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London pub, by Roger W Haworth (GFDL)
Fish and Chips, by Gordon Joly (GFDL)
Pie and Mash shop, by Fin Fahey (cc-by-sa 2.5)
Steak and Kidney Pie, by Hellahulla (GFDL)
Afternoon Tea, by Per Mosseby (cc-by-sa 2.0)
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Eating in London is a guide on what to eat and where to find food. Gone are the days when British food is all fish and chips, steak or kidney pies. In the last few years, the food in Britain, and London in particular, has undergone a quiet culinary revolution, and now transforms itself into one of the most interesting in the world. On this page, we look at how we can explore London from the culinary angle. Please visit our London Restaurant Directory for a list of restaurants that you can patronize.
London Food: What to Expect
Pubs will continue to have the standard menu. If you are looking for something more exotic, Britain's colonial past has resulted in many wonderful restaurants in London offering Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cuisine. Joining them is a string of Thai, Middle Eastern and North African restaurants. Not forgetting Italian food is also good and well represented in London.
Breakfast
Don't expect something fancy. Expect something fatty and fried. If it's the traditional British breakfast, then you can expect fried eggs, fried bacon, grilled tomatoes, toast, baked beans. Black pudding? That's a pudding made from barley, oats and pigs blood! If you are getting breakfast from your hotel, then you can expect cereal and toast washed down with orange juice.
Booking
Is it necessary to book? On quieter days, you can just walk in. However, for the more popular and established restaurants, it is advisable to book in advance. That works for restaurants. Tables at some of the top restaurants in London are booked weeks in advance, even months, so if you are coming to London and have set your heart at dining in a particular restaurant, make a booking. For pubs, it's first come first served, so you do not have to - in fact, cannot - place a booking.
Dressing Up
Yes, for the well established and formal restaurant, you are expected to adhere to their dress code strictly, and this may including putting on a jacket and tie. Although things have become more casual in the last few years, do not expect to be served at a formal restaurant if you turn up in jeans and t-shirt. If you are not sure of the dress code, ask when you place a boooking.
Smoking
Smoking is now prohibited in all restaurants in the United Kingdom.
Fast Food
In the traditional British sense, pie and mash shops and fish and chips shops qualify as fast food. But if you are looking for something more international, you don't need to look far to find a McDonald's, KFC or Pizza Hut, as they have all arrived in Britain.
Pie and Mash Shops
Pie and Mash Shops are a British institution, especially the East End. What to expect from them? There's eel, served with mash (potatoes) and green parsley sauce. You can also order steak, or steak and kidney pies. Turn the pie upside down before eating it - that's the way to do it.
Fish and Chips
The fish used in fish and chips is usually cod or haddock, which is coated in batter and deep fried. It is then served with chips. Fish and chips shops are said to have their start in London, but can now be found everywhere in Britain.
Afternoon Tea
Another British institution. It's still popular and you can enjoy it in hotels and tea rooms around 2:00-3:00 pm. It's not just tea, of course. At the upmarket hotels, you can look forward to an awesome spread. There will be cucumber sandwiches and other sandwiches, cakes, scones, butter, jam, and of course, tea of all types and flavor.
Drinks
What to order at a British pub? There's the British ale which is beer. It is strongly flavored and less fizzy compared to lagers and European beers. Cider, made from cider apples, is also a popular drink in British pubs. British wine is usually made from fruits and even flowers, though there are now vineyards in southern England that are turning out local white wine.
Cafes, Brasseries and Bistros
Three different names but they more or less mean the same thing - cafes, brasseries and bistros selling hot drinks and meals. At the lower end are "greasy spoons" which serve traditional British fare such as sausage and mash while at the upper end are restaurants serving wine.
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