Ed,
I was totally there, went to their website, ordered a candy bar for $5 -- and then found out the shipping charge: $47 for overnight, $27 for two-day. Those were the only options. Sorry, $32 (or $52) for a candy bar is a bit steep, don't you think?
KC
Da Mario, 15 Gloucester Road, not far from Kensington Palace. Great pizza, a fabulous tricolore salad. Ask for a table upstairs, downstairs is kind of cramped and noisy.
There's one more criterion I'd like to add to your list: infallibility. In other words, if you follow the writer's advice, are you ever likely to have a bad meal?
By that measure, in my experience -- and I've followed his taste recommendations in both New York and San Francisco, in high-end restaurants as well as holes-in-the-wall -- the best food writer I know of is Ed Levine.
It isn't sucking up if it's true.
Thanks for the tip, Ed. I just ordered three online! That's how much your opinion means...
By that measure, in my experience -- and I've followed his taste recommendations in both New York and San Francisco, in high-end restaurants as well as holes-in-the-wall -- the best food writer I know of is Ed Levine.
Glad to hear someone ackowledge that reviewing food is something that should be accible to the other 95% of restaurant goers, not just those who like to feel superior. A review of a meal that only 5% of your viewers would ever consider eating is just forgetting your audience or perhaps just appeasing yourself over them. Reviewing food in your mind is for the chef, reviewing it in your words is for readers.
Glad to be of service. A couple more ideas: I just went to a fantastic restaurant in Spitalfields Market called Canteen. Very traditional English food (roasts, pies, sausages, potatoes, lemon curd, etc.) thoughtfully sourced and perfectly done. It's very reasonable, but even if it wasn't it would still be worth a visit. Right next door is a branch of Leon, which is basically posh fast food and has become a London obsession. Great organic meat, lovely fish, lots of veggie and vegan choices. Spitalfields market is generally worth a look anyway - SM Cafe is another good, cheap option.
If anyone wants any more suggestions for cheap eats in London, let me know. I have more ideas than it would be fitting to list.
Thanks for the tips, Caley. Doesn't matter how old the question is (and this one isn't that old), we're just happy you're sharing your intel with us. Cheers!
Oh, and one more suggestion. If you are in London on a Friday, go to Burrough Market for Lunch. They're open on Saturdays too, but it gets so crowded that it just isn't worth it. You can get an organic sausage roll or a falafel, or one of hundreds of other choices and, if it's not raining, sit in the shadow of Southwark Cathedral to eat.
I know this question is kind of old, but just thought I'd add my two cents. Rasa in Stoke Newington does amazing Kerelan cuisine. Try their beetroot curry - it's one of the most delicious things I've ever had in my mouth! Food for Thought is a vegetarian favourite in Neal Street, cheap and cheerful. It gets crowded quickly, so you need to get there early. The Green and Red in Brick Lane has unusually tasty Mexican food for London (lots of slow braised meats). It's not exactly cheap, but it's very reasonable. If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, walk down Bethnal Green Road and go to a proper East End caff - E Pelicci is in a classic art deco space, and they serve great fried breakfast. Just down the street from them is a place that sells pies (I'm blanking on the name). I think they also do jellied eels if you're feeling brave. Finally, most of the curry places in Brick Lane are rubbish, but Sweet and Spicy is a Bengali workers' cafe, and it does great, very authentic, food for under a fiver. Make sure to get their chana dal, but avoid their naan breads, which are the one weak link.
Chowki, the indian restaurant in Denman St, behind Piccadilly Circus http://www.chowki.com/
Or the Japanese restaurant on Hanover Sq (near Oxford St) which is on a corner and looks like a cafeteria (can never remember the name)
Or any of the lebanese Maroush restaurants on Edgware Rd
The Med Kitchen chain is also good value, there is one on St Martin's Lane
Check out TopTable.co.uk for good bargains. For user reviews, try London-eating.co.uk and Squaremeal.co.uk. (They also have some bargains if you book online, but TopTable is probably the main online booking site.)
My favorite restaurant “critic†is the Zagat guide. While the consumer-based surveys are not sophisticated, they give me a sense of the restaurant’s food, service and atmosphere. I’ve consistently found their reviews to be on target and I like being able browse by ratings, top lists and location. Whenever I travel, I use the Zagat guides to orient me to the restaurant scene and give me ideas of places to try and places to avoid. Everything I want is accessible, easily read, easy to interpret, relatively trust worthy, and is contained in one very portable little red book.
I love Trillan, Apple and the Sterns, but they don't write about restuarants I eat at, so my favorite food writer is...me! That sounds cocky, but I honestly feel I'm a damn good writer. I know about food, I'm always learning about wine and I love my job (one of the food writers for "The Tucson Weekly").
Local food critics at other publications don't share the passion, talent or knowledge I bring to my work. I've done other food related work and people always tell me that my articles make them hungry. What better compliment for any food writer?
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