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15 London restaurant offers to banish the January blues

OpenTable January 10, 2020 Leave a Comment

Banish the back-to-work blues with free wine and wallet-friendly set menus at some of London’s top restaurants. We’ve rounded up 15 of the best deals in town so you can dine out for less this January.

Pho & Bun – If you’re craving fresh flavours after all the festive feasting, this popular Vietnamese restaurant will definitely hit the spot. Book with OpenTable and get 25% off your food bill.

Hawksmoor – Book a table at your favourite Hawksmoor this month and enjoy two courses for £30 or three for £35, including a cocktail or a booze-free spritz. Be sure to leave room for their famous sticky toffee sundae.

Aqua Kyoto – Escape the bustle of Oxford Street and refuel with lunch or an early supper at this stylish Japanese restaurant. A main course, maki roll, and miso soup will set you back just £19.

L’Escargot – Dine in style at one of London’s oldest and best-loved French restaurants. Throughout January, they’re offering two courses for £22 or £32 with a glass of Champagne.

D&D London – There are set menus starting at £20 per head, including a glass of wine, at D&D restaurants across London. Enjoy an Italian feast at Fiume, fresh seafood at Fish Market, or a rooftop supper at Madison, to name a few!

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants – Throughout January, enjoy two courses for two people for £30 at Ramsay-owned restaurants like Maze Grill, York & Albany, and Heddon Street Kitchen.

Temper – Fall off the Dry January bandwagon with a free carafe of wine when you spend £25 on food at Temper. (Available Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Temper Soho, Covent Garden, and City).

PF Chang’s Asian Table – This pan-Asian restaurant near Leicester Square is giving us a reason to smile on Blue Monday – order one main course, get one free! (20th January only.)

28-50 Covent Garden – Enjoy a complimentary bottle of wine, chosen by in-house sommeliers, at the newly opened 28-50 Wine Bar & Kitchen in St Martin’s Courtyard.

Smith & Wollensky – This West End steakhouse is offering a 250g sirloin, unlimited fries, and a cocktail for just £22.50.

LINO – Get 30% off your food bill throughout January at this all-day restaurant near Smithfield Market. Their barrel aged Negroni is guaranteed to improve your mood.

St Pancras Brasserie – There’s a healthy set menu on offer at this buzzy brasserie – two courses for £19.50 or three for £25. Choose from dishes like beetroot-cured salmon, grilled chicken with lemon and garlic couscous, and homemade sorbet.

The Summerhouse – Enjoy 30% off food at this canalside restaurant in Little Venice. Their popcorn shrimp is a must try!

Hammer & Tongs – Round up your meat-loving mates for a South African braai experience at Hammer & Tongs. They’re offering 50% off food all month long so you can splash out on an extra drink or two.

Farzi Café – Spice things up at this modern Indian restaurant near Trafalgar Square where you can enjoy two courses for £20 or three for £25, including a Champagne cocktail or mocktail.

Visit OpenTable to discover more special offers at restaurants in London.

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7 of the most festive afternoon teas to try in London

OpenTable December 19, 2019

‘Tis the season to be jolly, so why not treat yourself to a festive afternoon tea in the capital? Sip on a glass of Champagne, enjoy a pot of tea, and tuck into home-made scones while you take a break from present hunting. We’ve selected some of the best spots for a festive afternoon tea in London so you can be swept away by the Christmas spirit.

Scoff & Banter, Kensington
After ice-skating at the Natural History Museum, why not warm yourselves up with a Christmassy afternoon tea at Scoff & Banter? Sweet treats include a lemon and white chocolate meringue and raspberry and vanilla choux crumble. Of course, you can also get stuck into freshly made sandwiches and warm scones.

Available until 23^rd February. £30 per person or £36 with a glass of prosecco.

The Goring, Belgravia
Fancy something stronger than tea? How about a glass of Bollinger Rosé Champagne with your scones? The Goring are serving a festive afternoon tea in the hotel’s elegant Dining Room, where you can enjoy seasonal sweets created by executive chef Richard Galli and his team. There’s a coconut roche with white chocolate and lime, a chestnut cheesecake with mulled wine jelly, and ginger shortbread inspired by the classic yule log. Be sure to save room for the snowman dome – a dainty bergamot curd tart topped with meringue.

Available throughout December from £80 per person.

The Chesterfield Mayfair
The Chesterfield Mayfair has created a winter wonderland afternoon tea which will make you feel like you are in Santa’s very own living room. Treat yourselves to a warming glass of mulled wine before sampling their Christmas tea blend which is full of aromatic spices. The sweet bites are inspired by traditional Christmas flavours so expect gingerbread man cupcakes, chocolate yule logs, and clementine macarons.

Available until 5^th January. £47.50 per person, £56.50 with Champagne, and £25 per child.

The Lanesborough, Knightsbridge
The ultimate Christmas treat can be found at The Lanesborough, which has won numerous awards for their afternoon tea delights. Enjoy Santa and Rudolph-inspired pastries and delicious savouries accompanied by festive tunes on the piano (weekends only). If you’re looking for first class food and service, then The Lanesborough is the place for you.

Available until 7^th January from £60 per person.

The Rosebery at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
If you’re celebrating the festive season with little foodies, then The Rosebery is an excellent choice. This winter, children can enjoy a Festive Harrods Afternoon Tea which includes chocolate penguins, reindeer swiss rolls, and a Harrods Joshua Bear to take home. There are plenty of treats for grown-ups, too – teriyaki salmon sandwiches, mince pies, and a pineapple-coconut Christmas tart, for example.

Available until 5^th January. £62 per adult, £44 per child.

The Waldorf Hilton, Covent Garden
Fans of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker are in for a treat this winter. The Waldorf Hilton is charming its guests with a Sugar Plum Fairy tea featuring scones with homemade sugar plum jam and ballerina biscuits by the award-winning Biscuiteers. Tuck into vanilla choux crowned cakes and lemon-raspberry bonbons and feel the magic of the famous Christmas ballet come alive.

Available until 15^th January from £39 per person.

Ting at The Shard
Tired of running around busy London streets during Christmas time? Then take the bird’s eye view and treat yourselves to a relaxing afternoon tea with fantastic views across the capital. Of course, there’ll be plenty of freshly made sandwiches, scones and Christmas-inspired treats to feed your foodie desires, too.

Available until 5^th January from £68 per person.

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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Garments and gourmets: Where to eat at London’s top department stores

OpenTable December 18, 2019

These luxury fashion emporiums are particularly well equipped in keeping London’s shoppers fed and watered.

Selfridges, Oxford Street
Selfridges: A department store with restaurants, or a restaurant arcade with shops? This is only debatable due to its score of excellent eating and drinking options. These include European cuisine under a giant Pegasus at Brasserie of Light; Alto by San Carlo’s rooftop pastas, burrata and croquettes; romance and Champagne abound at Aubaine; and the living embodiment of the Hemsley sisters’ wholesome ethos towards food at Hemsley + Hemsley.

Fortum & Mason, Piccadilly
Fortnum’s is over 300 years old and, despite being a cathedral of shopping, its restaurant 45 Jermyn St. is arguably its highlight. Even the toasties are suspected to have descended ‘from heaven’, according to food critic Marina O’Loughlin. Meanwhile, the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon helps fuel Britain’s obsession – and those wanting to experience it – for finger sandwiches, tea, and freshly baked scones.

Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge
Harvey Nichols is all about luxury, even when the conversation turns to food and restaurants. The likes of Zelman Meats, considered to dish up the ultimate steak, and Burger & Lobster, which brings together two of the world’s most popular edible indulgences, are a case in point. For something a little lighter, head to the Fifth Floor Café for a Caesar salad or sea bass with beurre noisette.

Burberry, Regent Street
At Thomas’s – Burberry’s in-store restaurant – expect to find a few items as British as the brand’s famous check pattern. There’s afternoon tea. There’s shepherd’s pie. There’s porridge and fruit compote in the mornings. But the flag’s hoisted even higher with teacakes and crumpets toasted over the AGA. As country folk may know, no other toast compares.

Harrods, Knightsbridge
Another option for those with a fondness for choice, legendary department store Harrods houses 19 bars, restaurants, and cafes – from their especially popular Tea Rooms, right through to the beautifully designed Dining Hall featuring pasta, seafood, and sushi bars. There’s plenty of variety in between, mind: traditional Chinese fare from Chai Wu; oysters, caviar, and bubbly at the Champagne Terrace; and dim sum from Bao Kitchen, for instance.

Fenwick, New Bond Street
Bond Street Kitchen, at Fenwick, is designed to resonate with the Mayfair crowd. Expect a refined sort of dining – one with lobster croque monsieurs, Niçoise salads, and crème caramels. Aside from the fact it shuts before dinner, the restaurant has most bases covered, from morning eggs to afternoon tea.

Liberty, Regent Street
Straight out of the early 1900s, Liberty still shares much in common with the time of its founder, Arthur Liberty. The restaurant, also named after him, is no different. Stocked with produce from their mini British food hall, Arthur’s has a pretty wide-ranging menu, with special attention paid to British home comforts – smoked chicken sandwiches, lemon curd with shortbread, and so on.

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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Fireside feasts: 10 London pubs with roaring fires

OpenTable December 13, 2019

Traditional comforts of the public house – Sunday roasts, furniture to sink into, board games, and especially an open fire – make them the ideal refuge for a wintery afternoon in London.

Anglesea Arms, South Kensington
A few doors down from Dickens’ old digs, the Anglesea Arms is charmingly Dickensian in itself, with its wood-panelled walls, vintage clocks, and creaky furniture. Grab a table – by the fire, if possible – and tuck into winter warmers like baked Camembert, chicken pie, and sticky toffee pudding.

The Andover Arms, Hammersmith
Andover Arms’ villagey feel does a lot to endear itself to the area’s visitors. Look closer and once you’ve found the hearty food, a friendly pub dog called Albi, and a log fire, it makes the welcome even warmer.

The Old Queen’s Head, Angel
The OQH features a pretty unique 17th century wood-carved fireplace – part of what has earned the building its Grade II status. Should you be less interested in the architecture, note that the kitchen specialises in burgers, brunch, and Sunday roasts from Lucky Chip’s enduringly popular pop-up.

The Southampton Arms, Kentish Town
The Southampton Arms is a perfect example of an old watering hole brought up to speed with modern tastes. Only serving beer from indie breweries like Brew by Numbers, The Kernel, and Wiper & True, this remains one of the best craft beer pubs in London.

Ealing Park Tavern, Ealing
With a spacious beer garden for summer drinking and a roaring fire for chilly winter days, the EPT is truly a pub for all seasons. Pop in for live music on Thursdays or treat the family to a Sunday roast – there’s a kids menu for little foodies and dogs are welcome in the bar area.

The George IV, Chiswick
Being in Chiswick means being in Fuller’s heartlands. And with the brewery a few minutes down the road, at George IV pints of ESBs and London Prides are among the freshest in town. Should the weather encourage it, hunker down with a round or two in front of the pub’s open fire.

The Rose, Fulham
The Rose is Fulham’s place to be on any given Sunday. The pub is proud of their Sunday lunches, which have been known to attract the odd few Chelsea FC fans before a home game (Stamford Bridge being a few minutes down the road).

The Duke of Hamilton, Hampstead
At almost 300 years old, The Duke is looking pretty good for its age. Find yourself a fireside spot for a mid-week supper – menu highlights include braised brisket with Cheddar mash, mussels in creamy cider sauce, and plum crumble.

The Gun, Docklands
At this Docklands pub, servers will tell you to keep your eye on the adjacent Thames for a glimpse of Sammy the seal. Sunday roasts here are some of the best in the city, but there are plenty of leather wingbacks to melt into if you’re not in the mind to eat.

Blythe Hill Tavern, Forest Hill
At the foot of Blythe Hill Fields is the CAMRA award-winning Blythe Hill Tavern. A proper lounge pub, cask beer is proudly kept in top condition here. Go on Thursdays and Fridays and find Van Dough’s Citroen H parked up outside, dishing out sourdough pizzas.

Discover more of London’s best gastropubs on OpenTable.

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