Fodor's London 2013 by Fodor's

Author:Fodor's [Fodor's]
Language: eng, eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780876371565
Publisher: Fodor's Travel Publications
Published: 2012-08-13T16:00:00+00:00

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Local Chains Worth a Taste

When you’re on the go or don’t have time for a leisurely meal, you might want to try a local chain restaurant or sandwich bar.

Busaba Eathai: It’s always jam-packed at these seven Thai canteen supremos where you’ll find Thai noodles, rice dishes, and spicy all-in-one meals in a bowl in sultry dark-wood surrounds. | www.busaba.com.

Byron: Bright and child-friendly, this 18-strong line of superior hamburger joints storms the market with its delicious Scotch beef hamburgers, onion rings, Cobb salads, and fries. | www.byronhamburgers.com.

Café Rouge: A classic 35-strong French bistro chain that’s been around for eons and does great £6.50–£10.50 prix-fixe deals—so uncool that it’s now almost fashionable. | www.caferouge.co.uk.

Carluccio’s Caffè: The Carluccio’s chain of 16 all-day Italian café/bar/food shops are freshly sourced, family-friendly, and make for brilliant pasta and salad stops on a shopping spree. | www.carluccios.com.

Ed’s Easy Diner: Overdose on milk shakes, ice-cream floats, chili dogs, and made-to-order hamburgers at this four-strong chain of shiny, retro 1950s-theme American diners. | www.edseasydiner.com.

Le Pain Quotidien: Try tartine open sandwiches, soups, salads, and cakes at the communal wooden tables. There are 14 branches, including at the stunning St. Pancras station and Eurostar terminus. | www.lepainquotidien.co.uk.

Pizza Express: Serving classic thin-crust pizzas, old-favorite Pizza Express is everywhere (there are nearly 100 in London). The Soho branch has a famed live jazz program. | www.pizzaexpress.com.

Pret à Manger: London’s high-street take-out supremo isn’t just for store-made sandwiches: there are wraps, toasties, noodles, sushi, salads, fruit, porridge, and tea cakes, too. | www.pret.com.

Ranoush Juice: Chewy shawarma lamb kebabs are the draw at these four-strong mirrored late-night kebab and juice bars (open 8 am to 3 am daily). They also serve falafel, meze, and tabbouleh. | www.maroush.com.

Strada: Stop at this 30-strong chain for authentic hand-stretched pizzas baked over a wood fire, plus classic pastas, steaks, and risottos. It’s cheap, stylish, and generally packed. | www.strada.co.uk.

Wagamama: Londoners drain endless bowls of Asian ramen and noodle soups at this high-tech, child-friendly chain of canteens. | www.wagamama.com.

Bistrot Bruno Loubet.

Go east to Clerkenwell for a popular vegetarian breakfast (£16.50) at Bistrot Bruno Loubet at the Zetter overlooking St. John’s Sq., with free-range eggs, grilled tomatoes, smoked bacon, field mushrooms, spinach and avocado. | The Zetter, 86–88 Clerkenwell Rd., Clerkenwell | ECM1 5RJ | 020/7324–4455.

Cecconi’s.

Cecconi’s conjures up a truly suave affair from 7 am weekdays for about £20, and offers pink grapefruit, egg-white omelette, French toast, plus duck egg, hash browns and black truffle—all in a swish Ilse Crawford-designed brasserie. | 5A Burlington Gardens, Mayfair | W1S 3EP | 020/7434–1500.

Cinnamon Club.

Lords, MPs, politicos, special advisors, and old India hands enjoy Indian Uttapam rice pancakes, green chilis, lentil broth, and coconut chutney for a bargain £8 in the converted former Westminster Library here, before ambling into the nearby Houses of Parliament. | Old Westminster Library, 30–32 Great Smith St., Westminster | SW1P 3BU | 020/7222–2555.

Dishoom.

Curry lovers dash into smartly-decked out all-day Bombay-style Indian street food canteen Dishoom off Leicester Square for spiced Bombay omelette, hot chai (tea), with egg or bacon naan bread rolls (about £13).

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