• Added: 10th of October 2008
• Area: Southwark
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 8DA
020 7620 6191

jan08 said
Turkish Delight
Tucked away on a flora-lined street close to Southwark tube, this is a great value restaurant with the option to dine 'al fresco'(with heat lamps) or in their cavernous restaurant - so usually no need to book in advance. Part of the Tas chain of Turkish restaurants, it has a varied menu, including great value set lunches, dinners and meze to share. Desserts are less exciting but I do like the baklava. Service is attentive even when busy though occassionaly we have been brought the wrong dishes! Great shop next door on one side and a lively bar on the other side.

• Added: 10th of October 2008
• Area: Sevenoaks
• Category: Restaurants

Sevenoaks TN13 1AS
01732 46 45 45

jan08 said
Zapata in Sevenoaks
This is a large restaurant in Sevenoaks town centre in what used to be the local council's social security building. I have only been here once, but the fresh sea bass was delicious. Their menus are on their website - you'll see that they have quite an extensive menu including favourites such as paella and chillis. They also do 'specials' evenings, such as paella for two for around £20. Extensive drinks list too - try the margeritas! The restaurant also has a bar area, as well as tables outside, so it would be great to try a jug of their sangria in the summer.

• Added: 7th of October 2008
• Area: Leicester Square
• Category: Restaurants

London WC2N 4BF
020 7655 9810

jan08 said
Katana
Confusingly named, the Katana restaurant is still one of my favourite restaurants in the West End. The service is exceptionally high, from the moment you walk in. I don't think I have ever been asked before if I am happy with the location of the table when seated! The decor is modern and well patronised by business types, but as the service is so friendly, it's also relaxed and unpretentious. They describe themselves as pan Asian - quite an eclectic menu and the food has always been good whenever I have dined there. If you book in advance, you can also take up one of their spacial menu offers which then makes it very good value for money.

• Added: 26th of September 2008
• Area: Lambeth
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 7RJ
020 7928 2311

jan08 said
Inshoku
Located on Lower Marsh, close to Waterloo railway station, this low key restaurant is very popular as a lunch stop for local workers. This restaurant has a very relaxed feel (you do not have to use chopsticks for instance!) and is great value for money if you go for a set-lunch menu. Decor is a little dated, but for the prices they charge it's expected. I can recommend the Bento boxes but the sushi is also good, and for a filling, cheap bite, go for yakisoba. If there's one negative, it's that the staff appear to be so busy that they can come across as distant rather than friendly.

• Added: 26th of September 2008
• Area: Southwark
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 8DA
020 7928 5111

jan08 said
Thai Silk in Southwark
This restaurant lies on Isabella Street close to Southwark tube and not far from Waterloo station. They lined this 'street' with fairy lights and plants giving it a magical setting. Thai Silk has a large, smart decor on the inside, popular for business lunches, with tables outside for warmer days. It is one of the best value restaurants I know, offering Value for Money Lunches & 5-7 specials so that you can eat for under a tenner. My favourite starter are the spring rolls and their green curry is delicious. Service is good and you can book a table via their online website. They do take away too should you want to take something back home!

• Added: 26th of September 2008
• Area: Charing Cross
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London WC2N 4JJ
020 7839 4342

jan08 said
Cafe in the Crypt
Excellent location close to Trafalgar Square. I love the ambience of this place - a large cavernous, cool space underneath St Martins-in-the-Fields Church. The crypt has brick vaulted ceilings, big stone pillars and gravestones within the stone flooring.
The food is excellent and very good value. The service is canteen style so you need to queue and the choice is limited - but then you know that it is freshly cooked. Desserts are oftern old British favourites such as apple pie and custard! It is very popular and well known so can get overcrowded but if you can go there at a quiet time you will really enjoy it.

• Added: 26th of September 2008
• Area: Lambeth
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 7RG
020 7928 8778

jan08 said
Cubanas
The best things about this bar is the Cuban decor (complete with posters of Che) and the lively atmosphere -if that's what you're after. They do a wide range of cocktails and Happy Hour is a good time to go as otherwise they can get expensive. The food is ok if you just want to snack - it's definitely not fine dining! But it is reasonably priced. Downside is the lack of tables for such a big place - it easily feels cramped especially when a party has been booked in. And the outside seating is on the edge of a car park - nice!

• Added: 25th of September 2008
• Area: Sevenoaks
• Category: Restaurants

Sevenoaks TN13 1JF
01732 456688

jan08 said
Spice Club restaurant
Excellent Indian restaurant in Sevenoaks town centre. Very reasonably priced with incredibly long and varied menu that includes dishes designed to be shared. You can check out their menu on their website. Decor is modern and fairly minimalist, the ambiance is distinctly more upmarket than your normal local curry house! Would be a good place for a romantic mean - or a special family occassion. The service is excellent - attentive without being too overbearing - they'll always refill your glasses, for instance. Talking of glasses, the restaurant also has a bar - should you want to have a drink before being seated. Very popular at weekends so I would always book. Branches in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells too.

• Added: 24th of September 2008
• Area: Lambeth
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London SE1 7AB
020 7928 1050

jan08 said
Maries Cafe
Maries Cafe is on Lower Marsh, close to Waterloo station. It looks like your typical 'greasy spoon caf' - complete with formica tables and squeezy bottle of tomato ketchup. But they serve really good value and delicious simple Thai and Brit food - stir frys, currys, egg & chips etc. So you can eat well for under a fiver and the helpings are large. The Thai staff are friendly and efficeint - which is just as well as its often busy and you somethimes need to wait for a table. More the sort of place to go for breakfast or lunch - but I think they are open until early evening.

• Added: 24th of September 2008
• Area: Shoreditch
• Category: Hotels and Travel

London EC2A 3HU
020 7550 1000

jan08 said
Hoxton Hotel
Great modern hotel close to Liverpool St station. Contemporary styled, spacious rooms with flat screen TV and WiFi. Luxurious bathrooms with plenty of fluffy towels and Aveda toiletries. Very helpful desk staff - on my visit they fulfilled my request for a quiet room on a higher floor. The hotel's bar is popular with locals and includes an open fire and lots of deep comfy chairs and setees. It's reasonably priced and often runs deals (register with them to get email alerts of each sale). Only drawbacks might be the location, as it's not convenient for the West End, and the lack of sit-down, hot breakfasts (pret-a-manger breakfasts are brought to your room and left outside the door).