London: Three Great Food Finds

Since moving to London, Bo and I have found the restaurant scene to be a bit overwhelming and difficult to navigate. Now, this probably due more to the fact that we aren’t here often enough to immerse ourselves into the restaurant scene in the manner we did when living in NYC full time. Instead, each Friday or Saturday when we’re in the city we find ourselves desperately searching for last minute availability at a restaurant which has been recommended to us or we’ve discovered via articles. I know, it’s so easy to have the foresight to make reservations in advance but sometimes life gets in the way.

But this weekend the stars aligned for us and we ended up enjoying three meals which left us wanting to return and each of these restaurants will receive a stellar Yelp review from me along with a pin on my London Pinterest board.

Victus & Bibo – We discovered this food stand within the Greenwich Market due to the long line which wrapped around the stand twice! Anytime we exploring a local market the true symbol of good food is the line length. Not only did this stand have a long line though it also had amazing aromas! A classic high-end Turkish food stand, they have one dish that that they feature along with a few variations. The magic is in the fact that this one menu item is what has made them popular and keeps people coming back each Friday, Saturday and Sunday when they are at the market. Their signature, the lamb & haloumi wrap, was large enough for us to split between the two of us for a small yet satiating lunch. They used the classic Turkish chili flakes in the meat as it simmered before piling that into a wrap topped with hummus, grilled halloumi, lettuce, chilies, peppers, and yogurt sauce. The flavors were delicious and the hearty wrap kept us full for hours!

Trishna– This restaurant is a food gem hidden on a side street of Marylebone. For Americans like us who have not experienced much Indian food beyond either our friend’s cooking or delivery in New York City, it’s hard to know what to look for in an Indian restaurant. We haven’t been to many so when we heard that Trishna was awarded a Michelin star we were immediately intrigued and excited! Trishna’s service and cuisine blew our minds within the first five minutes. We snagged a table for two on Friday night around 7:30 which was clearly right before their rush hour. The menu features many Southwest Indian dishes while also blending together some local British seafood and meats. The cocktail menu, which many on Yelp recommended, was a series of classic cocktails with an Indian twist such as Masala spice or Saffron in drinks such as margaritas and Old Fashions. We started with the margarita and mojito before enjoying three appetizers and a shared entree. The tandoori lamb chops entree and the aloo chat appetizer were our favorite dishes of the evening. It should be noted that this restaurant’s menu is not for the faint of heart when it comes to spices. Our waiter laughed as we gulped down glasses of water following one very spice appetizer before suggesting we sip on a lassi instead. If you’re able to snag reservations between 6-6:30pm you can enjoy their Early Evening menu which is 4 courses for 28 pounds!Gail’s Kitchen– After a morning visit to the Viking’s exhibit at the British Museum we chose to walk home versus take the tube due to the gorgeous sunshine. When I spotted an open table under the bright red awning at Gail’s Kitchen, I immediately knew it was our sign that we should enjoy brunch. The menu features their personal take on some traditional British brunch favorites such as a proper fry up while also featuring some unique items which have put them on the map. We opted to trust the Yelp reviews and order exactly what they recommended: house made lemonade with elderflower, iced coffee, shakshuka eggs and a bread basket. The shakshuka eggs which featured eggs baked in smoky red pepper, tomato sauce and feta was absolutely amazing and the flavors left us thinking about it all afternoon. In fact, we may have asked if they were open for dinner on Sunday nights.  Everything on their menu revolves around the house made breads, which did not disappoint.

There you have it, our weekend in food! If you’re a London local or have visited before, what are your no miss restaurants or food stalls?

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