Restaurant Reviews & Suggestions - Where to eat?

Plates would be my vote but on the ££ end

Amazing! Glad you enjoyed

Was that Toklas? taking E there for her birthday.

Nah it was My neighbours the dumplings!

Toklas is really great - as you might expect from a restaurant with its own bakery, the sourdough is next level.

According to Jay Rayner the chips are not to be missed either.

Can't remember if we had chips or not, but if we did they didn't leave as much of an impression as the bread!

I'm having an all out birthday weekend for food:

Friday:
batch baby coffee, quince bakery, Leila's shop, Ibai, Fortitude bakehouse, Quality wines or Kiln
Saturday
Cafe Francois, Bageriet, Arome, Devonshire, Noble Rot
Sunday
Dusty Knuckle, Forno, Marksman, Singburi

should be a decent mix and calorific volume

I went to The Devonshire for lunch last week, to be fair it lived up to the hype. We had the two course set menu , the steak was a decent size and perfectly cooked, shared a chocolate mouse for dessert which was as good as the one Zedel used to do across the street.

Also tried a 0.0 draft Guinness, you’d never guess it was non-alcoholic but it was sweeter than the real thing when we did a taste test.

All in all I’d recommend.

We liked Toklas, but the chips, though good, definitely didn't live up to the expectations Jay Rayner had set ...

We weren't totally convinced by the Devonshire's Sunday roast - it was nice, but I think we felt it showed the kitchen could deliver a lot more. We need to go back on a different day for the normal menu.

Got a(n unsurprisingly) good review in the Guardian last weekend too, which I don't suppose has made tables any easier to get

So they did. I like Grace, she agreed with me on the mouse.

Have been for dinner, lunch and a Sunday roast there and all 3 were good. I’d say the first two were a little more special. It’s just a very run place. Shame tables are so hard to come by!

I like Grace, she agreed with me on the mouse.

A high-end restaurant like that shouldn't have any mice, though.

I have a monthly thing with a group of old mates where we go out for dinner. Tbh it's been incredible for keeping old friendships alive and encouraging men to actually talk to and support each other. Anyway, we take it in turns to book the restaurant and having been round the house a few times it's back to me and I'm struggling for inspiration. Any suggestions appreciated. Criteria are roughly less than £80pp, good for a larger group (we're 9 if everyone turns up), good food and vibes. Anything interesting considered. I'd love to take us to Brutto but they don't book tables bigger than 6.

Singburi a great way to finish, I hope you have a decent party size, you will want to order everything.

I was a regular (once a week) for 5-6years but last year or so it's just gotten impossible and I live a little further away so the idea of going there on the off chance is tricky. It is awesome and I'm super happy how well they're doing

I went to Akoko last night for a pre-birthday dinner. It was a fantastic meal, and it was nice to have some genuinely fresh, original flavours.

@Tenderloin The sugar pretzals at Bageriet are my weakness.

That Portuguese chicken place on the other side of borough market.

I dunno if it’s as gourmet as brutto, but Med Sallah kopitiam

Haven’t been myself, but it’s been recommended to me, and they’d have no problems with 9 people.

Highly recommend the sister-restaurant Akara at Borough market as well!

north or south of river?

Drapers Arms could hit the spot or Miga in Hackney (byob)

A high-end restaurant like that shouldn't have any mice, though.

Haha.

You’d be surprised though, every hospitality venue in central London has a problem with pests.

North of the river, bonus for proximity to Euston. Will check these out. Thanks.

It's really nice, but would be aiming for something a bit more interesting.