opentable.co.uk blog

Insider's Guide to Dining

  • Make a booking

10 of the best restaurants for lunch in Soho

OpenTable September 26, 2018

  • Google
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

The working lunch can be a miserable thing ­– when did supermarket salads eaten al desko ever make the heart swoon? But thanks to these restaurants in Soho, those working in and around the area will be pleased to know, there is salvation. And it often doesn’t cost much more than your average meal deal.

DUM Biryani – ‘Dum’ is the technique of coal-steaming vegetables and rice, and DUM Biryani are masters at it. The pop art wall hangings and modest surrounds make the basement an excellent drop-in for a casual lunch. Even better when, every lunchtime Monday to Friday, you can eat for less than a tenner.

Blacklock – The ever-popular Blacklock is well known for its Sunday lunches. Hit them up on any other day of the week though, and you’ll have the option of the restaurant’s A-grade steak sandwich. On Mondays, meat is reduced to the price it comes out the butchers.

Bocca di Lupo – Italian food rarely gets better than this, from Bocca di Lupo’s chicken liver pappardelle to their suckling pig with chestnuts. Even a simple dish of fennel gratin with butter and parmesan could send you head over heels. Afterwards, when back on your feet, head over the road to Gelupo ­– BdL’s gelato shop is often touted as the best in London.

Kricket – When the queues are too long at Dishoom (which, let’s face it, is most of the time), head to fellow chilled-out Indian joint Kricket instead. The food is, after all, just as good – best see off the rabbit keema pao, the marrow naans, and the unmissable samphire pakoras.Continue Reading

Dine after dark: London’s best late-night restaurants

OpenTable January 30, 2018

  • Google
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

With restaurants serving burgers, breakfasts, tacos and pizza until the early hours, London’s late-night dining options go far beyond fast food. If you’re in the market for a midnight feast, here are 12 restaurants to keep in mind.

Pizza East – For a late night feast in Shoreditch, you can always rely on Pizza East. The kitchen is open until 1am on Friday and Saturday and ticks all the comfort food boxes, whether you fancy pizza, lasagne, or their famous lamb meatballs.

Bar Italia – This family-run café has been at the heart of Soho for over 60 years and it’s still going strong. It’s open until 5am every day except Sunday, so you can pop in for coffee, grab a panini, and soak up the late-night buzz.

VQ – Open 24 hours a day, VQ now has four London restaurants offering late-night salvation in the form of pancakes, cheeseburgers, sticky ribs, and lots more besides. We’re big fans of their milkshakes and mocktails.

El Camion – A Mexican restaurant (with a quirky basement bar) that serves tacos, burritos and quesadillas until 2am (Wed-Sat). If you’re not already tipsy when you arrive, their Margaritas will get you well on your way.Continue Reading

Dine with Pride: Rainbow bites to try this weekend

OpenTable July 7, 2017

  • Google
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

This weekend, thousands of people will descend on the West End to celebrate Pride in London. If you’re planning to watch the parade or party the night away, let’s face it – you’re going to get hungry. Plan ahead and book a restaurant in Soho or check out these Pride-inspired dishes and drinks. From glittery hot dogs to rainbow houmous, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into.

  • Rainbow houmous at The Real Greek

    Rainbow houmous at The Real Greek

    For one day only, The Real Greek in Soho will be transforming their classic houmous into the rainbow dip of your dreams! They’re using natural ingredients to enhance the colour and flavour of the dish – spinach, yellow pepper and turmeric, red pepper, and beetroot – and every order comes with free crudités for dunking
  • Ab Fab cocktail at Old Bengal Bar

    Ab Fab cocktail at Old Bengal Bar

    In celebration of Pride, bar manager Tomas Vykopal has created the ‘Ab Fab’ cocktail – a blend of Ketel One vodka, watermelon liqueur, blue curacao, pineapple juice, sugar, and lemon juice. Enjoy it on the terrace with a few bar snacks or head next door to New Street Grill for dinner. (Note: The cocktail is available on Saturday 8th July only)
  • Rainbow desserts at Balls & Company

    Rainbow desserts at Balls & Company

    Escape the busy parade route and head to Balls & Company, a meatball restaurant on Greek Street. They’ve created a special trio of desserts for Pride – a Psychedelic Pavlova, Whiskey Rainbow Marshmallow, and Tongue Twister Rainbow Doughnuts. The desserts will be on sale outside the restaurant this Saturday.
  • Pride Duos at Bite Me Burger Co

    Pride Duos at Bite Me Burger Co

    Over at Bite Me Burger Co, they’re celebrating with Pride Duos – a set of two mini burgers that come as an identical pair. For just £8, you’ll get two mini-burgers of aged beef, gorgonzola, truffle aioli, rocket, pancetta and balsamic onions. Treat a mate or scoff them both yourself – the choice is yours.
  • Purple Rain hot dog at Bubbledogs

    Purple Rain hot dog at Bubbledogs

    The team at Bubbledogs have excelled themselves with this Purple Rain hot dog. It’s topped with southern BBQ sauce, buttermilk coleslaw, and a ton of edible purple glitter. Head to Trafalgar Square this Saturday to try it for yourself or order it via Deliveroo. (Don’t forget a side of fries with rainbow aioli.)
  • Rainbow salad at Oslo

    Rainbow salad at Oslo

    At Oslo, a bar-restaurant and music venue in Hackney, they’re serving a fresh Rainbow Salad all weekend long. It’s pretty much your five-a-day on a plate, with cherry tomatoes, peppers, carrot, feta, cucumber, spinach, red cabbage, and a homemade basil oil dressing. As an added bonus, £1 from every salad sold will be donated to UKLGIG, a charity supporting asylum-seeking individuals from the LGBTQ community.
  • Rainbow bao at Bun House

    Rainbow bao at Bun House

    The Cantonese steamed bun café on Greek Street is serving up a limited edition rainbow custard bao this Saturday. You’ll need to be quick – there are only 250 up for grabs – but if you miss out, their regular sweet and savoury buns are just as delicious.
  • The Dead Happie at MEATliquor

    The Dead Happie at MEATliquor

    You can’t improve on perfection, but you can roll it in glitter. MEATliquor are giving their iconic Dead Hippie burger a new look for Pride, with a steamed pink bun and a generous scattering of pink glitter. You can order it on Saturday via Deliveroo or catch them at Trafalgar Square where there will be live music, bars and more.

If you’re out and about in Soho this weekend, you can use the OpenTable app to find and book restaurants nearby.

8 of the best UK food festivals to visit in June

OpenTable June 7, 2017

  • Google
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

There are some fantastic food festivals to visit this month, so get your tickets sorted and cross your fingers for sunshine! We’ve rounded up eight of the best but you can find lots more using this handy Food Festival Finder.

Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival – 9-11th June

Held in the beautiful Montpelier Gardens, this three-day festival showcases some fantastic local and national food and drink producers. This year’s highlights include wine tastings, food talks, and a cooking demo from Theo Randall.

Soho Food Feast – 10-11th June

This annual food festival brings together some of London’s top restaurants to raise money for Soho Parish primary school. Last year they raised an incredible £49,000! Swap your cash for tokens and try dishes from restaurants like Blacklock, Wright Brothers, Som Saa and Patty & Bun. Once you’ve eaten your fill, you can kick back and enjoy wine and cocktails, live music, cooking demos, and a raffle with some amazing foodie prizes.

Feeling lucky? Head over to Instagram for your chance to win two premium tickets to Soho Food Feast.Continue Reading

Next Page »

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Articles

10 of the best restaurants to try in Islington

Stay the night: 12 of the best UK restaurants with rooms

Sweets for my sweet: 7 desserts to swoon over this Valentine’s

Categories

Our Favourite Blogs

  • Bitten & Written
  • Food Stories
  • OpenTable blog
  • OpenTable UK Tech
  • Picky Glutton
  • Rocket & Squash
  • Samphire & Salsify
  • The Cutlery Chronicles
  • The London Foodie
  • Tuck and Vine
  • We Love Food, It’s All We Eat
Book a table on OpenTable
OpenTable UK Tech Blog
Press Centre
About OpenTable
Privacy Policy
OpenTable Terms of Use
Restaurateurs: Join Us
Careers
Affiliate Program

© 2018 OpenTable, Inc. All rights reserved.