have a look here: southbanklondon.com

Hope that's of some help.

 

[Aperitif]

My starter for ten - tested and ok...friendly and a short walk from the South Bank. Menier Chocolate Factory. Plays and food in the same place!
Somewhere interesting; Polpetto which is in Soho, above the famous French House pub, ergo not a million miles from Theatreland.
Strada and Giraffe are the only two within the South Bank complex that I have been into - I don't think either of those would be suitable for a group function - the Chocolate Factory was preferrable, and Polpetto less spacious, but original.
Alternatlvely, there is a restaurant on the 7th floor of the Tate Modern - and a bar open until 10pm I believe, Friday & Saturday but I have no idea of the restaurant hours etc. Always seems quite popular at times when I have visited.

 

[dellzeqq]

here's a thought - but you have to be quick.

Go to Tate Britain and have lunch at the Rex Whistler Restaurant http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/eatanddrink/ . For £32 you get three courses, and a glass of wine with each course. The food and the wine are fanbloodytastic, and I've seen big parties in there. And, having had your lunch, you can wander around the gallery, and then, if not too heartily refreshed, walk across the Hungerford Bridge to the Oxo Tower and go up to the bar for early evening drinks. Then on to the bar at the Tate Modern for some more art, before wandering along to London Bridge for the train home.

You've got to be quick, because the restaurant is about to close for restoration

 

[dellzeqq]

and congratulations!

 

[dellzeqq]

the other option is to hire the small room at St. John. But we are talking big money here........

 

[dellzeqq]

one small warning about the Rex Whistler Restaurant. The waitress, a woman in the prime of life, and possessed of a happy demeanour, suggested I might enjoy some punishment if I didn't finish my starter. I thought it was highly inappropriate, but my dining companions (FNRttCers both) thought it amusing. Ha!

 

[mangaman]

Thanks all

 

[Hacienda71]

the other option is to hire the small room at St. John. But we are talking big money here........

I am at a birthday at St John this weekend and they are doing the set menu for £30 for veggies and £40 for meat eaters. The burn I am sure will come with the service and drinks on top.

 

[rich p]

the other option is to hire the small room at St. John. But we are talking big money here........

When I ate at St John there were a group of 12 or so in the main eating area so it may just be a case of booking early enough.
The bone marrow salad followed by faggots was worth every penny.

 

[Aperitif]

When I ate at St John there were a group of 12 or so in the main eating area so it may just be a case of booking early enough.
The bone marrow salad followed by faggots was worth every penny.

That's no way to talk about the waiters, Rich.

 

[Arch]

When Night Train and I went down to London for his graduation, we ate at the Butlers Wharf Chop House, right by Tower Bridge. I suppose it's not strictly central London, but it's not far out!

We had the Bar set menu recommended to us (£12 for 2 courses, £15 for three), and enjoyed it very much. I don't know if you can book tables in the bar though, and the main restaurant is rather more pricy. But we had a 3 course meal for two, a beer each, and a cracking view of Tower Bridge (it was dark, and the Bridge was all lit up), for under £50 total. Very good staff too, just the right level of attentive without being pushy.

http://www.chophouse-restaurant.co.uk/bar-grill

It was all the better when we realised that the previous night, weary from travel, we'd settled on Chiquitos in Leicester Square, and paid not much less for one course and a beer with service that bordered on 'meh'....

 

[rich p]

Actually, mangaman, we may all be barking up the wrong tree. In Aperitif's case he may just be barking; but I digress.

Looking at the title again, is it a restaurant you're looking for, or a reet-sewer-rant which is northern-speak for foul and abusive language?

 

[theclaud]

here's a thought - but you have to be quick.

Go to Tate Britain and have lunch at the Rex Whistler Restaurant

You've got to be quick, because the restaurant is about to close for restoration

Alternatively, he could give them a bell and echo your advice about What They Should Do With Their Whistler. Which would be a quicker job than the planned restoration...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Skylon. Or the Opera Terrace Brasserie Blanc in Covent Garden.