You’d need a lifetime to explore all of the incredible restaurants in London. My second trip to London was cut short thanks to flight cancellations, but we did manage to have several days to explore all types of cuisine. Narrowing it down to my top three wasn’t exactly easy, but this list stuck out for me and I’m really hoping to go back to all of them someday.
The Blackfriar Is located at 174 Queen Victoria Street. The website explains some of its fascinating history:
“A Grade II Art Nouveau masterpiece . Our historic building has stood proudly in the heart of Blackfriars since 1875 – just think of the things it must have seen… You won’t be able to miss our iconic, wedge-shaped building, with its mosaics, ornamental balconies, and famous guardian black friar above the front door. Built on the site of a Dominican friary, the curious building was redesigned by architect Herbert Fuller-Clark in around 1905, with most of the internal decoration provided by artist Henry Poole and sculptor Frederick Callcott. Their commitment to the free-thinking arts and crafts movement can still be seen in our sculptures, mosaics, and relics, all depicting jolly friars. Added in 1917-21, the snack bar sits under the neighbouring railway line, proving a popular attraction with its barrel-vaulted ceiling.”
We visited on a typical day in London–cloudy, drizzling, and calling for layered clothing. Upon walking in and visiting the bartender, we were ushered to a side room where a clipboard with my name was printed on it and a small vase of flowers adorned the table. There are glittering mosaics, carved and painted phrases on the wall, and tiny tables in a very cozy atmosphere. If going again, I’d get exactly what I ordered last time, but I’d double the order of Beef Brisket Loaded Nachos, which were completely incredible. I actually don’t love brisket (much to my husband’s major dismay), but this was different and soooo tasty. I also ordered a chicken and truffled oyster mushroom pie and it had the best-tasting gravy I have ever had. I could drink the gravy it was so good. A glass of white wine (I let the bartender choose) was perfect with this. My husband enjoyed his beer, fish and chips and mushy peas our children loved their food. The portions are huge and the restaurant oozes character.
The Brasserie of Light is located on the first floor of the Selfridges department store, which is a blog post all to itself. Found at 400 Oxford Street, you are instantly met with the feeling you are inside of a jewelry box. The tabletops are made of mirrors, faceted mirror mosaics are behind the bar, above several seating areas, along one wall, and there are glittering pegasus sculptures all over the restaurant, mimicking the huge one made by Damien Hirst. Pink napkins, pink bar stools, and a pink onyx bathroom bring the color scheme together.
As fancy as is its decor, the menu is also a draw. We began with the zucchini fritti and they were absolutely delicious. My husband ordered scallops and I had the Korean half-chicken. You can see from my photos that the presentation of food is extremely artful. I had wine, he had a cocktail, and our daughter had a gorgeous mocktail garnished with cotton candy. I’d go back in a heartbeat!
The last restaurant I’d heartily recommend is Tavolino, both for the absolutely incredible food and also its amazing location with big picture windows overlooking the Thames and the Tower Bridge. We had lunch there and i’m still dreaming of the amazing pasta, pizzas, and It is located at 2 More London Riverside. We had the zucchini fritti (are you sensing a pattern?), which were not as tasty as those made at the Blackfriar, the heritage tomatoes, which were delicious, Spinach and ricotta filled pappardella, a margherita pizza, which had phenomenal crust and the perfect balance are bright and sweet sauce, cacio e pepe, and the porcini and truffle arancini. We all shared all of it and I remarked several times how fresh and authentic every bite was.
Tavolino is huge, light-filled, and offers both sprawling booths and smaller, more intimate tables. There is an upstairs, a massive bar, and private water closets with their own mini sinks (a touch I love and rarely see anymore). We met a cousin of mine and her daughter there for lunch and were seated promptly and had the right amount of attention from our waitress. We adults all had champagne to celebrate our reunion and some special career news of hers, and the kids had water and juice. While I was so intrigued by how amazing I knew their desserts would be, we were all so full. They also have a cute outside patio for warmer days.
