good London restaurants

I'm sorry if this has been discussed over and over.  I did a search but didn't see anything specific.   I'd like to hear about some good restaurants in London so we can have places to recommend to friends who visit and places that my husband and I can try when we get a night out.

I'm not thinking of any particular cuisine or price range.  Just places that are reliably decent so that we'll feel our dinner out was worth it.  And I'd like to feel somewhat knowledgeable when visiting friends ask, "Where's a good place to eat?" even though my recent dining experience has been limited to Pizza Express with my kids.

Thanks 

this is the one I always recommend to anyone who asks: Cat's Café des Artistes.  It's a smallish Thai restaurant near Finsbury Park.  Not the greatest neighborhood in the world to walk through at night, but it's definitely worth it!  Really hard to describe, but the décor alone almost makes this place worth it.  It's got a lot of character & charm and the food definitely lives up to this as well!  All dishes I've ever had there were really exceptional - they do a great blend of traditional Thai with an infusion of inventiveness to make new dishes in the Thai style.  The kicker is the prices!  Borderline dirt cheap considering what you get in quality & atmosphere...I think the starters were a bit pricier (£5-6), but the mains were a really reasonable £6-10 range, if I recall correctly.

I'll stop raving now .

There's a fairly brand new centre at Victoria, I think called 'Cathedral Walk' that's loaded with different restaurants and shops. 
We went to a tapas place called 'La Tasca' which is a chain, and has a place there.  It was not only fantastic food and prices, but FANTASTIC SERVICE!  We were running late and asked as we were seated if we could be in and out in 1/2 hour.  The hostess said yes; and the waiter immediately came over with menus and said "I'm told you need to be out in half an hour; please let me know when you're ready to order and I'll make sure you're taken care of."
And he did 

http://www.latasca.co.uk/

The wife and I tend to eat out much more than we should, so i've got opinions and recommendations out the yin-yang:

Bodean's BBQ
Probably one of my favorite restaurants, this chain was started by transplanted Americans and serves quality barbecue food at decent prices. The ribs and pulled pork are as good, if not better, than what I've had in the States. Lots of daily specials. Locations in SoHo, Fulham & Clapham. http://www.bodeansbbq.com [nofollow]

Joe Allen
Vaguely posh American cuisine, located in Covent Garden behind the Lyceum theater. Good eats but not cheap (probably £15-20 for entrees). Good for meals before a show, sometimes celebrities eat there, e.g. my wife has seen Damian Lewis there a few times.

Porter's
Good old British Cuisine, served without fuss. Steaks, pies, fish-n-chips, sausages, etc. Average prices. Full selection of St. Peter's brand of ales. Decor is lots of wood and green, but clean. Not full of the gaudy "antiques" that spoil a lot of places. Service is average, and the place can get busy, but since it's just a bit off the main Covent Garden square I don't know exactly how busy it gets.

Busaba Ethai
This eatery specializes in thai food. There are 2 locations, one in SoHo, and another near Tottenham Court Road station. It does not take reservations, so seating is first-come, first-served. Also they have mostly large square tables so you will almost always be put on a table with other parties. This works out OK for small parties (2 or 3) but larger groups may be waiting a while before they are seated. The place smells wonderful and is done up in nice deep dark wood finishes. I thought my curry was excellent. Prices are average for Thai food, but add-ons and drinks will make it about par with, say, a steak restaurant.

Chowki
I've always loved this Indian eatery near Piccadilly Circus. They have a rotating menu, which features three different regions of India every month. This is nice because it has more variety than other Indian places, but can be bad because if you go during the same part of the year you'll realize that you're kind of missing the point. But the food is great, and the prices are good. It's very loud, however.

We went to a tapas place called 'La Tasca' which is a chain, and has a place there.  It was not only fantastic food and prices, but FANTASTIC SERVICE!

Good to know!  I always pass a La Tasca on my way to work & have been dying to try it (looooooove tapas!).  I'm glad that it's been recommend, because now this gives me the motivation to actually go inside .

Dave and I eat out a LOT.....so i love these threads!

There is an excellent Tapas place off Tottenham Court Road that is a little hole in the wall and LOVELY.  My spanish friend says best and most authentic she's seen in central london.

Navarros
http://www.navarros.co.uk/
Not expensive and lovely!!!!

For amazing Turkish food and a cute atmosphere (lamps hanging from ceiling and intimate) go to Grand Bazaar. We get the Meze for £12.00 pp and some ballon bread and are STUFFED!

http://www.thegrandbazaar.co.uk/

For off the hook thai food try Mango Tree near Buck Palace.  You can get deals there off top table and the food was AMAZING.

http://www.mangotree.org.uk/

For Steak that is fresh and the best quality i have found in london, go to Gaucho Grille (chain).  It has a great atmosphere (we went to the one off Picadilly) and the steak is like butter.  Interesting flavors and options like Wood Grilled Salmon are a FAB choice.  This place ain't cheap but the food is SO worth it

http://www.gaucho-grill.com/

I'll put in a second vote for Joe Allen's. It's great.

My favourite restaraunt in London is Grumbles, near Victoria which is traditional English, but quite informal and not too pricey.


Vicky

I like this thread, it's making me hungry.

My favorites:

Steak:
Black and Blue.  It's a chain and I believe there are restaurants located near Notting Hill Gate, Belsize Park and Mayfair.

Sushi/Japanese:
Nobu Berkeley.  The less expensive (but still pricey) little sister of the famous Nobu.  Sushi was phenominal and the service was great.

Italian:
Carluccio's.  A little more "adult" than Pizza Express, but still very affordable.

Thai:
Churchill Arms.  It's a pub in Kensington,  located near Notting Hill Gate tube,  which serves delicious and CHEAP thai food.  The portions are enormous.

Is it lunch time yet???

Ok i am starving now! I want to try Nobu Berkley...is that where you do not make a reservation?

Chiang Mai in Frith St - v good Thai; also Cafe Emm in the same street: http://www.cafeemm.com/

Steak:
Black and Blue.  It's a chain and I believe there are restaurants located near Notting Hill Gate, Belsize Park and Mayfair.

There are also branches across from Gloucester Road tube station and on Stoney Street, in the rear section of Borough Market.

Ok i am starving now! I want to try Nobu Berkley...is that where you do not make a reservation?

That used to be their policy, but when I went a few months ago we had a reservation.

I've brought this thread back to life because I went to one of the best restaurants EVER on Sunday, and wanted to share...

www.lavenderlady.biz

Seriously brilliant, and very reasonably priced.  I'd go into detail about what was so good, but really EVERYTHING was perfect. And it's about 1 minute walk from my flat in North Finchley!  Oh dear, bang goes the diet!

Vicky

Vicky - Any time you want to meet for tea/lunch....I'd be willing to take the bus up that way from E. Finchley and give it a try!

DEFINITELY!  I'll be in touch.

Vicky