Mentioned by Absolutely.London
Cheap Eats: 10 of the Best Places in London for Dining on a Budget
"Highbury Corner restaurant Trullo is a real gem, displaying with prominence the from-the-heart style of cooking that Italy is known for. In fact, you'll probably see the chef (glass of wine in hand) carefully dishing up plates of food at the open kitchen as you tuck into specialities including meat and fish from the charcoal grill and gutsy freshly-made pastas. Expect to pay around £10 for starters and £20 for mains."
"A sleek, chic dining room in Islington sets the scene for Trullo’s unfussy Italian food. Dishes take the best of seasonal British produce and spin it into great antipasti, fantastic pastas, and secondi fresh from the charcoal grill. Skip the queues at Padella, the fresh pasta spot in Borough Market, and enjoy the signature beef shin pappardelle or pici cacio e pepe at a slower pace."
"Trullo went from restaurant to shop during lockdown and as well as selling soups, pasta, bread, booze and deli items, they’re doing a very strong line in pastries, including this carbonara swirl. It’s a frankly inspired mashup of pasta dish and pastry with some serious #yolkporn action."
"Restaurants Italian Seven Dials. Loud, informal, bustling and tailor-made for kids in town for a treat, Homeslice serves up ginormous 20-inch pizzas for sharing at the table – although they provide individual slices too (ideal for picky youngsters who don’t want to play ball) – and they’ll even let you have more than one choice from the toppings selection if you ask nicely. Branches in Fitzrovia, Shoreditch, City and White City."
"If it’s pizza that the kids are craving then give Homeslice a try, rather than the big chains. There’s no special menu, but given that the enormous 20 inch pizzas arrive whole at the table for sharing, that’s not really a problem. Certain pizzas can be bought by the slice, too, which is perfect for those who aren't so fond of communal eating."
"Neal’s Yard is a colorful alley in Covent Garden. It’s worth the quick visit just to take a photo. Just around the corner is Neal’s Yard Dairy, one of the best spots in the city to sample artisanal cheese."
"Zizzi serves up fantastic pizza and pasta dishes, with sophisticated options for the mature palate right alongside kids’ favourites. That’s why it’s one of the most beloved family restaurants in Wembley Park – you’ll love their huge array of delicious choices. Zizzi offers a ton of different options for kids, including a ‘build your own’ pizza that they’ll love designing, and enjoy eating even more."
"Zizzi offers up an expansive menu of authentic Italian dishes, each with an innovative twist. Whether you’re in the mood for pasta, pizza, tasty starters or their decadent desserts, Zizzi has something for every palate. Even better, they cater to every dietary need and allergy so that everyone can enjoy a delicious meal together in the great outdoors."
"56 - 58 Essex Road London, N1 8LRItalophiles have yet another reason to visit Islington this summer as new restaurant Latteria opens its doors for dinner following stellar reviews for its breakfast and lunch offering. Inspired by the historic dairy stores and trattorias-turned-restaurants of Milan (where it got its name) the menu is a melting pot of regional Italian cooking: from the ‘pinsa’ style crispy dough of its Roman pizzas, to the traditional Milanese risotto infused with saffron. Highlights include the ever-popular cacio e pepe, served with thick cylinders of maccheroni pasta rather than the usual bucatini or spaghetti, and cheesier and peppery than most versions; the salty, fresh-tasting crab spaghetti with its hint of lemon oil, and the beef tagliata, whose rich rare slices of steak are perfectly complimented by the rocket and parmesan on top."
"Dover Street, W1S 4NB, and Westbourne Grove, W11 2RHNext to the Chucs men's fashion and swimwear Dover Street shop is Chucs Restaurant & Café: a place so cosy, so intimate (16 seats at a pinch), with its teeny-tiny panelled bar, white-jacketed waiters and Dolce Vita photographs of Positano and the Amalfi Coast, that anyone who enters is instantly transported back to the Fifties, to the Italian seaside and to an arguably better world. There is simple pleasure in the food: beef carpaccio, wonderful pizza bianca with black truffle and Italian-American classics - an ace club sandwich, for example. The Chucs branch is on the posh bit of Westbourne Grove: handily, the 23 bus stops right outside, in case you're thinking of doing it on a budget."
"Restaurants Italian Notting Hill. If you own a superyacht and buy Chucs’ bespoke swimwear, you’ll love this beautifully lit, serene Italian restaurant from the fashion brand; if not, you’ll be panicking about the bill before you bite into your first crudité. Still, big bucks pay for solicitous staff and classic Italian dishes prepared with love and skill – plus the chance to shop in the adjoining boutique."
"Restaurants Chinese Shaftesbury Avenue. If Hamleys did restaurants, it would probably be a bit like this Chinese hotpot specialist, where dining is an edible construction challenge. Help your kids pick their favourite ingredients from the conveyor belt and dunk them into your own personal soup concoction (tip: it works best if it’s just you and one youngster)."
"Shuang Shuang is best known for its hotpots and invites diners to create their very own from a conveyer belt of ingredients. The restaurant is modern, nicely laid out, and one of the newer additions to Chinatown’s dining scene."
"They do say heat rises: Chinese restaurant Hutong is for thrill-seekers who love a bit of spice with their heights. Positioned on the 33rd level of The Shard – London’s tallest building by quite a stretch – a night at Hutong comes with a view of pretty much the entire city and its twinkling lights, as well as fiery pepper-packed Sichuan dishes. Head one level down at the Shard and you’ll find Aqua Shard and Oblix, a duo of restaurants with similarly stunning views and a little less numbing of the tongue."
"A post shared by Life FR (@life_fr_) on Dec 27, 2017 at 6:26am PST. Savour spectacular views of London from this plush northern Chinese restaurant on level 33 of The Shard. Choose from dim sum such as Shanghai-style xiaolongbao or mains such as monkfish in Yangtze hot and sour broth."
"This restaurant sits in the sky, on the 33rd floor of the Shard. It’s also the best restaurant in the building. The Northern Chinese-focused menu offers the likes of Shandong shredded chicken with homemade butterfly buns; and whole crispy seabass."
"As the restaurant shuts its doors, LPM London has reinstated its delivery service, offering a menu of classics inspired by the South of France. Highlights include the likes of Niçoise salad, tuna carpaccio; whole baked sea bream in papillote; and lamb cutlets. Desserts are also available alongside a selection of wines."
"Keep your Côte d'Azur holiday vibe going with a visit to the London cousin of La Petite Maison in Nice. The Beckhams, Stella and Paul McCartney and Amanda Holden have all been spotted enjoying the French Mediterranean cuisine and excellent wine list in this Mayfair bistro."
"This small chain of informal Indian eateries is a firm favourite of ours for a cheap and cheerful meal that doesn’t cut corners on taste. Alongside classic curries, dhals and biryanis, choose from a selection of dishes inspired by the street food of India, such as bhel (a puffed rice salad) or aloo tikki chaat (a spiced potato cake). Or to keep choosing to a minimum, go for one of the thalis – a platter including bread, rice and a selection of mains for little over a tenner."
"Of the seven branches across London, Masala Zone Covent Garden will most appeal to younger diners, as they can gawk at the traditional Indian puppets that festoon the place as they wait for their food. Although they can occupy themselves at every branch with colouring books and crayons which are provided by the amenable staff. Mini thalis with milder curries are available from £6, and for those that can handle more heat, the rolled dosas prove popular."
"Delicious food uniquely from the true sources of Indian food – the gourmet homes & street stalls across India’s regions."
"She is a wonderful waitress for someone who is new to the role. Will come here again for her great service."
"Rainforest Cafe has been among London families’s favourite child friendly restaurants because it is centrally located nearby Piccadilly Circus and close to London theatres. The food might not be the best in town but the decor and animation inside the restaurant will make your kids jaw dropping as soon as they enter the venue. And let’s not forget the shop where your children will beg for bring back home a snake or a monkey."
"Located smack, bang in the heart of Piccadilly Circus, Rainforest Café has been serving up burgers, pastas, salads and more since 1997. Kids will love the decor where they’ll be surrounded by the jungle, which is brought to life with the help of special effects and really rather cool animatronics. Expect tropical showers, cascading waterfalls and mechanical butterflies to go along with your milkshakes and fries."