The dollar isn't strong at the moment and eating in London is expensive as well as time consuming, on a short visit I suspect sustenance is the main objective rather than long meals putting the world to rights!
Belgo Numerous locations: Covent Garden Website: www.belgo-restaurants.com
Belgian food - the chain is perhaps best know for its mussels and chips (aswell as its enormous selection of beers!). The Covent Garden branch is probably the best one to go to, due to its central location and its interesting cavern-like dining area. Excellent value during lunchtime - The Lunchtime Express (12pm - 5.30pm) Monday to Friday when a set menu lunch is only £6.50, or during the "Beat the Clock" offer where you pay according to the time that you arrived - e.g. pay £6.10 if you arrived at 6.10pm. The times that this offer is valid vary from restaurant to restaurant - in the Convent Garden one it runs from 5pm to 6.30pm. An example set menu is a large plate of mussels, plate of chips and a beer - very filling!
Wagamama Numerous locations: 16 branches in Kensington, Knightsbridge Bloomsbury, Soho, Convent Garden, Leicester Sq. and other Website: www.wagamama.com
This super-styled canteen-style chain of restaurants serve Asian food, mainly ramen, noodle and rice dishes. Good value (e.g. the very filling chicken ramen is only £7.15) and very efficient service means that there is a high turnover of customers, so even if you find yourself queuing, you will not have to wait for long.
"New to wagamama? -
at wagamama we believe food should be cooked fresh to order.
this means individual selections of your side dishes and main
meals may be delivered at different times. if you need further
assistance feel free to ask one of our servers
if you have a particular dietary requirement your server will be
happy to assist you. please note that we can take some items out
of dishes, however we cannot add any items in"
Yo Sushi! Numerous locations: 11 branches - Soho, Harrods, Selfridges Website: www.yosushi.com
Another conveyor-belt sushi place with colour-coded plates, priced £1.70 to £5.00, the food is of pretty good standard. Hip and trendy, you sit on high stools at counters where taps allow you to pour your own water, whilst pushing a button draws the attention of the wait staff (and also makes amusing noises). There's also sometimes a drinks "robot" (i.e. a small thing carrying drinks circling the restaurant).
Filtered Water, Miso Soup and Japanese Green Tea are unlimited offers i.e pay once refills are free
Current special offers Blue Mondays - £2.20 for selected plates
Sandwich Chains/Cafes
The popularity of coffee houses has really taken off in the UK in the last decade or so, and you'll see them everywhere in London. Whatever area you are in, you're not be far from a Starbucks, Cafe Nero or Coffee Republic, probably three of the most prolific chains. Of course, that doesn't mean they're good value! Prices can be notoriously high - after all, it's just a cup of coffee!
A well-known sandwich chain in London is Pret a Manger, which has numerous chains all over London. Again, sandwiches are a little on the expensive side (about £2 for the cheapest one I can't varify this ath the moment.........) but they are quite generously filled and are freshly-made of the premises every day. They also sell sushi, snacks (crisps, popcorn) juice, wraps, pastries and coffee.
All restaurants charge VAT (17.5%) on top of the cost of your items if you eat in, so for a cheaper option get your food to take out and enjoy it in a nice park!
AVOID AT ALL COSTS.............................. Fast food restaurants are not the same in the UK if you ever eat Macdonalds, Burger King etc DON'T ! - The prices are inflated and the food is shrunk. I think the only one that produces reasonable food quality is Subway (I have never tried so this is not a personal recommendation!)
Eating in restaurants is a very individual thing so here are a few restaurant guides:
Best London Restaurants
London Online
Chowhound - this is a blog so has a more personal approach
New York Times
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