traditional Sunday roast - restaurant recommendations in central London?

My best friend is flying into London with her boyfriend for the upcoming bank holiday weekend, and really wants to plan a midday meal/get-together for our circle of friends at someplace that does a great roast dinner (if they take bookings, so much the better).  She's staying in Ealing, I think - but our friends live in such varied places as Cricklewood, Croyden and Southwark, so someplace central would work best, I think.   Any suggestions? 

I haven't had too many English Roasties in London..but I did stumble across a gold old English pub grub place called Paxtons Head in Knightsbridge...Had a lovely roast beef dinner in there.  I think what was the best part (other than the food) was the service was really friendly.

I don't know if zone 2 is central enough for you but we used to have a fab Sunday roast at the Hemingford Arms, Hemingford Rd, N1 (nearest tubes Highrbury & Islington or Caledonian Rd). I understand they still do it. No bookings but seriously the best pub in London!

http://www.capitalpubcompany.com/hemingford/

Another good one is the Princess of Wales in Camden/Primrose Hill. Not sure if they do bookings, they might as it does get veyr busy as they have a jazz band playing Sunday lunchtimes.

http://fancyapint.com/pubs/pub2034.html

Thanks, guys!  Will definitely have to check those out.  

Can I recommend www.beerintheevening.com for a great way to search for your ideal pub!

Vicky

And the quintessential roast lunch http://www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk/menus.php?id=4

Sherlock Holmes ate there, so it's good enough for me...

Excellent - thanks, y'all!   Mmmm...I can taste the roast beef already. 

And the quintessential roast lunch http://www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk/menus.php?id=4

Sherlock Holmes ate there, so it's good enough for me...

Is there a place in the back of the restaurant for Americans who are paying in dollars?
I mean to say $50 for rack of lamb??

It's been years since I ate there, but believe me, it is well worth it.

And while they don't have a place out back for American's, there is always the American bar of The Savoy just down the road for a cocktail afterwards!

Vicky

And while at the Savoy, remember that the first ever manager of their restaurant was a Swiss upstart named Cesar Ritz, who went on to found the eponymous hotel chain...