[turquoiseblue]

Originally Posted by walterwhite

If you go on Michelin stars then there's two choices, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay or Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester. You're looking probably £150 each at least though.

Le Gavroche has two stars. I personally wouldn't go anywhere near Gordon Ramsay's place.

[turquoiseblue]

Originally Posted by Darcy_

I've met jay Rayner a few times and he's a really lovely chap.

Those food critics are so far up themselves you can't see their feet, but each to their own.

[Darcy_]

Originally Posted by turquoiseblue

Those food critics are so far up themselves you can't see their feet, but each to their own.

They're told to be OTT for tv, it would be very boring if they all just sat around saying 'that was delicious' the whole time. He's a great chap off screen, really friendly and chatty, although we disagreed on what the best Indian restaurant in London was

[boredof_lurking]

I don't think much of The Ivy, nor Oxo tower.
Have been the ivy one and Oxo twice.

I really like the Bleeding Heart (the restaurant, not the brasserie), its very intimate and slightly off the beaten track. We had our wedding reception there (crypt) so am admittedly slightly biased.. http://www.bleedingheart.co.uk/restaurant/

Will put thinking cap on for some others, but bleeding heart is my favourite London restaurant.

[barneyboy]

I know Scotts in Mayfair is Madonna and the Beckhams fave, but I havent been. It has veggie and meat but a lot of fish:
http://www.scotts-restaurant.com/

[barkingboy]

Originally Posted by Handers

I've eaten at a lot of the restaurants mentioned above. I couldn't say enough about El Parador near Mornington Crescent station - it's perfect . . .

The Tapas place? Lovely in the summer when you can sit outside in their garden.

[Christa]

Personally I think the Ivy & Oxo Tower are a bit crap.

The 3 Michelin stars around London are: the Fat Duck, Bray, the Waterside Inn, Bray, Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea & Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester.

My favourites are Scotts, Sheekey's, & Medlar in World's End. The latter is only 1 Michelin star, but it's delicious & very good value.

[MsBehaviour]

Oxo Tower for me - not just the food, but the ambience and viewtoo.

[Johnbee]

OP just in case you are from the country and are a bit provincial, I will warn you that you need to book.

Now I realise that you think you know what I mean, give them a call and say 'table for two tonight at eight please', but I mean book. So just call one and ask when you can go, see what they say. It will be a bit like trying to book at a hit musical.

[RAINBOWGIRL22]

If I wanted to impress I'd go here

http://www.benaresrestaurant.com/

[walterwhite]

Originally Posted by turquoiseblue

Le Gavroche has two stars. I personally wouldn't go anywhere near Gordon Ramsay's place.

Why not? It has got 3 stars, that and Alain Ducasse are the only ones in London.

[Teddybleads]

Le Gavroche is very good. Zuma used to be excellent but has gone downhill. Personal favourites of mine are Pont De La Tour for great seafood and great views and The Orrery in Marlebone as it's a bit more casual.

[turquoiseblue]

I wouldn't go to Gordon's place because I cannot stand the man. Michel Roux, on the other hand, is a gentleman.

[walterwhite]

Originally Posted by turquoiseblue

I wouldn't go to Gordon's place because I cannot stand the man. Michel Roux, on the other hand, is a gentleman.

Oh right. They were asking what was the best restaurant in London though.

[Teddybleads]

Originally Posted by barneyboy

I know Scotts in Mayfair is Madonna and the Beckhams fave, but I havent been. It has veggie and meat but a lot of fish:
http://www.scotts-restaurant.com/

I have to say I was very disappointed with Scotts. Perhaps they were just having an off night.

[Jean-Francois]

Living in central London, and enjoying dining out I have taken my wife to many London restaurants.
It is true, a great deal depends on your taste, (no pun intended), your budget, and what you are looking for.
Zuma is a nice restaurant, in a good location, but is inundated with footballers and WAGS, plus on your exit you will be deluged with unlicensed minicab touts plucking your sleeve.
The Ivy, (only went once), is a definite no-no, full of provincial once a year diners oohing and aahing at Z list celebrities.
Hakkasan, (sorry Raquelos), is a Chinese restaurant, not Indian, but it serves memorable food.
Oxo is full of pretentious prats wishing that they were in the Ivy, being served by sneering waiters who think that they are on a par with Parisian sneering waiters, but falling woefully short.
It has a nice view of the river and Blackfriars bridge, but if you really want a good view of London, go to Paramount at the top of Centre Point, you'll have a 360 deg. panoramic view of London from the 32nd. floor.
The Bleeding Heart is well worth a visit, but the wine list is a tad over-priced.
The Painted Heron in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, is a delight if you like Indian.
But to mind, Murano in Queen St. Mayfair, the Pont de la Tour, and Tentazione in Butlers Wharf by Tower Bridge are by a country mile the best places to go for excellent food.
Of course, this is just our opinion, to each his own.

[turquoiseblue]

Originally Posted by walterwhite

Oh right. They were asking what was the best restaurant in London though.

No, I hadn't realised. I did say, I PERSONALLY, couldn't stand Gordon Ramsay and I did say I thought the best restaurant is Le Gavroche.

[Teddybleads]

Originally Posted by Jean-Francois

Living in central London, and enjoying dining out I have taken my wife to many London restaurants.
It is true, a great deal depends on your taste, (no pun intended), your budget, and what you are looking for.
Zuma is a nice restaurant, in a good location, but is inundated with footballers and WAGS, plus on your exit you will be deluged with unlicensed minicab touts plucking your sleeve.
The Ivy, (only went once), is a definite no-no, full of provincial once a year diners oohing and aahing at Z list celebrities.
Hakkasan, (sorry Raquelos), is a Chinese restaurant, not Indian, but it serves memorable food.
Oxo is full of pretentious prats wishing that they were in the Ivy, being served by sneering waiters who think that they are on a par with Parisian sneering waiters, but falling woefully short.
It has a nice view of the river and Blackfriars bridge, but if you really want a good view of London, go to Paramount at the top of Centre Point, you'll have a 360 deg. panoramic view of London from the 32nd. floor.
The Bleeding Heart is well worth a visit, but the wine list is a tad over-priced.
The Painted Heron in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, is a delight if you like Indian.
But to mind, Murano in Queen St. Mayfair, the Pont de la Tour, and Tentazione in Butlers Wharf by Tower Bridge are by a country mile the best places to go for excellent food.
Of course, this is just our opinion, to each his own.

The team behind there have a place called Roka in Canary Wharf which is pretty good and bit less pricey.

[Yeah_Jackie]

Another Galvin place La Chapelle

Lovely atmosphere and surroundings, superb service and the food is exquisite.

Gordon Ramsay @ Claridges

Marcus Wareing @ The Berkeley

Le Pont de la Tour

In my opinion, The Ivy is over rated as is The Oxo Tower.

Last years Michelin star winners

[sophloz]

Last restaurant I went to was Simpsons in the Strand. Wonderful food, very traditional, brilliant service, in beautiful surroundings. Do have their roast beef: it is exquisite.

[LostFool]

Originally Posted by sophloz

Last restaurant I went to was Simpsons in the Strand. Wonderful food, very traditional, brilliant service, in beautiful surroundings. Do have their roast beef: it is exquisite.

Yes, I've been there with work (it's always nicer when someone else is paying) and had a great time. Proper traditional food with excellent service.

[Enfant Terrible]

OP - as others have said it really depends on what kind of cuisine/atmosphere you are after, but if you like posh without all the surrounding bullshit/WAGS etc, I can highly recommend Tamarind in Mayfair.

Beautiful food, and the waiters won't fuss over you like vultures pretending you're Posh & Becks.

I once had a perfectly good meal in a posh French restaurant somewhere along Piccadilly ruined by a pack of 3-4 waiters constantly hovering over the tables, filling up (already full) glasses of water and (already full) glasses of wine every three seconds.
I had to stop one of them in their tracks by saying "Yes I am FULLY fully happy and my glass is still full as well, merci bien." They left us alone after that.

Of course if being fussed over to such an extent is your idea of a perfect restaurant, maybe I should post their details

As for "the" best restaurant in London - there is no answer to that, the choice is too diverse. Personally I would not mind trying out the Savoy one day.

[Raquelos.]

Originally Posted by Jean-Francois

Living in central London, and enjoying dining out I have taken my wife to many London restaurants.
It is true, a great deal depends on your taste, (no pun intended), your budget, and what you are looking for.
Zuma is a nice restaurant, in a good location, but is inundated with footballers and WAGS, plus on your exit you will be deluged with unlicensed minicab touts plucking your sleeve.
The Ivy, (only went once), is a definite no-no, full of provincial once a year diners oohing and aahing at Z list celebrities.
Hakkasan, (sorry Raquelos), is a Chinese restaurant, not Indian, but it serves memorable food.
Oxo is full of pretentious prats wishing that they were in the Ivy, being served by sneering waiters who think that they are on a par with Parisian sneering waiters, but falling woefully short.
It has a nice view of the river and Blackfriars bridge, but if you really want a good view of London, go to Paramount at the top of Centre Point, you'll have a 360 deg. panoramic view of London from the 32nd. floor.
The Bleeding Heart is well worth a visit, but the wine list is a tad over-priced.
The Painted Heron in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, is a delight if you like Indian.
But to mind, Murano in Queen St. Mayfair, the Pont de la Tour, and Tentazione in Butlers Wharf by Tower Bridge are by a country mile the best places to go for excellent food.
Of course, this is just our opinion, to each his own.

LOL just read this and went whaaa, then looked at what I had put and doh, I had put Indian when I meant Chinese, sorry OP that's posting too much info for you!! Thanks Jean-Francois for picking up on it. It is however very good indeed

[paulbrock]

anyone tried Sushi Samba at Heron Tower yet? Probably trading more on the view than the food, but I'm intrigued....

http://sushisamba.com/location/london