Where are some restaurants or pubs in London where I can try a traditional English meal?

Question

Also, what should I try from the menu? I was just reading about traditional toad in the hole online. Is it any good? What about Yorkshire pudding? The closest I have come to eating English food here in the U.S. is fish and chips and we probably don't even do it the right way. I may have the chance to visit the UK in June so any helpful suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Most pubs serve typical English grub.  I'd recommend Wetherspoons (branches everywhere) but good ones are Leicester Square and Wardour Street (opposite Starbucks Coffee).  Good food and cheap drinks and a very pleasant atmosphere although particularly busy on Match days and weekends (especially Leicester Square).  Wherever you live, you should have a Wetherspoons.  Try their Chocolate fudge cake and they have sunday lunch offers too including drinks.

Answer 2

Don't get the plowman's lunch.  It's a tiny helping of cheddar cheese and a chutney relish.  I just looked at a site in the USA that says it includes a salad and roll, but I don't recall ever getting that.  If it sounds delicious, ask specifically what's included.

Answer 3

Just stay away from the pubs owned by chains,the food is not what you'd call 'home cooked'

Answer 4

Forget England . COME TO CORNWALL AND HAVE A GOOD HOMEMADE PASTY, BOY! PROPER JOB ME' ANSOME.

Answer 5

Try Porters, just off Covent Garden, central London.  It is not stuffy or pretentious and serves traditional British food at reasonable prices.  Be warned though, Britain is a lot more expensive than the States for eating out!

While you are in the UK, why don't you pick a cook book of regional British recipes?  Most people are pleasantly surprised by the variety of British cooking.  

Enjoy your trip and welcome to the United Kingdom!

Answer 6

go to brick lane and eat the most popular food in england- a decent curry!

Answer 7

Toad in the hole is bloody beautiful! I'm a final year student in London and when I go home to my mum and dad's in Southern England for the holidays the first thing I ask me mum is to make is Toad in the hole with loads of gravy! Oh it soooo good! you have to try it!

Sunday dinner is also good, roast chicken (or beef, lamb or pork) with roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots, brocoli, pea's, yorkshire pudding, stuffing, little sausages wrapped up in bacon (pigs in blankets!!!) gravy and a selection of sauces is a family favourite every sunday with all of it whacked on one plate! Try and go for a good carvary in a traditional pub for the best sunday dinner.

Fish and Chips....A fabulous meal in itself! Especially with curry sause and ketchup but thats my personal opinion! Great Fish and Chips can be found in the older parts of London, don't buy them in Central London as they are c**p, head to Greenwich which is in South London for some great tasting and inexpensive fish and chips. I live in Greenwich and love promoting it! You can eat any cuisine from around the world in Greenwich!

Finally pie and mash is long term favourite in London, especially in east london, where most of the original English Londoners live, try Brick lane, Limehouse or Bow for the best pie and mash houses. Also there are great sausage and mash shops around portobello road and notting hill.



Oh and by the way you didn't say where you are going to stay in London, if you let me know I can direct you to some more great places!

Hope you enjoy your visit!

Sian.x*x

Answer 8

You simply must go to 'The Ivy' darling!!

It's simple good Hangover/pub food, like bangers and mash. Although it is a bit pricey... Definitely a must if you're visiting here.

Answer 9

If you've got the budget and you want very traditional, then try Rules in London.  It does traditional English food, mainly game, and is the oldest restaurant in London.  Charles Dickens used to eat there.

http://www.rules.co.uk/

Otherwise, try

http://www.squaremeal.co.uk

and do a search for British restaurants - there are a few around.

As for traditional food, these are some of my favourites:

Toad in the hole - sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding - it's OK

Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding (a savoury batter similar to pancakes that rises in the over) and all the trimmings

Roast chicken, bacon rolls, bread sauce, stuffing and the trimmings

Game - pheasant, rabbit, duck, partridge, grouse

Fish, chips and mushy peas

Steak and kidney pie

Steak and guiness pie

Cottage pie (mince with potato topping)

Lancashire hotpot (lamb stew with sliced potatoes on top)

Welsh rarebit (fancy cheese on toast)

Brown windsor soup

and for pudding:

Eton mess (fruit, cream and meringue)

Bread and butter pudding with custard

Spotted d**k (sponge pudding with currants) and custard

Apple pie

Summer pudding

Apple crumble

Trifle

Custard tart

Jam roly poly

Jam tarts

Yum!

Enjoy your trip...

Answer 10

If you want to have a real special meal in a traditional english restaurant, you definitely have to go to Simpson's in the Strand!A restaurant which has been there since 1828!

You must try the meat that the cooks bring in trays and cut right there in front of you!

Ofcourse the prices are not... fast-food-ish but you will have a meal to remember there. Just make sure you reserve a table and also check out whether they offer a set menu.

Answer 11

You will find a wide range  of British restaurants on the following website:

www.toptable.co.uk

There's also Brian Turner's restaurant which is at the Millenium Hotel Grosvenor Square. (Brian Turner is a well-known British chef).

Answer 12

If you want the ultimate Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pudding, you will not go wrong if you go to Simpsons-in-the-Strand, in London (any taxi driver will know how to get you there) but be prepared to pay high prices.

On the other hand Toad in the Hole is very very very good indeed, but would recommend that you find someone to make it for you, as in my experience, it is a dish best served home-made and eaten on a very cold and wintery day when you are very hungry. Hope this helps.