After my ranting rage about Larousse's treacherous slander of British cuisine, I have just completed a visit to Albion's shores and have visited a series of excellent eateries from central London to the wilds of Oxfordshire via the bracing beaches of Sussex. All I can say to Monsieur Larousse is: ah speet on yeur overpriced French foreign meuck, and yeur muzzair was a 'amster!!
London:
Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK), Baker Street and elsewhere
Chain of simple burger restaurants, burgers are made from ground beef and cooked to order. Various options, food is fresh and reasonably priced.
Regency Cafe
The uncontested star of greasy spoons, this spotless corner caff has featured in the film "Layer Cake", as well as Masterchef 2011 and Andrew Neill on Class. The menu is standard British caff fare - all-day breakfasts, sausage & mash, etc. - and the place is always packed with builders, taxi drivers and office workers during the week. Nuff said.
The Betjeman Arms, St Pancras International Station
I always arrange to get the 14.35 Eurostar back from London so that I can have lunch here. Their fish & chips are stonkingly good - and that's from someone who lives in Belgium.
Pompidou
Another simple caff situated on the Pentonville Road between York Way and Caledonian Road, a couple of minutes' walk from St Pancras. Miles better than all those chain coffee shops like Costa Packet or Caffe Zero that abound in the area. I had a simple toasted bagel with butter and jam and a latte, but my nose was twitching at some huge salads two tables down which were emanating freshness.
Berks, Bucks & Oxon
The Shoulder of Mutton, Playhatch, Berks
Lovely olde-worlde country gastropub with superior bar food. There's also The Crown in the same village if there's no room at this inn.
The London Street Brasserie, Reading, Berks
If you're having a day's retail therapy in the Oracle, the LSB is a great place to set your bags down for a couple of hours. Classier than the chain restaurants on the riverside, less flashy than the Jamie Oliver place, the food is good, fresh, beautifully presented and served with a smile. The staff are professional and know about the food and wines. Extremely reasonable prices for such high quality.
The Bird in Hand, Sonning Common, Berks
Another country gastropub, pleasant environment, fresh chunky sandwiches and cider. No such thing as a ploughman's lunch any more, I was told by the barman. Shame. I am going to start a movement to bring it back.
The Kingswell Hotel, Harwell, Oxon
Superb 3-course meal for half the price you would pay for similar quality in London. (About 30 quid a head). The hotel is in the pretty village of Harwell.
The Barge, Woolstone, Milton Keynes
Charming olde-worlde pub with an airy conservatory restaurant, or you can eat in the bar or at a table outside in the garden.
Sussex
The Crown & Anchor, Shoreham By Sea
Nothing much to look at from the street, but a charming conservatory restaurant at the back and a terrace overlooking the river Adur. Selection of chunky club sandwiches, salads or hot dishes.
Carats, Southwick Beach, Portslade
The beachside greasy spoon is a popular Sunday brunch venue for locals and a few celebs - Chris Evans is rumoured to have been spotted here tucking into a bacon sarnie. You'll have to queue for 20 minutes or so if you come between 11 and 12 on a Sunday, but it's worth it. The Carats Breakfast at 5.65 will set you up for a long walk along the beach.
So, Monsieur Larousse, put zat in your peep and smirk it.
London:
Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK), Baker Street and elsewhere
Chain of simple burger restaurants, burgers are made from ground beef and cooked to order. Various options, food is fresh and reasonably priced.
Regency Cafe
The uncontested star of greasy spoons, this spotless corner caff has featured in the film "Layer Cake", as well as Masterchef 2011 and Andrew Neill on Class. The menu is standard British caff fare - all-day breakfasts, sausage & mash, etc. - and the place is always packed with builders, taxi drivers and office workers during the week. Nuff said.
The Betjeman Arms, St Pancras International Station
I always arrange to get the 14.35 Eurostar back from London so that I can have lunch here. Their fish & chips are stonkingly good - and that's from someone who lives in Belgium.
Pompidou
Another simple caff situated on the Pentonville Road between York Way and Caledonian Road, a couple of minutes' walk from St Pancras. Miles better than all those chain coffee shops like Costa Packet or Caffe Zero that abound in the area. I had a simple toasted bagel with butter and jam and a latte, but my nose was twitching at some huge salads two tables down which were emanating freshness.
Berks, Bucks & Oxon
The Shoulder of Mutton, Playhatch, Berks
Lovely olde-worlde country gastropub with superior bar food. There's also The Crown in the same village if there's no room at this inn.
The London Street Brasserie, Reading, Berks
If you're having a day's retail therapy in the Oracle, the LSB is a great place to set your bags down for a couple of hours. Classier than the chain restaurants on the riverside, less flashy than the Jamie Oliver place, the food is good, fresh, beautifully presented and served with a smile. The staff are professional and know about the food and wines. Extremely reasonable prices for such high quality.
The Bird in Hand, Sonning Common, Berks
Another country gastropub, pleasant environment, fresh chunky sandwiches and cider. No such thing as a ploughman's lunch any more, I was told by the barman. Shame. I am going to start a movement to bring it back.
The Kingswell Hotel, Harwell, Oxon
Superb 3-course meal for half the price you would pay for similar quality in London. (About 30 quid a head). The hotel is in the pretty village of Harwell.
The Barge, Woolstone, Milton Keynes
Charming olde-worlde pub with an airy conservatory restaurant, or you can eat in the bar or at a table outside in the garden.
Sussex
The Crown & Anchor, Shoreham By Sea
Nothing much to look at from the street, but a charming conservatory restaurant at the back and a terrace overlooking the river Adur. Selection of chunky club sandwiches, salads or hot dishes.
Carats, Southwick Beach, Portslade
The beachside greasy spoon is a popular Sunday brunch venue for locals and a few celebs - Chris Evans is rumoured to have been spotted here tucking into a bacon sarnie. You'll have to queue for 20 minutes or so if you come between 11 and 12 on a Sunday, but it's worth it. The Carats Breakfast at 5.65 will set you up for a long walk along the beach.
So, Monsieur Larousse, put zat in your peep and smirk it.
