I am going to London and we are pretty sure we will be eating at these restaurants. What do you think? What would you choose from the menus? Have you been and can recommend a dish?
I will let you know how I get on once I have been.

LUNCH
http://www.galvinrestaurants.com/sec...nts-marylebone

DINNER http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/sites/de...2008.03.14.pdf

LUNCH
http://www.launcestonplace-restaurant.co.uk/menus/

DINNER
http://www.chinatanglondon.co.uk/res...u_alacarte.pdf

LUNCH
Http://www.the-ivy.co.uk

Christ, have you been saving?

I wouldn't bother with the Ivy personally. Have you booked it by the way?

Why not?

Although the food at The Ivy is good, it isn't spectacular, and probably not worth the money really. The place trades on its name and reputation as a celebrity hangout rather than a brilliant restaurant. You can get better for the same, or less money.

The Ivy is only famous because celebrities eat there. At the prices they charge there are much better dining choices, just depends how much you want to see a celeb.

Le Gavroche is not on your list!

We ate there once, it was wonderful, just wonderful.

Expensive but worth every penny.

If you're prepared to travel out a bit you could eat at Chez Bruce, one of the best bargains in London.

If it's celeb spotting you're after, I'd try Scott's in Mayfair. A better bet than The Ivy these days.

I always prefered Le Caprice to the Ivy anyway.

Agreed, vastly over-rated. Much better options around (including Le Gavroche, as someone mentioned above)

But assuming they are eating at night and not at lunch, Le Gavroche is at a slightly different price point to say the least.

Yes, fair point - was looking at it from a purely 'gastronomic tour' point of view.

Claridge's, when it reopens next week, should be one to add to that list - but as you say, a different price point.

That's why I went with Chez Bruce, similar price to The Ivy, possibly cheaper depending on what you eat and only a short train journey out of the centre.

It's been on my list for a while, but I haven't made it there yet (despite having a friend who lives in Wandsworth ). Heard only good things about it.

It's superb. £45 for Michelin dining in London is amazing, I know that Arbutus and their sister restaurants do similar but there's not many places that cheap.

I can't get a booking
They were closed for refurbs and weren't taking bookings and then when I went on, they were full for the five days we are in London. We are staying at The Dorchester and even the concierge couldn't get us in.

I did hear this was good but we are already having French food, so I thought I might leave it. We were thinking possibly about Story for lunch. It sounds a big pretentious.

Money isn't really an object for this trip.

There is no way I am getting into Claridges new place at this short notice. Not sure I want to anyway, I don't think I am a fan of that Simon Rogan. His Manchester place looked utterly shit.

Chez Bruce isn't that French, more Modern British really.

That is a shame. I think we booked about four months in advance when we went. You must put it on your list for another time.

I believe they do a reasonably priced set lunch, we went at night and had the tasting menu with the accompanying wines. My menu had no prices on it so at the time I had no idea how much it was costing, I just enjoyed the experience

I just had a look at the Arbutus menu after mentioning it earlier. I can't believe you can eat Michelin starred food for that price anywhere, let alone London.

I will have a look at that one, thank you

It's possible to do 3 courses a la carte for £29. My chosen menu was only £36.

That sounds amazing. His father cooked us a meal recently - well us and about 20 other people and it was really special. Wish I had the courage to ask him for help with a reservation then, but i didn't want to be rude.

You couldn't be more wrong. It's outstanding.

One of the best chefs we have in this country.

Really? What makes you say that?

I thought his food looked very fussy. Not my thing at all. That is why we are avoiding Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, even though we are staying there.