London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [106]
Arbutus.
££ | MODERN BRITISH | Serious cuisine at midrange prices has established Arbutus in the winners’ circle of favorite Soho eateries. The £16.95 three-course lunch or £18.95 pretheater special are bargains of the year. Chef Anthony Demetre might surprise with squid-and-mackerel burger, rabbit cottage pie, or Icelandic cod and sea purslane, and finishes off with English trifle or French clafoutis with William pears. All wines are offered in third-of-a-bottle carafes—a great way to sample new delights. | 63–64 Frith St., Soho | W1D 3JW | 020/7734–4545 | www.arbutusrestaurant.co.uk | AE, MC, V | Tottenham Court Rd.
Baozi Inn.
£ | CHINESE | Vintage Chairman Mao posters and paraphernalia decorate the interior of this hole-in-the-wall Sichuan café on a busy side street in Chinatown. Baozi steamed buns—pork and onion, or shrimp and radish—are house specials, and there’s dragon wonton broth or Chengdu pork dumplings with chili oil (£5.50). Try ginger juice spinach (£4.90), or peace and happiness noodle soup, topped with duck, garlic, and Chinese toon tree shoots (£6.50). Tables are cramped, turnover is fast, and service is speedy. | 25 Newport Ct., Soho | WC2 7JS | 020/7287–6877 | Reservations not accepted | AE, MC, V | Leicester Sq. .
Bar Italia.
£ | CAFÉ | This football-mad Frith Street 1949 landmark Italian coffee bar is a 24-hour Soho institution. Grab a frothy cappuccino or sobering macchiato and wolf down a slice of pizza, panettone, or rich chocolate cake at the mirrored counter. The walls are plastered with old pictures of Italian singers, sports stars, and movie legends, and it’s the primo numero uno spot in London to watch Italy play in—or get knocked out of—the soccer World Cup. | 22 Frith St., Soho | W1 4RP | 020/7437–4520 | www.baritaliasoho.co.uk | AE, MC, V | Leicester Sq.
Barrafina.
££ | SPANISH | Soho’s favorite tapas bar on Frith Street is modeled on Cal Pep the famed tapas bar in Barcelona, and similarly has only a few (23 in total) raised counter seats. It’s a no-reservations spot and there will likely be a wait, but the authentic tapas are worth it. Nosh on shrimp, chorizo, quail, sardines, and octopus, or classics like cured Jabugo ham and Spanish tortillas. You can check out the scene—or who’s waiting in line—at the Barrafina webcam. | 54 Frith St., Soho | W1D 4SL | 020/7440–1463 | www.barrafina.co.uk | Reservations not accepted | AE, MC, V | Tottenham Court Rd.
Bocca di Lupo.
£££ | ITALIAN | The place is always packed, tables are jammed too close together, and the acoustics are particularly lousy, but everyone comes for the brilliant regional Italian cuisine. Set in an unlikely street off Soho’s red-light district, here you’ll find succession of small plates and dishes from Bologna to Veneto. Try fried anchovies, grilled red prawns, lamb prosciutto, cannellini beans, or rustic pork and foie gras sausages. You may not be able to hear yourselves speak, but at least the amazing milk-free espresso ice cream makes up for the loss. | 12 Archer St., Soho | W1D 7BB | 020/7734–2223 | www.boccadilupo.com | Reservations essential | AE, MC, V | Closed Sun. | Piccadilly Circus .
Fodor’s Choice | Busaba Eathai.
£ | THAI | It’s top Thai nosh for little money at this no-reservations eatery in the heart of Soho. Fitted with wooden bench seats and hardwood tables, this flagship restaurant has communal dining, rapid service, and a fast-moving queue. The menu includes noodles, curries, soups, and stir-fries. Pour yourself a lemongrass tea, then try the chicken with shiitake, cuttlefish curry, or vermicelli with prawns, squid, and scallops. It’s always handy as a shopping pit stop. | 106–110 Wardour St., Soho | W1F