Let’s face it. Eating out is decadent. There’s only so many ways one can justify going out for a meal rather than cooking for oneself. A celebration such as a birthday is always fine, but as reasons dwindle, justifications get more dire– a lack of time or simply the want of novel food. Wouldn’t it be nice if one could dine out while doing something good for the world? In the spirit of getting you out more, Trusted Places presents the five (in no particular order) most socially conscious restaurants in London.

Acorn House
Acorn House bills itself as “London’s first truly eco-friendly training restaurant” and its boast is well borne by the amount of praise it has received. In The Times, Giles Coren called it “The most important restaurant to open in London in the past 200 years” and listed its “Price” as “Not the earth.” In addition to its extensive recycling, Acorn House has committed itself to the human population of London, pledging to train each year ten adults to be environmentally friendly while running a successful restaurant and making you look officially neglectful.

Fifteen
The first London restaurant to feature both a celebrity chef and a culinary training program for disadvantaged youth, Fifteen (so named for the fifteen trainees of the original restaurant) was founded in 2002 by Naked Chef Jamie Oliver. Fifteen, at 15 Westlands Place in Barnsbury, serves rustic Italian in the ground floor’s Trattoria, while the downstairs dining room serves modern Mediterranean with an Italian influence. Having graduated over 50 trainees, Fifteen London also has sister programs in Amsterdam, Melbourne and Cornwall– not bad for a bunch of kids.

Konstam at the Prince Albert
Who knew London had such great produce? Featured in BBC2’s ten-part series The Urban Chef, Konstam opened in 2006 in King’s Cross. Serving almost all food found within the traverses of the M25, Konstam’s recipes are fresh and local. Sample dishes include Amersham pigeon garnished with London-grown beetroot and Mersea plaice with braised spring onions. Time Out London recommends the beer-battered herring roe with mustard sauce. One can enjoy a delicious seasonal meal at Konstam’s without the guilt-stomped nastiness of an oversized carbon footprint.

London Alternative Market
Though not a restaurant, the London Alternative Market is an impressive bazaar, or perhaps bizarrely impressive, depending on how one views it. Held on the first Sunday of every month, the website notes “We welcome all lifestyles including straight, bi, gay, lesbian, poly, TVs, TSs, Masters, Mistresses, slaves, ponies, maids, pets, ABs and even those that are just mildly kinky or just plain curious.” Regular events are held to benefit the Spanner Trust, an organization that advocates for the rights of consensual S&M practitioners. And while there, don’t forget to savor the scrumptious pastries of the subversively named Tarts and Tease.

The Duke of Cambridge
Certified in 1998 as the world’s first organic gastro-pub, The Duke of Cambridge offers its patrons local produce in a rustic British style. Adhering to its own strict rules and ethics as an organic establishment, The Duke’s website even offers patrons a 650-word Fish Policy, regarding the specifics of its piscine cuisine. As an added green bonus, the pub features no jukeboxes, fruit machines or even televisions, offering a significant reduction in noise pollution.

Photo credit: organic fruit and vegetables by valjk (CC License)

Do you know more places that are doing their bit? Let us know in the comments here or of course give them a glowing review, to show your appreciation.