Good Afternoon
15:22 pm
Friday 27th November
 |
|||||||||||
About Most Read
We study your activity on LondonTown.com and this column suggests similar pages requested by other users in the last 30 days. 
|
 |
 A romantic tete-a-tete can be the simplest, but most effective, way of celebrating Valentine's Day and London is brimming with delightful restaurants to provide the perfect setting. Here are ten or so special restaurants to make the occasion a memorable one - whether you're looking for cosy, candlelit meals, epic panoramic views or haute cuisine at its finest. With the whole of Saturday to play with, there's scope to make it a lunchtime date and combine a meal with an excursion. Prices given are per person for a three-course meal and half a bottle of wine. Bon Appetit!
 Bleeding Heart Restaurant Bleeding Heart Yard, off Greville Street, EC1N 8SJ The legend of Bleeding Heart Yard tells of Elizabethan aristocrat Lady Hatton, who took a dance with her jilted lover on a January night in 1626, and whose torn body was found the next morning, blood still pumping from her heart. Sure you'll agree - romance incarnate. During the week this fine French restaurant is filled with rich bankers and City folk, but this year, with Valentine's falling on a Saturday, you might be spared all that. Besides, they're all too worried about losing their jobs to eat out and/or be romantic. Located in a cobbled backstreet of an ancient corner of London, and concealed amidst the ever sprawling modernity of The City, the Bleeding Heart is truly a restaurant tailor-made for Valentine's. The dining room and cuisine are cosy and not too formal, without ever skimping on luxury, while the wine list is exceptional. Cheaper and simpler fare is on offer across the yard at the Bleeding Heart Bistro, run by the same team, but for full French gourmet luxury, the restaurant is the place to go. Address: Bleeding Heart Yard, off Greville Street, EC1N 8SJ Phone: 020 7242 8238 Cuisine: French Timing: Mon-Fri 12pm-2.30pm & 6pm-10.30pm Pricing: Main courses £13-£23 Nearest Station: Farringdon Tube Bleeding Heart Restaurant - Information   La Poule au Pot231 Ebury Street, SW1W 8UT For a full gastro-romantic experience this authentic French bistro in Pimlico is second to nothing. The food is hearty - try the delicious venison steaks or the sumptuous rabbit stew - and comes served in copper pots served by French waiters. The candlelit tables are tucked away in partitioned nooks and crannies, covered with checked tablecloths and old cutlery. Noise from the kitchen and the traditional wooden floors emanates through the dimly-lit room alongside, making sure there is never a moment's silence. Both inside and out, hanging baskets, culinary implements and various paraphernalia adorn the walls adding a bit of kitsch to the cosy surroundings. Whether on a first date or in a long-standing relationship, La Poule au Pot will go down a treat, leaving you making a firm promise to return as quickly as possible. What's more, Michael Winner's undoubtedly long-suffering better half Geraldine says the creme brulee is "the best I've ever had, even in France" - and she's someone accustomed to eating the odd meal out. Address: 231 Ebury Street, SW1W 8UT Phone: 020 7730 7763 Cuisine: French Pricing: £50 Nearest Station: Sloane Square Tube La Poule au Pot - Information  Andrew Edmunds46 Lexington Street, W1F 0LW Ask anyone what their most romantic restaurant in London is and more often than not you get the answer: "Andrew Edmunds on Lexington Street - but thankfully not many people know about it." Tucked away in Soho - just around the corner from the excellent Riflemaker Gallery on Beak Street - this intimate establishment is a favourite both for couples and people generally seeking a decent meal. It doesn't look all that great from the outside, but once you're inside the rickety country cottage interior you'll see why it tops so many people's list. Upstairs is typically Soho while the basement is less frantic and very cosy in the winter. The fare is traditional but with a twist (such as Duck a la Blood Orange) while the menu is updated on a daily basis. Service and food have occasionally been questioned but we've never had a problem here (the last swordfish steak was exquisite, while the girlfriend cooed at the venue). On a good day Andrew Edmunds hits the bull's-eye as an effortlessly romantic spot - let's hope the staff is in good spirits on 14th Feb. Address: 46 Lexington Street, W1F 0LW Phone: 020 7437 5708 Cuisine: Modern European Pricing: £40 Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus tube Andrew Edmunds - Information  J SheekeySt Martin's Court, WC2N 4AL If you have managed to shoehorn a West End matinee into your Valentine's Day agenda, then why not precede it with champagne and oysters at one of London's most fashionable seafood institutions? When Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, emerged from the sea on an oyster shell (after Uranus's severed testicles were tossed into the ocean), the word "aphrodisiac" was born. Despite this rather graphic tale, the slimy seafood has always been synonymous with love and there are few places better than theatreland classic J Sheekey to sample the ambrosial pleasures of swallowing an oyster. Sister restaurant of The Ivy, J Sheekey's expansive warren of intimate wood-panelled alcoves makes it a potential nest of romance. The food is unceremoniously excellent, with enough top class fish on the menu to attract those who do not want to imitate Casanova and start their meal with an amuse-bouche of a dozen oysters. And just around the corner, in Piccadilly Circus, you can gaze up at Eros, the son of Aphrodite, aiming his arrows of love from atop the fountain. Address: St Martin's Court, WC2N 4AL Phone: 020 7240 2565 Cuisine: Fish and Seafood Pricing: £65 Nearest Station: Leicester Square Tube J Sheekey - Information  Hakkasan8 Hanway Place, W1T 1HF Hakkasan is solid proof that Chinese food in London doesn't just have to equate to an all-you-can-eat buffet in some insalubrious establishment off Gerrard Street. Invariably described as "dark and sexy", this New York-style basement restaurant - with its 1930s Shanghai-style decor and low blue and purple neon lighting, oozes lust and attracts a well-healed crowd in search of an intimate and delicious dinner. Renowned for its excellent dim sum and duck, Hakkasan is sophisticated, vivid Chinese cooking in appetising surroundings. It was also, tellingly, the first Chinese restaurant in the world to be awarded a Michelin star. The once maligned service is said to have perked up a little and although this will not be a cheap night out, it should prove an unforgettable ambiance and a top meal. Sister restaurant Yauatcha in Soho, also originally set up by Alan Yau, offers a similar, although slightly cheaper experience. Address: 8 Hanway Place, W1T 1HF Phone: 020 7927 7000 Cuisine: Chinese Pricing: £75 Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road tube Hakkasan - Information  Les Trois Garcons1 Club Row, E1 6JX A meal out at this rather exotic Shoreditch restaurant (a naan's throw from Brick Lane) feels like killing two birds with one stone. Well, many birds in fact, seeing that the walls are adorned with stuffed animals - including a whole swan. So, if you want to combine your taxidermy and art installations with your eating, this is the place to be. Vitally (and despite the dead beasts, some of which wear tiaras) it is also an inherently romantic place with some excellent food on offer. Thankfully, the tongue-in-cheek (yet pleasantly camp, OTT) decor does not equate to tongue-on-a-plate: this is solid bistro fare with stalwart ingredients ingeniously put together around the plate - but nothing too shocking. Prices are what may shock, however. That said, you pay for the kitsch, zany venue as much as anything else. Looking for somewhere original to take a date? This should be top of your list. Address: 1 Club Row, E1 6JX Phone: 020 7613 1924 Cuisine: French Pricing: £75 Nearest Station: Shoreditch tube Les Trois Garcons - Information  The WallaceHertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN Combine an afternoon of browsing The Wallace Collection - one of the capital's most impressive collections of 18th- and 19th-century art - with a near-alfresco meal in the museum's stylish new restaurant. Set in a stunning covered courtyard, diners are surrounded by luxuriant greenery in the delightful airy atrium and are treated to an array of seasonal French dishes in Oliver Peyton's brasserie de luxe. Make no mistake, this is museum catering at its finest, boasting delectable treats such as foie gras, caviar, scallops and a wide range of fish and meat dishes. So, once you've brushed up on your (*free*) fix of Titian, Rembrandt, Hals and Valazquez, treat yourself to a meal in what has fast become a favourite address for discerning flaneurs - an oasis of calm in the heart of Marylebone, deceivingly close to the hustle-bustle of Oxford Street. And if you don't fancy a full meal, you could opt for afternoon tea at the museum's retro bakery Peyton & Byrne. Address: Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN Phone: 020 7563 9505 Cuisine: French Timing: Sat 10am-10pm (dinner from 5pm), Sun 10pm-5pm Pricing: Breakfast £15 per person / Lunch & Dinner £45 / Afternoon Tea £15-£27 Nearest Station: Bond Street Tube The Wallace - Information  BelvedereOff Abbotsbury Road, Holland Park, W8 6LU Its superb location on the edge of Holland Park makes this Art Deco-styled favourite an ideal location for either lunch or dinner. There are few places like Holland Park in central London that actually make you forget that you're in the big, sprawling city that you are. Once you have worked up an appetite frolicking through the grassy knolls, woodland trails, manicured lawns and formal gardens of the capital's most diverse central park, and looked at the temporary exhibitions in the orangery and ice house, weave your way through and around the strolling peacocks to the stylish Belvedere restaurant, the former ballroom of Holland House. The menu is of a high standard and caters for all needs - be it hearty comfort food, or more gastronomic, celebratory Anglo-French fare. The splendid decor - straight out of a Poirot novel - features stunningly high ceilings, dramatic curtains, silk walls, smoked mirrors and hanging silver discs. Prices are decent to boot. Address: Off Abbotsbury Road, Holland Park, W8 6LU Phone: 020 7602 1238 Cuisine: French Timing: Lunch - Mon to Sat 12noon-2.30pm, Sun 12noon-3.30pm, Dinner - Mon to Sat 6pm-11pm, Sun 6pm-10.30pm Pricing: £50 Nearest Station: High Street Kensington Tube Belvedere - Information  Galvin at WindowsHilton Hotel, 22 Park Lane, W1K 1BE If you like your wallpaper featuring a 180 degrees panoramic view of London, then this is the place. Located on the 28th floor of the otherwise nondescript Hilton hotel on Park Lane, Galvin at Windows blows you away before you've even looked at the menu. The food from the celebrated brothers sees tradition meet modernity with a strong mixture of classic and creative dishes served by staff who actually seem to want to be there. A slick bar alongside the restaurant makes this a perfect Valentine's Day venue, be it for lunch (simpler bistro fare), when you can gaze out over the London rooftops (weather permitting), or dinner, when lights bring the skyline alive. It's not cheap, but you (and your date) will not forget the view in a hurry. What's more, there is a 3 course Valentine Menu on offer for £69, including a glass of champagne, appetiser, bottle of mineral water and coffee. And if you're feeling the pinch, there's a 'credit crunch lunch' available for £33 (three courses, half a bottle of wine, coffee) if booked in advance - subject to availablity. Address: Hilton Hotel, 22 Park Lane, W1K 1BE Phone: 020 7208 4021 Cuisine: Modern European Pricing: £80 Nearest Station: Hyde Park Corner tube Galvin at Windows - Information  Ciao Bella86-90 Lamb's Conduit St, Bloomsbury, WC1N 3LZ This authentic Italian restaurant in Bloomsbury is a gem and should be in everyone's address book. Unfailingly lively, distinctively Mediterranean, wonderfully homely, Ciao Bella serves up unpretentious 70s-style Italian fare with a big smile, the tinkle of a jazz piano and a huge serving of charm. Busy with local clientele and faithful regulars inside, outside (the terrace is wonderfully heated) and downstairs on any night of the week (always a good sign), this slice of Italy and its ever-cheery staff cannot fail to fill you with a portion of feel-good factor. Renowned for its generously portioned pasta (the seafood spaghetti, cooked in a grease-proof bag, is fabulous), its huge wood-oven cooked pizzas (try the calzone if you're feeling peckish), its tasty cuts of meat (the veal is delicious) and its great daily specials. Prices are reasonable to say the least, emperor-sized olives and bread sticks land on your table upon arrival, and the wine list is excellent. Just don't wear a white shirt if you order the excellent spaghetti with meatballs. If you're looking for a low-key but fun place to woo your Valentine, this is the place - but be prepared to wait or book well in advance. Lunch, combined with a trip to the nearby British Museum, is an appealing option. Address: 86-90 Lamb's Conduit St, Bloomsbury, WC1N 3LZ Phone: 020 7242 4119 Cuisine: Italian Pricing: £35 Nearest Station: Russell Square Tube  Julie's135 Portland Road, W11 4LW Seen by many as the most romantic venue in West London, Julie's is a favourite for the Notting Hill crowd thanks to its intricate warren of rooms, its rather louche bar, lavishly decorated bohemian interior and its distinctively '70s feel. The food is unpretentious and straightforward, European in style and unlikely to overwhelm you on a nervous first date. A recent revamp in the kitchen has seen the introduction of a more eclectic menu offering a wider range of salads and fish. This is not only one of the best small brasseries in town, but also a wonderfully romantic place, and only a short walk from Holland Park. And seeing that Valentine's is the perfect occasion to open a bottle of champagne at lunchtime, this is the place to go, with its cute basement bar. Blissful. Address: 135 Portland Road, W11 4LW Phone: 020 7229 8331 Cuisine: Modern European Pricing: £50 Nearest Station: Holland Park tube Julie's - Information  La Bouchee56 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3DY "There is no better place to defrost the soul on a dark winter's day than this great little French restaurant... excellent value." So says the Times in their list of top 20 romantic restaurants - and who are we to argue? La Bouchee is so proudly French that it would not be surprising if they accepted payment in francs, let alone euros. It may be a little cramped, but this wooden-floored, rustic candlelit bistro in South Kensington oozes ooh la la while offering extremely good value for money. The menu is traditionally Gallic, offering timeless mainstays such as escargots, onion soup boeuf bourguignon and coq au vin. Popular with the many French locals and blushing first daters, La Bouchee is the perfect place to pop a Valentine's champagne cork and imagine one was in Paris. If only you could light up a Gauloise... Address: 56 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3DY Phone: 020 7589 1929 Category: French Pricing: £45 Nearest Station: South Kensington tube La Bouchee - Information  Rosemary Lane61 Royal Mint Street, E1 8LG Tucked away on a back street near Tower Bridge is one of the East End's best-kept secrets. On the surface of things, there's a lot to be concerned about: the location is askew enough to merit tumbleweed (it sits opposite a car rental depo), the building is a converted boozer with a green and yellow facade, the chef is American... but still this manages to be an exceptional restaurant. The dark wood-panelled rooms are immeasurably charming, the Franco-Californian cooking ("a temple of gastronomy") is as sumptuous as is it inventive, and it all lies a stone's throw away from Wilton's, the excellent classical music venue which is putting on the opera Venus & Adonis on Valentine's Day. So, our suggestion is to book the early sitting (6pm) at Rosemary Lane, and then make the small walk to Wilton's Music Hall to complete a romantic evening a deux. Chef Cristina Angelescu is offering a special five-course Valentine's Day menu which looks to die for. For non-opera lovers, a second sitting is at 8.45pm. Book early. Address: 61 Royal Mint Street, E1 8LG Phone: 020 7481 2602 Cuisine: French Pricing: £45 Nearest Station: Tower Hill Tube Rosemary Lane - Information |
|||||||||
