Restaurants in England
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A
Electric Brasserie
Whether it’s for breakfast (£5 to £10) or brunch over the weekend, a hearty lunch or a full dinner, the Electric draws a trendy and wealthy Notting Hill crowd with its Modern British/European cuisine. If you’re feeling decadent, lobster and chips (£36) is the way forward.
reviewed
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Cap'n Jaspers
Unique, quirky and slightly insane, this cabin-kiosk has been delighting bikers, tourists, locals and fishermen for decades with its motorised gadgets and teaspoons attached by chains. The menu is of the burger and bacon butty school – trying to eat a 'half a yard of hot dog' is a Plymouth rite of passage. Try the local crab rolls – the filling could have been caught by the bloke sitting next to you.
reviewed
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Busaba Eathai
The Store St premises of this hugely popular mini-chain is slightly less hectic than some of the other West End outlets, but it retains all the signature features that have made it a roaring success: uberstyled Asian interior, large communal wooden tables, and heavenly cheap and tasty Thai food. You’ll find perfectly executed big hitters such as Pad Thai, green and red curry as well as fragrant noodle soups, exquisite calamari and other delights such as jungle curry. This isn’t the place to come for a long and intimate dinner, but it’s a superb option for an excellent and speedy meal.
reviewed
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D
Barrafina
Tapas are always better value in Spain but the quality of the food here and the fact that its popularity just seems to rise may justify the price of what are essentially appetisers to go with your drink. Along with gambas al ajillo(prawns in garlic; £7.50), there are more unusual things such as tuna tartare and grilled quails with aioli. Because customers sit along the bar, it’s not a good place for groups.
reviewed
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E
Magpie Cafe
The Magpie flaunts its reputation for serving the 'World's Best Fish and Chips'. Damn fine they are too, but the world and his dog knows about it, and summertime queues can stretch along the street. Fish and chips from the takeaway counter cost £5; the sit-down restaurant is dearer, but offers a wide range of seafood dishes, from grilled sea bass to paella.
reviewed
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Back to Basics
There are two or three other options on the menu (see 'Fish not Your Dish'), but seafood is the focus at this superb corner restaurant run by a bevy of affable young Poles in what's become know as Titchfield Village. A dozen varieties of exceedingly fresh fish, and a dozen original, mouth-watering ways to cook them, are chalked up on a blackboard every day. Two-course set lunch is around £10. There's outside seating in summer.
reviewed
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Mirch Masala
‘Chilli and Spice’, part of a small chain based in the epicentre of London subcontinental food, Southall, is a less hectic alternative to Tayyabs and the food is almost up to the same level. Order the prawn tikka (£9) as a ‘warmer’ followed by the masala karella (£5), a curry-like dish made from bitter gourd, and a karahi (stewed) meat dish.
reviewed
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Fish House
This combination seafood restaurant and chippy is just the sort of place you wish you had in your own neighbourhood. The freshest of fresh fish and crustaceans are dispensed from both a busy takeaway section (where a blackboard tells you from where your fish has come) and a cheerful sit-down restaurant. The lobster bisque and Colchester oysters are always good, while the generous fish pie bursting with goodies from the briny deep is exceptional.
reviewed
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Le Café Anglais
This bustling restaurant has a very eclectic menu (from gigantic roasts to Thai curries) that means to please everybody and usually does.
reviewed
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J
Mela
Despite its location in the heart of theatreland, this bustling Shaftesbury Ave eatery serves some pretty authentic dishes from across India (with an emphasis on tandoor) and there is magnificent choice for vegetarians. We love the décor too, with colourful papier-mâché Ferris wheels and naive paintings of carnivals and fairs (mela means 'festival' in Hindi).
reviewed
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Diwana Bhel Poori House
The first of its kind and arguably the best on this busy street, Diwana specialises in Bombay-style bhel poori (a sweet-and-sour, soft and crunchy ‘party mix’ snack) and dosas (filled pancakes made from rice flour). Thalis offering a selection of tasty treats are £6.75 to £8.50 and the all-you-can-eat lunchtime buffet (£6.95) is legendary.
reviewed
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J Sheekey
A jewel of the local scene, this incredibly smart restaurant, whose pedigree stretches back to 1896, has four elegant, discreet and spacious wood-panelled rooms in which to savour the riches of the sea, cooked simply and exquisitely. The oyster bar, popular with pre- and post-dinner punters, is another highlight. There is a three-course weekend lunch for £26.50.
reviewed
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Gay Hussar
This is the Soho of the 1950s, when dining was still done grand style in wood-panelled rooms with brocade and sepia prints on the walls. Portions are huge; try the roast duck leg with all the trimmings or the ‘Gypsy quick dish’ of pork medallions, onions and green peppers. A two-/three-course lunch is £19/22.
reviewed
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Marine Ices
As its name suggests, this Chalk Farm institution started out as an ice-cream parlour (in fact, a Sicilian gelateria) but these days it does some savoury dishes as well, including pizzas and hearty pasta dishes. Be sure to try some of the excellent ice cream (Caribbean coconut and maple walnut come highly recommended); the parlour is particularly popular at weekends when a long line snakes down Haverstock Hill.
reviewed
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O
Woodlands
This South Indian vegetarian restaurant, whose rallying cry is ‘Let Vegetation Feed the Nation’, is determined to prove that South Indian vegetarian food can be as inventive as any meat-based cuisine and it does a pretty convincing job of it.
reviewed
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Enoteca Turi
The atmosphere at this stylish place is serene, the service charming. Enoteca Turi devotes equal attention to the grape as to the food, which means that each dish, be it a shellfish tagliolini or saddle of new season lamb, comes recommended with a particular glass of wine (or you can pick from the enormous wine list if you have ideas of your own).
reviewed
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Riverstation
It's been around for many years now, but this riverside bistro is as reliable as ever, turning out some of the city's best European cuisine. Head upstairs for dining, downstairs for coffee – and ask for a window table to make the most of the harbour views.
reviewed
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Wright Brothers
Should you be tempted by the offerings at the fishmongers of Borough Market and must have a fix of iodine right then and there, head for this excellent oyster bar and porter house. You'll find up to a dozen different types of the bivalve (around £7 to £17 for six) available at any given time, along with more substantial main courses.
reviewed
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St John Bread & Wine
Little sister to St John, this place is cheaper and more relaxed but offers similar ‘nose to tail’ traditional fare (potted pork, venison and trotter pie, blood cake) 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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C&R Café
When we're in the mood for a bit of Asian, we know of no better place than this hole-in-the-wall serving fairly authentic Singapore noodles, laksa (soup noodles with seafood) and gado-gado (salad with peanut sauce). For those who answer to a higher authority, it's halal. There's a larger Westbourne Grove branch.
reviewed
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Jericho Café
Chill out and relax with the paper over a coffee and a slab of cake, or go for some of the wholesome lunch and dinner specials, which encompass everything from sausages and mash to Lebanese lamb kibbeh. There are plenty of hearty salads and lots of options for vegetarians.
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El Parador
This laid-back Spanish place has a generous selection of tapas - try the empanadillas de espinacas y queso (spinach and cheese dish) - from all over Spain. There's a walled garden for when the sun's out and you're feeling moderately Mediterranean; the reasonably priced rioja (from around £17) should help.
reviewed
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Gusto
Gusto is a real Italian cafe-restaurant, from the Italian owners serving homemade Italian food to the genuine Italian coffee being enjoyed by Italian customers reading Italian newspapers… you get the idea. Coffee and homebaked Italian cakes and pastries served all day, plus a lunch and dinner menu of exquisite Italian cuisine. Best to book for dinner.
reviewed
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Tokyo Diner
Everyday Japanese food at everyday prices is what Tokyo Diner's all about, and you can't ask for fairer than that. The waiters are all Japanese; they are discreet and graceful in their service, and very knowledgeable about the food. The miso is ordinary but the Japanese-style curry is tops, as are the noodle dishes.
reviewed
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Bangkok House
The food's delicious, the service impeccable, the prices affordable, and unsurprisingly, this little slice of Thailand is always packed. Elaborately carved tables, massive chairs and ornate wall hangings set the scene for the wonderfully aromatic Thai curries, sizzling meat dishes and delicately prepared dumplings.
reviewed