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Jewish Restaurants in London

Bloom's

130 Golders Green Road Golders Green, NW11 8HB, Website: www.blooms-restaurant.co.uk, Tel: 020 8455 1338, Open: noon-11pm Mon-Thu and Sun, 10am-3pm Fri, All major credit cards except Diners, Tube: Golders Green, Show Map
As one of London's oldest Jewish eateries, Bloom's is a traditional family concern which enjoys a dedicated local following. As you'd expect, the mainstays of Jewish food are all offered here, including chicken soup, latkes and gefilte fish. Starters such as cold beetroot borscht sit neatly alongside lockshen and kreplach (both hearty, robust soups) while for mains, try the gedempte meatballs or Bloom's worthy club sandwich (cold salt beef, turkey, salami and coleslaw). In addition, other traditional staples such as chicken livers and salt beef complete a high-quality culinary ensemble.

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| Bevis Marks |

Mexican Restaurants in London

Café Pacifico

5 Langley Street, WC2H 9JA, Tel: 020 7379 7728, Open: Noon to midnight Mon-Sat, noon to 11.00pm Sun, All major credit cards except Diners Club, Tube: Covent Garden, Show Map
In our opinion, Café Pacifico is easily the best of the Mexican restaurants in Central London. Not surprising then, it makes for a very popular haunt, particularly at weekends. Offering all the usual Mexican favourites such as sizzling fajitas, tortillas and burritos, each come with a variety of fillings and are served in satisfyingly large portions.

The food is complimented by a wide range of Mexican beers and their rather excellent Tequilas, of which more than 50 are stocked. Be warned though, once you start on the clear stuff it's easy to consume large amounts without realising it! The bar area is lively - and occasionally overcrowded - but this adds to the overall ambience. Our only gripe is that Café Pacifico do not take reservations (well, at least not at lunchtimes when we tried), so you may be forced to wait at the bar for a table. Advisable then, to arrive early in the evening so as to keep your wait to a minimum. Just off Covent Garden and well-worth seeking out.

Middle Eastern Restaurants in London

Alounak

44 Westbourne Grove, W2 5SH, Tel: 020 7229 4158, Open: noon-midnight daily, All major credit cards, Tube: Bayswater/Queensway, Show Map
While the décor may not be up to much, Alounak enjoys a dedicated following in this part of town, providing quality Iranian cuisine at extremely wallet-friendly prices.

As you might expect, lamb dishes predominate with kebabs being a real strong point. The ubiquitous Kobeideh, which consists of two skewers of minced kebab, with grilled tomato and bread is a local favourite, while Kebab Makhsous and Chelo Chanjeh Kobideh are made with either lamb fillet or diced lamb.

Starters are just as pleasing - a hearty broth like chicken soup, with hors d'oeuvres of aubergines and pickles in a garlic sauce, Bourani Esfenaj (spinach, fried onions, garlic and Iranian yoghurt) and Masto Mousir (yoghurt and wild shallot mixture). A fine selection of grilled meats makes up the remainder of the menu, while on Tuesday, the special of Zereshk Polo (chicken served with steamed saffron rice and sweet/sour forest berries) is especially noteworthy.

Moroccan Restaurants in London

Momo

25 Heddon Street, W1B 4BH, Tel: 020 7434 4040, Open: noon to 2.30pm and 7-11.30pm Mon-Fri, 7pm-11.30pm Sat, 7pm-10pm Sun, All major credit cards, Tube: Piccadilly Circus, Show Map
A popular Moroccan restaurant just off Regent Street, so popular in fact that you'll need to book well in advance. Starters are based heavily around vegetables and fresh herbs, with main courses offering a choice of Tangines (North African stews served in clay pots) and cous cous based dishes. Desserts are traditional and exotic.

Polish Restaurants in London

Wodka

12 St Albans Grove, W8 5PN, Tel: 020 7937 6513, Open 12.30pm-2.30pm and 7pm-11 Mon-Fri, 7pm-11.15pm Sat/Sun, All major credit cards, Tube: High Street Kensington, Show Map
The restaurant itself is perhaps a bit austere, but the authentic Polish cooking lives up to expectation, offering a hearty, good value dining experience. Of course, the size of your bill will increase significantly should you decide to work your way through the restaurant's large selection of classy Polish vodkas.

Looking for a similar restaurant? Then you might also wish to try:
| Baltic | Ognisko Polskie |

Russian Restaurants in London

Little Georgia

2 Broadway Market, E8 4QJ, Tel: 020 7249 9070, noon-3pm and 6.30pm - 12.00am Tue-Fri, 6.30pm to 12.00am Sat, noon-4.00pm Sun, All major credit cards, Tube: Bethnel Green, Show Map
Off the beaten tourist track but worth a visit if you need a fix of Russian food with the emphasis on Georgian. The menu contains traditional hearty Russian soups, the obligatory dumplings stuffed with different fillings and familiar dishes such as beef stroganoff. You'll also get the chance to sample Georgian red wine which, as those in the know will confirm, is pretty quaffable. Extremely good value if you make the effort to trek to E8.

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| Nikita's |

Scottish Restaurants in London

Boisdale

15 Eccleston Street, SW1W 9LX, Website: www.boisdale.co.uk, Tel: 020 7730 6922, Open: noon-2.30pm Mon-Fri, 7pm-1am Mon-Sat, Tube: Victoria, Show Map
A real gem of a restaurant, Boisdale is a truly Scottish affair, with hearty staples of haggis, tatties and neeps matched by rich meat and game dishes. With the emphasis firmly on quality, only the finest fresh ingredients are used here. Indeed, fish, beef, game and cheeses are all sourced from north of the border, while vegetables are organically produced.

As well as sirloin steaks, lobster, salmon and haddock, there's an offal of the day, beef roast, black pudding and traditionally made sausages. For afters, Boisdale offers delectable old fashioned sticky puddings, while the wine list is a French-led selection of over 200 different labels, including a 1962 Chatteau Latour at £375 per bottle. Fortunately, for those with a more modest budget, house white starts at £13.

With a jazz club and bar also on the premises (which has its own cheaper food menu), Boisdale has a truly lively and unique atmosphere in which to enjoy a memorable night out.

Spanish Restaurants in London

Fuego

1a Pudding Lane, EC3R 8AB, Tel: 020 7929 3366, Website: www.fuego.co.uk, All major credit cards, 11.30am-4pm and 5.30pm - 8.00pm Mon-Fri (restaurant), 11.30am-2.00am Mon-Fri (bar), Tube: Monument, Show Map
A tapas bar and restaurant situated in Pudding Lane, the street where the Great Fire of London started (hence the name Fuego). Nowadays though, the only 'heat' generated in this part of town comes from the salsa rhythms on Fuego's very own dance floor (from 8pm onwards Tuesday to Friday).

Conveniently there's a happy hour to help you sink into the Latin rhythms, with tapas still available at the bar once the disco starts. If dancing isn't your thing, eat early to avoid the crowds.

Moro

34-36 Exmouth Market, Finsbury, EC1R 4QE, Tel: 020 7833 8336, Open: Mon-Fri 12.30pm- 2.30pm and 7pm-10.30pm. Closed Sat lunch & all day Sun, All major credit cards, Tube: Farringdon, Show Map
On the edge of trendy (but slightly tatty) Clerkenwell, Moro is a delightful mix of City chic and straightforward Spanish/Moroccan cooking. Fish and meat dishes dominate, with ingredients such as mackerel, mussels, cod, clams, pork and veal all used to great effect. For starters, try the pan fried calves liver with cumin and garlic or perhaps the home made Labneh, while for mains, Moro's lamb dishes are exquisitely cooked. And, with dinner working out (on average) at £25-30 per head it's also good value.

Thai Restaurants in London

Busaba Eathai

106-110 Wardour Street, W1F 0TS, Open: Mon-Thurs noon-11pm Fri-Sat noon-11.30pm Sun midday-10pm, All major credit cards except Diners Club, Tube: Piccadilly Circus, Show Map
Brought to you by the founder of Wagamama, this stylish Thai eatery shares much the same ethos, with bench-seats, a no booking policy and down-to-earth, good value Asian food. With fish dishes being a particular strength, the menu also contains several hot Thai curries, stir-fries and some excellent vegetarian options. Highlights are Thai calamari, prawn and peanut parcels and the wholly satisfying Mussaman duck curry. And, as prices are so good, a real feast is unlikely to set you back more £20.

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| Blue Elephant | Kwan Thai | Sri Thai |

Vegetarian Restaurants in London

The Gate

51 Queen Caroline St, W6 9QL, Tel: 020 8748 6932, Open: noon-3pm and 6pm-10.30pm Mon-Fri, Sat 6-11pm, Tube: Hammersmith, Show Map, Website: www.gateveg.co.uk
The first thing to know about The Gate is that meat eaters enthuse just as much about the food here as their vegetarian counterparts. Hugely popular, and rightly so, it's a restaurant where the cooking is accomplished, prices are reasonable and the setting suitably pleasant. Hidden away behind the Labatt's Apollo, it does take a bit of finding, but once through the door you'll feel smug in the knowledge that it's mainly astute locals and those in the know who dine here.

With a monthly-changing menu, The Gate relies heavily upon seasonal produce for culinary inspiration. Consequently, lighter dishes tend to be offered during the summer while rich, heartier fare prepares you for the onset of winter. However, this approach also benefits the quality of the food, as both starters and main courses are truly first-class gourmet affairs. To start your meal, try polenta and herb mousse with mascarpone and wild mushrooms or perhaps spinach pancakes, filled with oyster mushrooms, shallots, mange tout, tomatoes, lentils and goat cheese. For mains, the wild mushroom fricasse is a nigh on perfect, with a rich Madeira sauce, vegetables and Jerusalem artichoke mash, while puddings include a scrumptious plum and rhubarb crumble along with the more indulgent chocolate, banana and macadamia nut torte.

With a well-chosen (and reasonably priced) wine list, The Gate adds up to a highly rewarding dining experience, and one which is likely to be enjoyed irrespective of your meat eating preferences.

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| Eat and Two Veg | Rasa |

Vietnamese Restaurants in London

Bam-Bou

1 Percy Street, W1P 9FA, Tel: 020 7323 9130, Website: www.bam-bou.co.uk, Open: noon-3pm Mon-Fri, 6pm-11.30pm Mon-Sat, Tube: Tottenham Court Road, Show Map
French colonialist in style, but with a laid back and atmospheric setting, Bam-Bou serves likeable Vietnamese cuisine with a modern twist. Not afraid to trawl other Far Eastern countries for its culinary inspiration, the restaurant, which is part of the Belgo Group, nonetheless manages to match the high standards set at its other London based restaurants. Lemon-crusted grilled queen scallops are a treat, while vegetarian crispy rolls and spicy green curried chicken both live up to expectations. Plenty of seafood, meat and vegetarian options with prawns, pork, duck and flavoured tofu dishes.

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| Hanoi Cafe |

London Restaurants (Grouped by Cuisine Type) - Page 6

For London restaurants not featured below, simply search toptable's website!