OpenTable, Author at opentable.co.uk blog

Prague for foodies: 10 restaurants you need to try

OpenTable January 31, 2020

Prague is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for a weekend getaway. The Czech capital charms visitors with its cobbled lanes, medieval architecture, and castle overlooking the city. There’s also a thriving food scene to explore. If you’re planning a visit, here are 10 restaurants you need to try.

Gallery 44
Gallery 44 believes in changing their culinary offerings by hiring world-renowned chefs four times a year to create unique menus. This winter, tuck into beef tartar, flamed tofu with koumi salsa, and apple sorbet with tobacco mousse and almonds. Gallery 44 is conveniently located on the direct walking route from Old Town Square to the city’s stunning Charles Bridge, so it’s the ideal place to take a break from sightseeing.

Blue Wagon
Blue Wagon is just a short walk away from Prague’s famous Peace Square, home to the neo-Gothic Cathedral of St Ludmila. It offers the perfect setting for a romantic dinner and serves Czech food with a modern European twist. Why not treat someone special to their 5-course tasting menu? Expect dishes that push culinary boundaries, like savoury créme brulée with eel or fallow deer with apple, gingerbread, and polenta.

The Able Butcher
Meat lovers will find exactly what they are looking for at this popular steakhouse at the Hilton Hotel. Try the locally sourced T-bone or enjoy a grain-fed Australian tomahawk steak which is prepared at your table. The menu has plenty to offer seafood fans and vegetarians, too. We recommend their sea bass in a salt crust or the roasted cauliflower with quinoa, mint, peppers, and pine nuts. Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed!

CottoCrudo
After exploring Prague’s historic city centre, enjoy an unforgettable Italian meal at Cotto Crudo, located right beside the Vltava River. Foodies will be wowed by their homemade pasta dishes and artisan products from Tuscany and Piedmont. The restaurant also has a creative cocktail bar and a traditional Italian “Crudo Bar” (meaning “raw”) where chefs prepare fresh seafood and oysters.

Alcron
Alcron is one of the prime fine dining destinations in Prague where talented chef Roman Paulus prepares show-stopping dishes using modern culinary techniques. The award-winning restaurant is visually stunning, too – the walls showcase images of dancing couples by Tamara de Lempicka while candles and a 1930s fireplace give the room a romantic glow.

Madame Lyn
Vietnamese food is always a good idea, so head to Madame Lyn, one of the city’s top Asian restaurants, and tuck into authentic Vietnamese dishes like pho (noodle soup) and Saigon-style grilled pork. We recommend reserving a table in advance – this place is very popular with the locals!

Deer Restaurant
Deer Restaurant has perfected the art of venison dishes – well, the clue is in its name! Head chef Jiří Eberl and his team prepare modern, seasonal dishes influenced by both Czech and international cuisine. Try one of their signature dishes, like the saddle of venison with chestnuts, potato and onion purée, rosemary sponge, and chestnut mousse.

La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise
The award-winning La Degustation serves contemporary dishes inspired by traditional Czech flavours and cooking techniques. The restaurant’s seasonal tasting menu is the ideal way to explore the culinary heritage of Eastern Europe.

SOVA
Looking for Czech cuisine with a modern twist? Then you should pay SOVA a visit. This family-run restaurant serves dishes like smoked carp salad and veal cheeks stewed in red wine with “brushwood” made from celery, as well as the unusually delicious dark beer sorbet with buckwheat mousse. A meal at SOVA is an unforgettable introduction into the world of modern Czech cuisine.

Eska
We believe you should always start your day with a good breakfast and there is no better place for that in Prague than Eska. Head to this uber-stylish restaurant with a bakery for brunch and sip your coffee alongside local hipsters and arty folk. You can start your day with eggs, spelt granola, or some of their homemade sourdough, which is baked in an Italian oven using a beech wood fire resulting in super soft bread with a crispy crust. Czech it out!

Visit OpenTable to discover more restaurants in Prague.

This is a guest post from freelance journalist Beatrice Clark. She has written for Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair, among others, and has spent the past 15 years living in France, England and Scotland. She is currently based in Berlin and is always on the hunt for the perfect Eggs Benedict.

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Matters of taste: Restaurants near London’s biggest shopping destinations

OpenTable January 28, 2020

Not only is London one of the world’s foremost destinations for good food, it competes with the likes of Paris and Milan for its shopping credentials too. Where to go when the day calls for both activities? Try some of these for size.

Oxford Street
Due to its proximity to Soho, i.e. the very core of London’s flourishing restaurant scene, shopping around Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Carnaby Street is ultimately the most rewarding. Not least because of the veg-forward dishes at ROVI, fragrant Thai curries at Patara, upmarket British fare at Pollen Street Social, and lauded Italian at Bocca di Lupo.

Mayfair
Slightly west of Oxford Street is Mayfair, a fertile ground for top of the market boutiques. On the food front, there’s Gymkhana for upscale Indian food; Fernandez & Wells for wine, cheese and charcuterie; and the intimate ode to British decadence that is Kitty Fisher’s.

Westfield London
Europe’s largest shopping centre, in White City, is blessed not only with hundreds of shops and grab-and-go eateries, but also with nearby Kricket, a modern Indian that’s been hitting all the right notes since first emerging from a shipping container in Brixton. Also in the area is Bocconi, a very traditional Italian with its fair share of regulars, while Wild Thyme – a popular Shepherd’s Bush brunch spot – is a short walk down the road.

Westfield Stratford
London’s second Westfield is an east Londoner’s go-to, and contains about 280 shops, but a good bite to eat can be more difficult to find. Not so at Tonkotsu, with their A-grade ramen, or Allegra, the new Insta-hit with skyline views. A bit further afield (but fully worth the walk through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park), is the critically-acclaimed Cornerstone, CRATE for leftfield pizza and good beer, and Gotto Trattoria for rustic Italian fare.

King’s Road
West London’s King’s Road is about a mile’s worth of (mostly) fashion-oriented shopping, courtesy of Vivienne Westwood and friends. When the time comes for lunch or dinner, check-in to Chelsea’s little corner of the English countryside at Rabbit, dine on French haute cuisine at Medlar, settle in for elegant Indian from an ex-Gymkhana chef at Kutir, or park up at Chicama for the vibrant coastal flavours of Peru.

Brompton Road
If there’s another street in Chelsea that fashion hunters around the world are willing to hop on a plane for, it’s this one. Brompton Road is, after all, home to Harrods, Harvey Nichols, and Burberry. The immediate area has celebrated British titles of the food variety too – there’s top London steak joint Hawksmoor, Gordon Ramsay’s Petrus, Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner, as well as Marcus Wareing’s eponymous contemporary British restaurant.

This is a guest post from freelance food journalist Hugh Thomas. He’s contributed to Foodism, Time Out, Great British Chefs, and is part of British Street Food’s small team of vigilant writers. Find him on twitter @hughwrites.

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Veganuary in London: 7 plant-based dishes to keep you on track

OpenTable January 23, 2020

With just over a week left of Veganuary, you might be in need of some meat-free motivation. Skip the salad tonight – here are seven delicious plant-based dishes to try before the month is over.

Arabica – If you’re counting your pennies before pay day, head to Arabica for a plant-based feast that won’t break the bank. There’s still time to try their Veganuary express lunch – three Middle Eastern-inspired plates for £15, plus a glass of (vegan) house wine for an extra fiver. Try dishes like Beiruti falafel bites and berbere spiced cauliflower at their Borough Market restaurant, or the super green hummus at their new-ish sister site in King’s Cross.

The Rooftop St. James – Shake off the January blues with vegan fondue for two at this rooftop bar overlooking Trafalgar Square. It’s served with baked potatoes, mushrooms and sourdough for dipping and tastes just like the real deal. With blankets and heaters to keep you cosy, it’s the perfect spot for a winter date.

The Wellington Lounge – This month, The Wellington Lounge is serving traditional afternoon tea with a plant-based twist for £49 per person, including a glass of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut Champagne. After roast squash and spinach tart and tandoori mushoom sandwiches, you can enjoy sweet treats like raspberry mousse on matcha shortbread, chocolate banana cake, and coconut rice pudding with diced mango. Just be sure to save room for a scone or two!

The Vurger Co – If you can’t face another ‘nourish bowl’ or uninspiring salad, this vegan fast food joint in Shoreditch has got you covered. There are four new specials to try, including a totally plant-based Caesar salad, a spicy buffalo ‘chicken’ burger, and a Caribbean wrap with jerk jackfruit. We’ve got our eye on the Indian-inspired bhaji wrap, stuffed with crispy onion bhajis, fresh salad, mango chutney, and mint and cucumber yoghurt. This place is all about soul-satisfying indulgence – they’ll even add a shot of booze to your Oreo shake, if you’re in the mood.

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants – Ramsay’s beef Wellington is a signature showstopper at his London restaurants, and now there’s a vegan version on the menu at Bread Street Kitchen, Heddon Street Kitchen, and The Savoy Grill. Whether you’re a full-time vegan or just trying it on for size, this beetroot Wellington, served with mushrooms and vegan gravy, is guaranteed to impress.

Cantina del Ponte – This riverside restaurant is serving a wild mushroom risotto that’s so creamy and indulgent, you’d never guess it’s dairy-free. Book a table before February 9th and you can enjoy 3 courses and a glass of wine for just £20.

Other Side Fried – Now with a permanent home on Brixton’s Atlantic Road, Other Side Fried serves some of the best fried chicken in town. Now, they’ve answered our vegan prayers and added a buffalo chik’n burger and vegan dirty tots (with ‘bacon’ bits, ranch and hot sauce) to their menu.

Looking for more meat-free motivation? Check out these vegan-friendly restaurants in London or our top picks for vegan comfort food.

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Love is in Gruyère: 9 date ideas for cheese lovers in London

OpenTable January 20, 2020

Love is always in the air in the capital and if you like cheese as much as we do, then you’re in for a treat. Here are nine date ideas for cheese lovers in London, from food tours to fromage-obsessed restaurants.

Pick & Cheese
If you like sushi conveyer belts, then you’ll love this cheesy version at Seven Dials Market. Choose from over 25 different cheeses, all sourced from around the UK and paired with individual condiments. Why not try Quicke’s Cheddar with tomato relish or Cornish Gouda with cumin praline? For something even more indulgent, visit their Camden sister site – The Cheese Bar – for fondue, poutine, and some of the best cheese toasties in town.

Champagne + Fromage
Cheese and Champagne – what could be better? If you’re looking to treat someone special, then book a table at this Covent Garden bistro for an evening of Gallic delights. Take your pick from 25 award-winning Champagnes and tuck into raclette, baked Camembert, and a stunning selection of cheese and charcuterie.

The Cheese Room at Le Pont de la Tour
You’ll have to get your skates on for this cheesy delight. Throughout January, you can indulge your passion for fromage at The Cheese Room on the terrace at Le Pont de la Tour. With cosy blankets and views of Tower Bridge, the intimate dining space is the perfect spot for a cosy date night. For £50pp, you can enjoy a fondue feast and a delicious dessert accompanied by a glass of Moët & Chandon Champagne.

A Borough Market cheese crawl
Borough Market is the place to be for food lovers, so why not take your date on a self-guided cheese tour? Find new favourites at popular stalls like the Bath Soft Cheese Co and The French Comté or try Kappacasein’s famous toasted cheese sandwiches and molten London raclette (made in nearby Bermondsey) over new potatoes. If you’re still hungry, grab a table at Arthur Hooper’s – a buzzy restaurant on the edge of the market – and snack on small plates, fine wine, and even more cheese.

Lady of the Grapes
Lady of the Grapes is a Covent Garden wine bar shining a light on female winemakers who really know their Sauvignons. The friendly sommeliers will help you find the perfect bottle to compliment your cheeseboard. Of course, there’s also fondue, tartiflette and baked Camembert for lovebirds who like to share.

The London Cheese Crawl
Starting in Mayfair each Saturday, this walking tour lets you taste some of the best cheese in the city, from the finest blue to the creamiest stilton. Experts can get involved in the tour’s very own cheese quiz in between sampling foodie delights around Soho and Covent Garden. The tour lasts around two hours so you’ll have walked off the culinary treats in no time!

Obica
Sometimes simple dishes truly are the best. For a relaxed date night, consider Obica – an Italian restaurant group specialising in the finest buffalo mozzarella. We recommend trying it with some prosciutto or drizzled with truffle oil, but you can also enjoy it in a salad or on pizza and pasta. Find their restaurants in Soho, Canary Wharf, and St Paul’s.

Vivat Bacchus
Fancy curating your very own cheeseboard of dreams? Vivat Bacchus (located in Farringdon and London Bridge) offers walk-in cheese rooms where their experts will help you assemble ayour perfect cheeseboard. It’s the ideal place to catch up with someone special whilst sampling artisan cheeses and sipping on a glass of wine.

Chez Bruce
Head to this critically acclaimed French restaurant in Wandsworth to show your date how cheesy you can really be. After dishes like pork with Agen prunes and salmon with shellfish feuilleté, you can take your pick from their impressive cheese selection. They use top suppliers like Neal’s Yard and Paxton & Whitfield so you know you’re in safe hands.

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