Page 295 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London
P. 295
WHERE T O EA T AND DRINK 293
Eating with Children The restaurants have been
Many London restaurants, divided into six areas of
particularly chain restaurants London, covering a broader
and fastfood establishments, span of the capital than the
welcome children. A few 14 areas within the Area by Area
venues, such as The Rainforest section: Grouped in the listings
Café on Shaftesbury Avenue, under Westminster and the
create a unique dining West End, the broadest choice
experience especially for kids. of restau rants can be found in
With the growing trend for Covent Garden and on the
a more informal style of dining, Strand, in Piccadilly, Mayfair and
more restaurants, including St James, and Soho and Trafalgar
those at the top end of the Square The Kensington and
market, have become child Chelsea section, which
friendly, offering children’s encompasses Knightsbridge,
menus, smaller portions and also offers an extensive range
high chairs. Some provide of restaurants, as does the
Entrance to the Gallery Mess (see p300) colouring books and even Bloomsbury and Regent’s
at the Saatchi Gallery put on live entertainment to Park area, taking in Holborn and
keep the little diners happy. the Inns of Court. Southwark
code (no jeans, trainers or See page 353 for suggested and the South Bank is always
shorts). Some insist on a jacket; places that cater particularly buzzing, with a large variety
a few on jacket and tie. for children. of riverside restaurants to
Booking is advisable, choose from.
especially at gourmet restau The City and the East End
rants and between Friday Recommended is home to a wide range of
Restaurants
and Sunday. Smoking is chic and contemporary eateries,
banned in all London pubs The restaurants on pages particulary around Smithfield
and restaurants. 296–307 of this guide cover a and Spitalfields. There is also
comprehensive range of a fair selection of highly
cuisines suited to those on commended restaurants to be
Price and Service
different budgets. With such found Further Afield in areas
As London is one of the world’s an eclectic mix of restaurants such as fashionable Camden.
most expensive cities, restau on offer, the listings showcase Within these areas, places are
rant prices can often seem the best of their kind, from listed alphabetically in each of
exorbitant to visitors, with an Spanish tapas bars to formal the three price categories.
average threecourse meal finedining establishments. Everywhere listed here
and a few glasses of house Where a restaurant is in some offers sitdown meals. If you
wine at a mediumpriced way exceptional – perhaps for are looking for a light bite in
central London restaurant its exquisite food, goodvalue a more informal setting, see
costing around £40–£60 per menu or familyfriendly facilities pages 308–15 for dependable
person. Many restaurants have – it has been highlighted as a food chains, gastropubs, street
setprice menus which are DK Choice. food markets and cafés.
generally significantly less
expensive than ordering à la
carte. Similarly, various West
End restaurants serve pre
theatre set menus (typically from
around 5:30–6pm). Prices may
be lower (around £20–£30 a
head) at smaller, more modest
restaurants, wine bars and pubs.
Before ordering your meal,
check the small print on the
menu. Prices may automatically
include an optional service
charge (customary 10–15 per
cent). If this isn’t included, you
may be asked to “add gratuity”
when paying with a card
machine, though there is some
argument that a cash tip is more
likely to find its way into the
staff’s pockets. Bibendum, a popular choice for sophisticated French cuisine (see p301)
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