London

Erin · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 1:47 am Post subject: London

Phil and I will only be in London for a short amount of time on our trip and want to make sure we don't waste our time on tourist traps. When we arrive our hotel is in Earls Court, and frankly I have forgotten what part of London that is. On our way home we are staying very near Portobello Road in Notting Hill. What do you all suggest we do? Also, where can I get a traditional english breakfast? The friend I am staying with in Nottinghamshire refuses to let me eat black pudding ,but I have to.
Oh, and where can I have some truely amazing Indian food?
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green crisps yes or no? · Joined: 22 Sep 2005 Posts: 1 Location: London,UK

Erin · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 1:04 pm Post subject:

Thanks Martin, if you have more info on the real London I would be happy to hear. I would like to find places that are off the tourist path, that isn't really my thing.
I am excited to check out Brick Lane for restaurants, out where I am I can't find decent Indian food unless I make it myself.

Thanks again for your help!
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"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."

David · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:52 pm Post subject:

Erin, I know it sounds morbid and touristy but I think they still do Jack the Ripper walking tours----at night!! oooooo Spooky Twisted Evil

(hey and I tried to call you the other night--but you are not listed!!)
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Monica · Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 90 Location: Chicago

It's not that black pudding tastes awful, it's just knowing what is in it that makes me unwell... This past May, our B&B hostess in Scotland served some up, it felt rude not to eat it, but I just couldn't do more than one bite. She didn't bother heating any for us on the following mornings!

Erin · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 9:44 pm Post subject:

I think I have effectively talked myself into it. I am just telling myself that all meat has blood, this is just done a little differently. I do still feel a bit dirty, but it is getting easier.
_________________
"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."

laurenz · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 3 Location: London

I highly recommend checking out st john bread & wine. there are two - one is opposite spitalfields market (nearest tube: Liverpool Street) and the other is in Clerkenwell (nearest tube: Farringdon). google and you will find.

They are restaurants and bakeries, and also wine shops. They offer traditional British cooking - some offal, and mostly it is quite meaty - but it is quality all the way, seasonal cooking and not overpriced.

the brick lane indian restaurants are a couple of blocks up from spitalfields. i personally think they are over rated and all taste the same....!

If you buy Time Out when you arrive, they have an excellent foodie section with new restaurant reviews and recommendations for eating out in north/east/south/west London.

Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant in Hoxton (nearest tube: Old Street) has started doing breakfasts (i think it's about 8am-11.30am) and that would be a great place to taste a traditional (but good quality) english breakfast. Otherwise there are countless crappy 'greasy spoon' cafes that are incredibly cheap and they do the works!

Hope this helps, Lauren

Erin · Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:08 pm Post subject:

Lauren,
Thank you for the information, I am always happy to hear what the locals recommend. Where would you go if you were going out for Indian food? I am currently deprived of Indian restaurants, so this will be sort of an event for me.

Calling all locals! Where is a great place to have a beer that isn't a tourist trap?
_________________
"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."

Elizagard · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 9:51 pm Post subject: london

Most every hotel I've ever stayed at in England has included a traditional English breakfast with the price of the room. You get eggs, bacon, beans, a cooked tomato, toast, and some tea or coffee. The quality varies depending on where you're staying.

I'm a big fan of Sandra Gustafson's Great Eats London. There's now good asian food and even sushi there now. It's slightly different than the asian food we have in California so it's fun to explore. She recommends Noorjahan in South Kensington (not too far from Earl's Court) for Indian food. My English friend Dave says you have to go to East London for the best Indian food. Any place with a bunch of East Indians in it would be good.

Besides many of the things already mentioned like the Tate modern, I like walking along the river on the south side. It's also worthwhile to find some small non westend type plays that are all over the place.

Elizabeth

London Lucy · Joined: 19 Nov 2005 Posts: 2

Hi Erin,

For good Indian food I would suggest either Zaika in Kensington - expensive but amazing - or to see a completely different side of London a trip to Southhall will reward you with some authentic Indian food. I don't know if you've ever had a dosa (a very large, very thin spicy pancake filled with a potato based curry) before but its a must when in Southall. To get there you need to take an overground train from Paddington station and when you leave Southall station turn right down the hill. If you do go - on that hill there is a huge and wonderful supermarket (next to the rather more mundane Iceland) which sells everything from plantains to gram flour to lassi. Everytime I go I find something new!

Hope that helps.

Lucy

Erin · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 3:28 pm Post subject:

Lucy,
I am totally checking out the Southall, it sounds great. The store you recommended is at the top of my list. I love stores devoted to ethnic foods, and where I live I am totally deprived of them. Thanks for the tip!

Elizagard,
Thanks for the restaurant tip, it sounds like it will be close to my hotel.
_________________
"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."

me · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Cambridge, MA

Hi Erin,

When I was in London last year, my brother-in-law took us to a restaurant called Vama on the Kings Road in Chelsea. We had a fabulous chicken dish with peppers, delicious lamb kebabs and an excellent prawn curry dish. Vama seems a bit on the pricey side, (but then again, most of London seems pricey to me!) however, the food and cozy setting makes for a nice evening out.

Cheers,
:) Shoma

woodstocker · Joined: 08 Dec 2005 Posts: 224 Location: kingston, ny

next week is a reading week here at uni and my flat mate and i have a long weekend (5 days) so we're thinking of maybe heading to London to take advantage of the free time. my mom suggested the Corus Hyde Park (form. Plaza Hyde Park), any other suggestions or areas for 2 college girls? i was thinking maybe 3 days/2 nights. Smile

Donna · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 827 Location: Oakland, CA

WHAT???????????You're not studying for exams???????????

HAVE FUN!!
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woodstocker · Joined: 08 Dec 2005 Posts: 224 Location: kingston, ny