London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [102]
CHEAP EATS
If you're looking for a filling meal that's not too pricey, head to Bayswater and Queensway. Alounak (44 Westbourne Grove, Bayswater | W2 | 020/7229–4158 ) is a local favorite featuring reliable Persian cuisine served in a cramped dining room. Lobster noodles, king oysters, and fried baby squid are three legendary dishes at the Mandarin Kitchen (14–16 Queensway, Queensway | W2 | 020/7727–9012 ). Hereford Road (3 Hereford Rd., Bayswater | W2 | 020/7727–1144 | www.herefordroad.org;) serves British seasonal fare like cod roe on toast, and rice pudding. There’s always a big fat Greek party going on at Aphrodite Taverna (15 Hereford Rd., Queensway | W2 | 020/7221–1415 | www.aphroditerestaurant.co.uk), festooned with Greek drachmas, bouzouki mandolins, and a giant bottle of Metaxa brandy.
AROUND THE PARK
A Sunday afternoon stroll around Holland Park can lead you in many culinary directions. After a glimpse of its resident peacocks, you may be inclined to stop for a scoop or two of luscious Italian ice cream at Gelato Mio (138 Holland Park Ave. , Notting Hill | W11 | 020/7727–4117 | www.gelatomio.co.uk), an ice-cream parlor on nearby Holland Park Avenue. Try hazelnut and chocolate, biscotto (cookies and cream), or black cherry. If you're not in the mood for ice cream, head down Portland Road and sit outside at pavement tables at Julie’s Restaurant & Bar (135 Portland Rd. , Notting Hill | W11 | 020/7229–8331 | www.juliesrestaurant.com) at quaint Clarendon Cross, and enjoy a Kir Royale or dry Martini, along with a bowl of vegetable tempura with French beans and sage leaves.
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St. James’s | Mayfair | Marylebone | Soho | Covent Garden | Bloomsbury and Legal London | The City | Clerkenwell | The East End | The South Bank | Kensington | Chelsea | Knightsbridge | Notting Hill | Bayswater | Regent’s Park | Islington | The Thames Upstream
ST. JAMES’S
Le Caprice.
££££ | MODERN BRITISH | Old-timer Le Caprice commands the deepest loyalty of any restaurant in London. Why? Because it gets practically everything right. It’s the celebrity history—think Liz Taylor and Lady Di—the David Bailey black-and-white prints, perfect service, and appealing menu that sits somewhere between Euro peasant and trendy fashion plate. Sit at the raised counter and enjoy calves’ liver with crispy bacon, red-legged partridge, and signature Scandinavian iced berries with white chocolate sauce—all served with an ample dollop of celebrity spotting. | Arlington House, Arlington St., St. James’s | SW1A 1RJ | 020/7629–2239 | www.caprice-holdings.co.uk | Reservations essential | AE, DC, MC, V | Green Park
L’Oranger.
££££ | FRENCH | French haute cuisine reaches gobsmacking heights at this old-school aristocratic spot in St. James’s, whether it’s scallop carpaccio, sea bass with pomegranate, beef en croûte (beef wrapped in pastry and baked), or fig tart with Muscovado ice cream. The charming dining room is intimate and attractive—polished silver, oak panels, cut flowers, and French windows—and service is formal. Royal courtiers from nearby Clarence House and business barons wallow in the plush surroundings. | 5 St. James’s St., St. James’s | SW1A 1EF | 020/7839–3774 | www.loranger.co.uk | Reservations essential | AE, DC, MC, V | Closed Sun. No lunch Sat. | Green Park
Seven Park Place.
££££ | FRENCH | The incredible clarity of chef William Drabble’s neo-French haute cuisine is turning heads at the St. James’s Club and Hotel. Serious foodies squeeze into a Diana Vreeland–esq opulent wonderland of patterned wallpaper and striking portraits for Drabble’s three- to six-course set meals, which might include sublime poached lobster tails with caramelized cauliflower or unbeatable Lune valley lamb with garlic purée. Immaculate desserts like the coconut parfait with dark chocolate are miniature works of art. | 7–8 Park Pl., St.