British restaurants in England
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Inn the Park
This stunning wooden cafe and restaurant in St James’s Park is run by the Irish wonder that is Oliver Peyton and offers cakes and tea as well as substantial and quality British food. The recent addition of extra seating under the trees for the cafe part and the new roof terrace are perfect, but if you’re up for a special dining experience, come here for dinner, when the park is quiet and slightly illuminated. One of London’s most gorgeous structures and locations.
reviewed
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B
Rules
Established in 1798, this very posh and very British establishment is London’s oldest restaurant. The menu is inevitably meat-oriented – Rules specialises in classic game cookery, serving up tens of thousands of birds between mid-August and January from its own estate – but fish dishes are also available. Puddings are traditional: trifles, treacles and lashings of custard.
reviewed
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C
St John Bread & Wine
Little sister to St John, this place is cheaper and more relaxed but offers similar ‘nose to tail’ traditional fare (duck hearts on toast, jellied ham, salt lamb and turnips) in a simple, clean and bright space popular with Spitalfields creative types. It also has an excellent selection of British cheeses and puddings.
reviewed
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D
Great Queen Street
There's no tiara on this Great Queen, her claret-coloured walls and mismatched wooden chairs suggesting cosiness and informality. But the food's still the best of British, including lamb that melts in the mouth and Arbroath smokie (a whole smoked fish with creamy sauce).
reviewed
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E
Smiths of Smithfield
This converted meat-packing warehouse endeavours to be all things to all people and succeeds. Hit the ground-floor bar for a beer, follow the silver-clad ducts and wooden beams upstairs to a relaxed dining space, or continue up for two more floors of feasting, each slightly smarter and pricier than the last.
reviewed
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Narrow
This gastropub with commanding views of the Thames may or may not be Mr Ramsay's idea of slumming it - or at least be Gordon without the glam. Housed in what was once the Limehouse Basin dockmaster's residence, the place comes with a lot of history and tradition and the food reflects that. Expect such old favourites as London Particular (pea and ham soup), braised Gloucester pig cheeks with bashed neeps and Huntingdon fidget pie made with bacon, onion and apple.
reviewed
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G
Butcher & Grill
This combination grill and butcher shop has made quite a slap south of the river, winning awards as fast as it sizzles T-bones. But while not everyone likes the idea of seeing their meat au naturel on entry, the quality of the ingredients, the wide choice of sauces and the views from the main dining room (all brickwork and exposed ducts) are more than compensation.
reviewed
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H
Black & Blue
This steakhouse chain might not merit a mention elsewhere in London, but in the desert of Belsize Park’s eating choices it’s a reliable option, easily identifiable by the life-size black plaster cow standing outside. In addition to a panoply of steaks (£13 to £26) there are also gourmet burgers (£8 to £13) and a good grill selection.
reviewed
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I
Magdalen
Roasting up the best of the critters that walk, hop, flap and splash around these fair isles, Magdalen isn't the place to bring a vegetarian or a weight-conscious waif on a date. Carnivorous couplings, however, will appreciate the elegant room and traditional treats presented in interesting ways.
reviewed
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St Andrews St Bistro
A hectic heap of North African rugs, objets d'art and oddball furniture covers this fantastic bistro, where the modern British menu is jazzed up by traces of African and Middle Eastern cuisine. Artisan bread, lentil curries, grilled fish and spicy casseroles all feature, and you'll be as chuffed with your choice whether you're a veggie or a carnivore.
reviewed
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Paternoster Chop House
Right next to St Paul’s Cathedral, this sprawling upmarket chophouse serves delightfully British fare – from the ‘beast of the day’ (£19) to a huge shellfish and grill selection, and favourites such as bubble and squeak (fried leftover veggies from a roast dinner) and haggis. Sunday brunch (noon to 4pm) features a carvery.
reviewed
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L
Barbican Kitchen
In this bistro-style baby sister of Tanners Restaurant, the stone interior fizzes with bursts of shocking pink and lime. The food is attention grabbing, too – try the calves' liver with horseradish mash or the honey, goat's cheese and apple crostini. Their Devon beefburger, with a slab of stilton, is divine.
reviewed
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Simpson's-in-the-Strand
For traditional English roasts and joints (as in meat) from the trolley, Simpson's is hard to beat. It's been dishing up fleshy fare in a fine panelled dining room since 1848 (when it was called Simpson's Divan and Tavern). It's a gorgeous place, although something of a museum piece these days. Breakfast is available from 07:15 weekdays.
reviewed
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N
J Baker's
Superstar chef Jeff Baker left Leeds' Pool Court and his Michelin star to pursue his own vision of Modern British cuisine here. The defiantly traditional menu offers classics like ox tongue, egg 'n' chips and steaks - these days, it's all about being one of the lads, so long as Messrs Michelin are paying close attention.
reviewed
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O
Porters
Porters specialises in pies, long a staple of English cooking but not regularly found on menus nowadays. There are unusual ones like lamb and apricot or chicken and broccoli as well as the more commonplace steak, Guinness and mushroom pie. It also does a mean fish and chips and roast beef with Yorkshire pudding.
reviewed
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P
Canteen
Despite being part of the rather sterile-feeling ‘new’ Spitalfields, this popular place celebrates British food with a great menu catering to all tastes. Choose from freshly baked pies, roast chicken and the fish of the day, or just grab an outside table and a pork sandwich from the spit roast.
reviewed
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Q
Wig & Mitre
Civilised pub-restaurant the Wig has been steadily upgrading its menu for three decades and now considers itself an upscale eatery despite retaining the mellow cosiness of an old-world watering hole. No music will disturb your meal here, and the candle-lit evening meals are good for romantic liaisons.
reviewed
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R
Victoria
A serious beer-drinker's pub with a pleasant patio looking up at the castle's western walls, Victoria has a huge selection of guest brews, cask ales, thick stouts and superb ciders and preserves a mellow historic ambience undisturbed by sports or flashy lights. The pub runs two beer festivals a year.
reviewed
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Rochelle School Canteen
A truly unique eatery, the canteen at the former Rochelle School ostensively exists to feed workers from the surrounding design studios, but passers-by are welcome to join in the fun. It’s only open lunchtime, it’s BYO, and the menu of top-class British food changes daily.
reviewed
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Due South
Sheltered under a cavernous Victorian arch on the seafront with a curvaceous front window and small bamboo-screened terrace on the promenade, this refined yet relaxed restaurant specialises in dishes cooked with local, environmentally sustainable and seasonal ingredients.
reviewed
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The Ivy
You’ll have to book one to six months ahead to enjoy the innovative modern British cuisine at this favourite hangout of London celebrities. The main reason to visit is the exquisite food, but there’s a definite fascination in seeing how the other half live.
reviewed
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Old Spot
Little Wells conceals a culinary star in the shape of the Old Spot, run by renowned chef Ian Bates. It's a favourite with the foodie guides and the Sunday supplements, and the menu specialises in giving a modern twist to old country favourites – saddle of pork, smoked eel, rabbit stew.
reviewed
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Cupola House
This grand 17th-century apothecary's home topped by a baroque-style octagonal cupola and rich with historic features. It was recently rescued from a severe state of disrepair and now houses a stylish contemporary restaurant with a meaty menu and relaxed atmosphere.
reviewed
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X
Olive Tree Restaurant
Chic and sleek, and one of the finest restaurants in town, this understated place with oak floors and dark leather furniture serves up a top-notch menu of simple modern British and French cuisine. You'll find it inside the Queensberry Hotel.
reviewed
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Y
Medcalf
Medcalf is one of the best value hang-outs on Exmouth Market. Housed in a beautifully converted 1912 butcher's shop, it serves up interesting and well-realised British fare.
reviewed
