The Barbary
Teeny, tiny, hot and buzzy, this place is so much fun and the food is great – there’s no trade off on atmosphere vs quality here. It’s in Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden and accepts walk-in traffic only unless you reserve for noon or 5pm (we reserved for noon and there was already a line-up when we arrived). The open-kitchen, surrounded by a U-shaped, zinc-topped bar with 27 stools, dishes up fab Middle Eastern/North African-inspired food. Servers will take control if you ask – we did and our waiter made brilliant suggestions – and you can watch your small plates meant for sharing being made. Bonus: they play great music.
The Palomar
Run by the same team that owns The Barbary, this place is also packed to the gills. Unlike The Barbary, there is a dining room at the back (past the open-kitchen bar seating) for a comfier perch. It’s in Soho’s Chinatown and serves up modern day middle-Eastern fare, including the best baba ganoush I’ve ever had; it’s served with handmade pittas (dangerously yum) and pomegranate seeds. The cocktails are killer too – try the Drunken Botanist, a zingy mix of gin, Campari, vermouth, fernet branca and chartreuse.
The Oystermen Seafood Bar & Kitchen
I think this was my favourite lunch in London. It’s also in Covent Garden and extremely tiny so it fills up fast. Update: since my last visit, they’ve expanded the premises, more than doubling the size. We started with an assortment of oysters, including some incredibly sweet and salty Louët-Fessiers. We paired them with a side of perfect chips that were made even better with a dusting of Old Bay. The main was a whole fresh Devon crab, one of only four on offer, and to drink, English bubbles from Kent. Excellent quality in a super-casual setting – the best combo.
Fischer’s
I rarely eat meat and usually never at a restaurant but Fischer’s is all about schnitzel, and for good reason, so I couldn’t resist. It’s billed as a neighbourhood café, but in well-heeled Marylebone and under the direction of restaurateurs Corbin & King, it’s a bit more than that (read: Nigella Lawson eats here). Whether you choose chicken, pork or beef, make sure to top it with anchovy, capers and egg. I think the pic says it all.
Scott’s
Couldn’t go to London and not eat at this Mayfair classic. And yes, Charles Saatchi was there smoking on the terrace which, by the way, is reserved for the beau monde (that meant Sadie Frost when we were there). They excel at crustacea but all dishes are perfectly prepared and presented. We had sole meunière and halibut with char-grilled octopus. It’s an institution for good reason, albeit a pricey one.
