When I was growing up, I feel like people constantly told me that London had terrible food. I wonder if that was true or if my friends were just on a perpetual hunt for chicken fingers and hamburgers. Whatever the case, as an adult, I have found that the food in London is outstanding. Here’s where we took Josephine for dinner on this last trip (we do so much sightseeing on an average day in London that lunch is sort of nondescript):
- Colonel Saab -– Jamil and I are suckers for Indian food in general, and Indian food with cocktails?? We’re sold. Initially, my heart was set on Gymkhana, but they’re closed on the 26th of December, so we did some research and found Colonel Saab. I’m so glad we did because Jamil talked about it for days. If you go to Colonel Saab, I recommend spreading your order around the menu.
- The Ivy — This is a known classic throughout London. There are several locations and concepts. I have only tried the original one (referred to as Ivy West) because it’s open late, well past the close of theatrical performances. This is where Jamil gets his fish and chips fix. It’s perhaps a bit more expensive than fish and chips at a dive pub, but the dish is an absolute winner every time. I’ve tried many things on the menu and have never been disappointed. Plus, their martinis are excellent enough to make the meal fabulous on their own.
- Claude Bosi’s Oyster Bar at Bibendum — A friend we know through Josephine’s school recommended this restaurant, and the moment he did, I knew what it was. We’ve driven past its lively, sparkly exterior in Belgravia many times, and I’ve always wanted to remember the name, so we could go on our next London trip. Alas, I have forgotten on each occasion! Bibendum is housed in the original Michelin building, where they actually repaired cars and likely came up with the brilliant idea of giving people reviews of restaurants worth driving for. It’s spectacularly tiled and decorated, and the front of the establishment houses a small, vibrant flower shop. I was so excited to try! There are two restaurants here: upstairs is the Michelin-starred Bibendum, and downstairs is the lively oyster bar. Originally, we made reservations upstairs because our friend said it was too good to miss, but in the end, I couldn’t justify taking Josephine to a £250 fixed price menu that I knew she’d despise from start to finish. Who wants to be abused for choosing a gourmet meal? Anyway, we went downstairs, and it was great. We had the best mussels I can remember eating — so much cleaner and fresher than most we encounter in the US — and Josephine’s spaghetti with clams was fantastic. I highly recommend this place, whether you go up or down!
