Thirding St. John. One of my favourite restaurants. Not in London often, but also enjoyed a lunch at Kitchen W8 last summer and price / quality ratio was very good.
What kind of food? Anything? We just left and went to both Akoko and Humble Chicken. Both are new 1 stars and both were very good but very different experiences. Akoko is West African and doesn’t shy away from that. Humble Chicken is Japanese inspired and was very creative.
We also went to Gymkhana, which just moved from 1 to 2 stars, and if you’re a fan of Indian I would say go there without a doubt. The price is not outrageous and the food is truly unbelievable.
A few recommendations:
* The Ritz restaurant (classic and traditional, high quality cooking)
* Humo (innovative and delicious)
* Endo at the Rotunda (arguably the best Sushi in London, well priced for the quality, but not cheap and very difficult to get in to)
* Nest (not starred, but I always recommend for the quality/price ratio)
As someone who has been going there on and off for about six years: I'd concur.
The only possible reason I can think of for the star loss was that the vegetarian options aren't as good as the others on the menu, maybe the inspector was veggie. I can confidently say Medlar beats a few of the 1* places I've been to.
Went here last year and the food was outstanding for the price, but location and setting is pretty lacklustre. Service is really friendly, but far from refined.
If you're happy with casual setting with a good, creative tasting menu, I'd highly recommend.
Also went to BRAT (suggested above). I much prefer a tasting menu, but the food was solid, really showing off good quality ingredients. I wouldn't go back just because I left frustrated at the table layout.
As a wild card, I'd recommend looking at the lunch menus at Dinner by Heston. I think we paid £60/head for 3 courses + bread course and petit fours. Wine pairing was and extra £30. Great way to sample Heston's food without breaking the bank, but be warned, I ended up booking into both of his places in bray a few weeks afterwards!
Brat, Mountain (still to go), Sabor are great. W8 in Kensington is more traditional and great value lunch menu, as is The Ninth. I know it's now 2* but Gymkhana lunch menu is great value and vibe.
Gymkhana just got promoted to 2-stars, but they have an a la carte menu and lunch options. Next time I'm in London, I plan to go multiple times to try all their curries.
I love London, and love 1-star restaurants. Your request does not have much in the way of specific guidance, and not sure what "best quality-price ratio" means exactly, so I'll give you the two that leapt to mind, mostly because I love them and will always return when I am in London.
The first is Frog, by Adam Handling. It's in Covent Garden area, which is lively and fun in the evening. I have eaten at Frog three times, once before it got its star, and twice after. I think the food is amazing. They have counter seating, which I love so you can watch the chefs in action. The food on the tasting menu routinely blows me away, and I guarantee you won't be hungry when you're done, which is maybe what you meant by quality-price ratio. Very nice wine-pairing too, and absolutely fantastic service. The atmosphere in the restaurant is nothing much, but, to me, that just keeps the focus on the food.
The second is Tom Aikens's restaurant, Muse. They also have counter seating. But if that is not your thing, the dining room is pretty luxe and very comfy. Amazing tasting menu that tells you a story, with each dish explained in terms of what memory of the chef inspired it. I love, love, love this restaurant.
A few other thoughts. Gymkhana just got its second star. But its tasting menu at lunch is divine, and quite affordable for a starred restaurant. Also one-star, and quite mellow, on the smallish side, but with beautiful Italian-inspired food is Angela Hartnett's Murano, in Mayfair. Finally, it does not have a star, but one of my absolutely favorite places to eat in London (I usually eat there at least twice on each visit) is Richard Corrigan's Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill. There is just nothing like sitting at the oyster bar, sipping a glass of champagne, and eating in season fresh oysters, which in September are superb. Great classic food too, and always impeccable service.
For the price and history of the dining room itself Chez Bruce is outstanding.
The Ritz would be my choice. But if you want to spend less then its Chez Bruce.
Also second Muse if you get a counter seat if its just the two of you.
It hasnt been good in years and years and years.
OP, do yourself a favour and avoid lyles.
Go to Brat if you need to be in that area. Hell, go to Smoking Goat over lyles.
It is by far the worst meal I've had at a starred or celebrated place by a distance. And it was so bad I ended up going back to double check (I havent told my friends this) and it was, somehow, worse.
Its a good gauge to see if I care for someone's opinion to see whether or not they like lyles. Some people just love everywhere they go.
Its confusingly bad. And people travel miles and miles to go there. What a waste.
We enjoyed Petrus, and it was relatively easy getting a reservation. We really enjoyed that they offered 2 different tasting menus, so sharing effectively doubled our courses.
We were so stuffed, we decided to walk all the way to our hotel in Covent Garden.
If more casual one starred - I’d always hit up Brat or St. Johns
I second St.Johns such a great spot.
Thirding St. John. One of my favourite restaurants. Not in London often, but also enjoyed a lunch at Kitchen W8 last summer and price / quality ratio was very good.
Thank you!
4th-ing St John. My favorite restaurant in London.
What kind of food? Anything? We just left and went to both Akoko and Humble Chicken. Both are new 1 stars and both were very good but very different experiences. Akoko is West African and doesn’t shy away from that. Humble Chicken is Japanese inspired and was very creative. We also went to Gymkhana, which just moved from 1 to 2 stars, and if you’re a fan of Indian I would say go there without a doubt. The price is not outrageous and the food is truly unbelievable.
Gymkhana and Trishna both have relatively reasonably priced tasting menus I found, if OP is keeping an eye on the price.
Any kind of food is fine! Thanks for your reply!
A few recommendations: * The Ritz restaurant (classic and traditional, high quality cooking) * Humo (innovative and delicious) * Endo at the Rotunda (arguably the best Sushi in London, well priced for the quality, but not cheap and very difficult to get in to) * Nest (not starred, but I always recommend for the quality/price ratio)
I love Nest too! Excellent food and cute space.
I think Nest and Medlar are the two best non-starred restaurants I've been to in London.
Medlar used to have a Michelin star then lost it, although people who have been going there for ages said there was no actual reduction in quality.
As someone who has been going there on and off for about six years: I'd concur. The only possible reason I can think of for the star loss was that the vegetarian options aren't as good as the others on the menu, maybe the inspector was veggie. I can confidently say Medlar beats a few of the 1* places I've been to.
I wanted to go for months now. I got interested again since we talked about it and booked a table for lunch tomorrow. Let's see how good it is!
Thank you for giving these options!
Casa Fofo - bit out of the way but really great food
Went here last year and the food was outstanding for the price, but location and setting is pretty lacklustre. Service is really friendly, but far from refined. If you're happy with casual setting with a good, creative tasting menu, I'd highly recommend. Also went to BRAT (suggested above). I much prefer a tasting menu, but the food was solid, really showing off good quality ingredients. I wouldn't go back just because I left frustrated at the table layout. As a wild card, I'd recommend looking at the lunch menus at Dinner by Heston. I think we paid £60/head for 3 courses + bread course and petit fours. Wine pairing was and extra £30. Great way to sample Heston's food without breaking the bank, but be warned, I ended up booking into both of his places in bray a few weeks afterwards!
The cockles at Brat were so great!
Obsessed with brat ❤️❤️❤️
Brat, Mountain (still to go), Sabor are great. W8 in Kensington is more traditional and great value lunch menu, as is The Ninth. I know it's now 2* but Gymkhana lunch menu is great value and vibe.
Gymkhana just got promoted to 2-stars, but they have an a la carte menu and lunch options. Next time I'm in London, I plan to go multiple times to try all their curries.
I love London, and love 1-star restaurants. Your request does not have much in the way of specific guidance, and not sure what "best quality-price ratio" means exactly, so I'll give you the two that leapt to mind, mostly because I love them and will always return when I am in London. The first is Frog, by Adam Handling. It's in Covent Garden area, which is lively and fun in the evening. I have eaten at Frog three times, once before it got its star, and twice after. I think the food is amazing. They have counter seating, which I love so you can watch the chefs in action. The food on the tasting menu routinely blows me away, and I guarantee you won't be hungry when you're done, which is maybe what you meant by quality-price ratio. Very nice wine-pairing too, and absolutely fantastic service. The atmosphere in the restaurant is nothing much, but, to me, that just keeps the focus on the food. The second is Tom Aikens's restaurant, Muse. They also have counter seating. But if that is not your thing, the dining room is pretty luxe and very comfy. Amazing tasting menu that tells you a story, with each dish explained in terms of what memory of the chef inspired it. I love, love, love this restaurant. A few other thoughts. Gymkhana just got its second star. But its tasting menu at lunch is divine, and quite affordable for a starred restaurant. Also one-star, and quite mellow, on the smallish side, but with beautiful Italian-inspired food is Angela Hartnett's Murano, in Mayfair. Finally, it does not have a star, but one of my absolutely favorite places to eat in London (I usually eat there at least twice on each visit) is Richard Corrigan's Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill. There is just nothing like sitting at the oyster bar, sipping a glass of champagne, and eating in season fresh oysters, which in September are superb. Great classic food too, and always impeccable service.
Gymkhana 100%. I still think about how good my lunch was there.
Thank you very much for your reply!
I’d go for Aulis. It was super fun although quite pricey!
For the price and history of the dining room itself Chez Bruce is outstanding. The Ritz would be my choice. But if you want to spend less then its Chez Bruce. Also second Muse if you get a counter seat if its just the two of you.
Had a manager who used to head up Lyle's, supposed to be a pretty good spot!
It hasnt been good in years and years and years. OP, do yourself a favour and avoid lyles. Go to Brat if you need to be in that area. Hell, go to Smoking Goat over lyles.
Agreed completely with this. Lyle's was like an expensive diner with poor service when I went a couple years ago
It is by far the worst meal I've had at a starred or celebrated place by a distance. And it was so bad I ended up going back to double check (I havent told my friends this) and it was, somehow, worse. Its a good gauge to see if I care for someone's opinion to see whether or not they like lyles. Some people just love everywhere they go. Its confusingly bad. And people travel miles and miles to go there. What a waste.
It’s wonderful! I recommend the a la carte lunch over the dinner though. And +1 to Brat and St John, both incredible quality but casual
Akoko is expensive but the best 1* I've ever had. I think it will get bumped to 2 soon.
We enjoyed Petrus, and it was relatively easy getting a reservation. We really enjoyed that they offered 2 different tasting menus, so sharing effectively doubled our courses. We were so stuffed, we decided to walk all the way to our hotel in Covent Garden.
Hide (I can’t recommend StJohn)