Everywhere I ate in March
28 spots across London and beyond
I don’t know if it is fair to say it’s well-established that I am a girl who likes to eat, as it is still early days in the world of Breakfast for Dinner, but for now you’ll have to take my word for it.
Since moving to London, however, eating out has turned into a full-blown hobby. I’ve got less friends and more funds, so I’ve got a propensity to pursue tastiness as a past-time and tool of exploration.
Additionally, thanks to my company working within the food and hospitality world, I am blessed with an office that loves to lunch and has no reticence in paying for a good mid-day eat. A chunk of the below do stem from the boss men’s choices, and they’ve experimented with both winners and losers. Such is life, but I’m very grateful for this!
My final point is a question to you all—this is a rather long list, so what is the best way to organize it for you all? Breakfast, lunch, and dinner? By price point? A ranking of best to worst or vice versa? Let me know in the comments so I can adjust for future editions!
Spots where I ate in
Cher Thai Eatery (Clapham)
An absolute banger of a Thai spot down in Clapham, this came highly recommended from a friend who brings visitors there every time they’re in London. The city does a decent Thai across the board, but I think this is the best I’ve had yet. I had the Guay Tiew Kua Gai, which the waiter very nicely repeated back to me after I butchered it hopelessly the first go around, as well as the dim sum and the fried tofu. My main essentially amounted to some of the best parts of various popular Thai dishes: stir fried ho fun noodles in sauce, tender chicken, a Thai omelette on top with sriracha and peanuts to round it out. This strikes me as an excellent spot to take the veggie eaters in your life. Highly recommend!
Manteca (Shoreditch)
I’ve heard buzzy things about Manteca since I moved to London—many deem it a must try. The space itself is sleek, and good fun especially for those who like a peek into the bar/kitchen/room of hanging, drying meat. The starters were excellent, but the pasta didn’t blow me away. Other spots in London (Tom’s Pasta, Flour & Grape) have, and at the price point and the portion size, I wish manteca did. However, the best bite of the night was the reduced beef fat fudge: sweet, savory, salty, rich, and completely divine.
Sticks n Sushi (Soho)
The fact that I lived in London for more than a year without stepping foot into a Sticks n Sushi should be marked as a miracle in itself. In terms of a vibe, it is difficult to clock; at the Soho location I saw plenty of girls decked out in black and heels, a slick back to match, clearly pre-gaming a night out with fish, as well as families with multiple tired kids, rocking strollers, thankful that hey only needed the one hand for chopsticks. With the lights low and the dark stylings, it seems Sticks n Sushi aspires towards the former but still accepts the latter. After all, with prices skewed markedly up and the walk-ins before me turned away, they don’t appear to have trouble with clientele. That said, while pleasant, the prices are inflated and the quality underwhelming. The mixed set was, dare I say, fine at best, and their edamame inoffensive. On the other hand, the standouts were surprisingly their lobster roll with yuzu, avocado, and cucumber for a burst of freshness as well as their grilled items. Japanese in London generally isn’t cheap, but particularly in this case I would say save your money for a more authentic place like Jin Kichi, or just one more consistently good, like Oka Marylebone.
Alberts Deli (Richmond)
The highlight of my day out in Richmond, this is the perfect little deli. A good BLT is hard to find regardless of the side of the Atlantic you’re on. However, Alberts’ was top notch without being fussy: thick cut crispy bacon, a ripe tomato (in early March, a miracle in itself), lettuce, and a spicy mayo. All washed down with a crispy lemonade. The inside is adorable too, a small place to tuck into on a sunny day. Filled to the brim is a bake case with all sorts of things that look good; I got the vegan chocolate chip cookie, which was a mistake. Everything else looked like it would taste much better.
Gloria (Shoreditch)
I’ve been past this beautiful restaurant half a dozen times, but this month was my first time eating here. It had a kitschy sense to it, reflective of almost a posh New York-style Italian joint, and paired with the no less than ELEVEN birthdays I bore witness to while there, the entire atmosphere felt fun and fast-paced. The bolognese I thought was good and particularly unique, but the aubergine pizza, while not bad, desperately needed more structure and aubergine. I would definitely return though, perhaps with my family in tow.
Farm & Harper (Whitsable)
After missing my early train, I was also disappointed to miss brunch at the much-loved Farm & Harper in seaside town Whitsable. Instead of a breakfast with all the fixings, we opted for snacks ahead of walking through town. The fries were some of the best I’ve had in a minute, the mac and salad were both fine, but the warm, friendly vibe was most memorable here!
No.1 Whitstable (Whitstable)
After failing to make a reservation at the Whitstable Oyster Company (my fault) and being turned away from an entirely empty Lazy Lobster (their fault), my friend and I settled on dinner at No.1 Whitstable. It was fine, at best, and then she had an allergic reaction to nuts after telling the waitress she was allergic—we should’ve just eaten more ice cream or a dozen oysters.
Ramen Moto (Fitzrovia)
Many spots in London serve ramen, but Ramen Moto is a step above the others. Big portions, fresh noodles, and delicious combinations. It can be a bit of a squeeze in the restaurant, but the ramen as well as the delicious drinks are well worth a visit.
Five Guys (Liverpool Street)
Not much to say except when you need a burger and shake, a Five Guys in London will always, always hit.
YO! Sushi (Heathrow, Terminal 3)
I am very picky about what I eat on flights, before and during. I tend to stick to vegetarian only, and very mild foods. Yo! was the spot of choice because I could knock out a dozen avocado and cucumber rolls with a side of veggie gyoza ahead of my eight-hour flight. It was fine, at best, but the people were nice and it made a good hidey hole in the chaos of the airport.
Spots I ate as takeaway
Cocotte (Shoreditch)
This could be recency bias, as I ate this chicken just a few moments before I’ve begun writing, but I think it healed me in a way. Deliciously marinated, herby, juicy roasted chicken with a host of sides swimming in butter and garlic. Perhaps they could swim a little less, but who am I to complain after two helpings? I know there are several locations, including one in my own neighborhood – I’d be interested to know if they are consistently this good.
Don’t Tell Dad (Queen’s Park)
The cutest, most-hyped little bakery to open in London in the past few weeks does seem to be both cute and living up to the hype. I had the orange danish and the wild garlic and cheddar bun—both were delightful, but the danish was the undeniable standout with citrusy brightness and vanilla cream worth writing home about.
The Robin Café (Richmond)
Though she be little, she be fierce. A tiny spot tucked in amongst the many spots of Kew Road near Richmond Station, this café inspired mostly by Thai flavors is a must-visit before a good walk in the Richmond area. They’ve got Thai savory dishes for a heartier lunch, as well as plenty of coffees, teas, and sweets. My thai tea latte was perfectly rich and sweet. They’ve also got a precious selection of crafts, including what must have been at least 50 or so handmade ceramic mugs.
Notting Hill Fish Shop (Notting Hill)
Excellent sushi; I preferred the sashimi here to the rolls, but everything I had I’d have a bit of again.
Red Dog Saloon (Hoxton)
And when I say that it took a coke zero and two strong drinks to kill whatever was living in my stomach after this meal, I mean it. There are certainly much better places to be having barbecue in London, but this is not Texas baby; watch your expectations.
The Breakfast Club (Hoxton)
Ordered by/for the office gang to celebrate Pancake Day (that’s Mardi Gras, for my fellow Americans) here in England. I’m a frequenter of the Breakfast Club’s Angel branch, as it is the closest thing I’ve found yet in London to an American diner when I’m desperate for a fat breakfast plate. I find the savory is far superior to the sweet based on what I’ve tried. I find their pancakes pretty dense (more hockey puck, less fluffy). If anyone has had a somewhat decent pancake in London, God, please help me.
Atis (Old Street)
Not much to say except sometimes in London, you’re desperately seeking a salad. Much like sweetgreen for the New York girls reading, these are what you make it, and I enjoyed my lunch.
Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium (Whitstable)
By far, the best bite of ice cream I’ve had since moving to the United Kingdom. With creative flavors such as ‘Blackberry, Rosemary, Apple Caramel, White Chocolate Chip’ and ‘Brown Sugar & Ginger, Butternut Swirl Ice Cream,’ the options were overwhelming. I went the refreshing route with a strawberry thyme milkshake, and my friend with a Biscoff swirled sundae. Both were creamy, refreshing, and tasted just as homemade as they sound. Unmissable if you’re in Whitstable.
Bangers (Shoreditch)
A good breakfast sandwich in London is hard to find; this is not the land of bagels where I was raised. Alas, Bangers does a pretty decent job. The pork sausage is crispy and flavorful, the cheese melted, the egg perfectly runny, and the avo and hashbrown add-ons mandatory in my book. I’ll be a repeat customer.
Eat Activ (Soho)
As I continue to speed run the limited salad options in this city, this one I was admittedly not mad at. A little random, perhaps, with the roasted potatoes thrown into what was otherwise a Mediterranean salad, but I’ll never say no to a potato, and the chicken was deliciously seasoned.
Conchita’s Mexican Kitchen (Oxford Street)
In all truthfulness, I only went for this spot because I was mindlessly wandering Selfridges waiting for my eyebrow appointment, but I was pleasantly surprised! A touch expensive for a bowl, but filling, flavorful, and actually spicy (which in London is always a challenge).
Lido (Central)
One thing my bosses are guaranteed to do is order Chinese in bulk at least once a month. There’s no possibility that we ever finish it, but it is usually pretty good—more so proper Chinese food rather than the obscenities they’re serving with chips and curry on this island. The dumplings and garlic veggies are the stand outs.
Beigel Bake Brick Lane Bakery (Shoreditch)
This spot is intensely famous for its salt beef, pickle, and mustard bagels. I’ve avoided it this long because to me, that just sounds wrong: bagels are meant for bacon, egg, and cheese (and maybe a hashbrown) or a thick swab of cream cheese. Nevertheless, I’ve heard glowing reviews, so I did overcome this hesitancy to give it a chance. Frankly, it wasn’t for me; the combo just didn’t sit right on a bagel, in my opinion. However, the bagels themselves are great! I would absolutely go back for a more generic combo, and the vibe of the spot itself—big old line, ladies towing the line of admonishing and embracing you, a retro interior with bagel slinging behind the counter—is a little slice of East Coast life.
My local taco spot (Confidential xo)
Speaking with other American expats, we all seem to have the same experience: our great much-anticipated great returns to our local Mexican spot and our local bagel spot (see below). Fresh off my plane from London, the only thing I wanted was a big fat burrito and truly spicy salsa. My spot I wouldn’t say is any more remarkable than yours, but it is that slice of hometown life that is irreplaceable to all of us. I ate there two nights in a row this month.
My local bagel shop (Confidential xo)
I would literally do anything for the mom, two sons, one cousin, and dad who run this shop. They truly keep my entire family fueled on chewy carb goodness. My personal order is extra crispy pork roll (the Jersey people will know, but if not, it’s a cross between thick bacon and ham), egg, hashbrown, and hot sauce on an onion bagel.
Spots where I drank
The White Horse (Richmond)
I only came in for a glass of wine, to sit beside their lovely fireplace, and to finish A Midsummer’s Night Dream, but they have a lovely spot. Situated at the end of the street in a residential neighborhood just a few blocks off Richmond Green, I’d love to go back and try their dinner menu.
Old Neptune (Whitstable)
I can’t speak to what I drank here (a house red, God only knows what it was), but on a sunny March afternoon, this old pub perched on the rocky shore is indeed a little slice of mellow heaven.
Twelve Taps (Whitstable)
Along the main street in the evening, this spot radiated with the warm, orange lighting the design opted for, and having a drink here is much the same. Far from the shove or be shoved, eat or be eaten London bars, this calm spot serves a wide variety on tap as well as housemade gin. No fuss to be had with the gin & tonics here, but a great spot to stop in for a drink while waiting for our train.
Wow absolutely saving this for my next trip to London!! Thank you!
i am constantly in search of a good blt no matter where i go. i enjoyed reading this so much and it made my stomach grumble on a very quiet commuter amtrak!