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Restaurants  :  Pub
Unfortunately, for much of its modern life, England has had to shoulder a reputation for tasteless, uninteresting cuisine. These days, that characterization is largely passé. Experimentation and ingredients culled from around the world have revitalized British cookery. Plus, they’ve garnered it newfound respect. Of course, if you want a Sunday roast beef dinner, many pubs still serve it weekly, and fish-and-chips are a standard that’ll never go away. In fact, much pub food enjoys comfort-food status. If you decide to stray from British fare, Indian cuisine is immensely popular (thanks to England’s colonial days), and you can find excellent tandoori chicken and vindaloo without much effort. Middle Eastern cuisine and French fare also prove popular. As a sign of their reinvigorated culinary efforts, British restaurants have even found themselves on lists lauding the world’s best restaurants. At the forefront of the dining scene, then, are institutions like Gordon Ramsay, The Ivy, and Le Caprice. More moderate, but no less popular, are Wagamama, a chain of savory Asian eateries, and Ask! Pizza, a lively, upscale Italian chain. Take advantage of them to offset your splurges!

Cow Dining Room
89 Westbourne Park Rd, London  W2 5QH • 20-7221-0021
Description: BAYSWATER. This notable pub offers an inviting atmosphere, a variety of lagers and ales, and a popular special of Guinness and oysters. Although evenings are often more crowded than afternoons, anytime is a good time to drop by - just don't expect to get a table! If you want more personal attention, choose the intimate dining room in back; if you want to enjoy a few pints among friendly locals, grab a stool at the bar. TUBE: Royal Oak

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Grenadier
18 Wilton Row Belgrave Square, London  SW1X 7NR • 20-7235-3074
Description: BELGRAVIA. Tucked away in a choice area near the classy Lynchburg Hotel, this smart pub provides a great place for business travelers to entertain. The menu includes tasty treats like Angels on Horseback (bacon-wrapped oysters), their signature Beef Wellington, and traditional fish and chips, while the bar supplies a wide selection of liquors and draught beers, along with a house Bloody Mary crafted with a secret ingredient. Dark woods and red walls boasting a weapon motif distinguish the interior. Navigate your way carefully, because the pub can be hard to locate. Reservations strongly recommended. TUBE: Hyde Park Corner

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Lots Road Pub and Dining Room
114 Lots Rd, London  SW10 0RJ • 20-7352-6645
Description: CHELSEA. When folks toiling in SW10 are eager for home-cooked cuisine, they find much to applaud at this cozy gatropub near Chelsea Harbour. Unexpectedly, the pub setting runs headlong into haute cuisine, but the results are sublime. Each dish uses only the freshest ingredients, and the items that issue forth include the Lots Road Burger and a mind-blowing ribeye steak sandwich. Follow your favorite dish with the pub's signature Sticky Toffee Pudding, and you've a meal worth remembering. Dinner reservations are suggested. TUBE: Fulham Broadway

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Royal Oak
44 Tabard St, London  SE1 4JU • 20-7357-7173
Description: SOUTHWARK. While regulars laud this Tabard Street pub for its pints of tasty Harveys, folks with eats in mind also find much to like. The cozy, Victorian-styled Royal Oak features dual bar areas, which ensure that drinks are easy to come by. They also make the pub a favorite after-work destination for folks coming in from nearby office buildings. Made-from-scratch fare offers plenty of worthy alternatives, including hearty pies, traditional roasts, and baskets of fish and chips. TUBE: Borough

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Seven Stars
53-54 Carey St, London  WC2A 2JB • 20-7242-8521
Description: ALDWYCH. Especially at meal time, employees from nearby court buildings populate this historic gastropub (built around 1600) – a tribute to the kitchen's traditional menu. Walls are adorned with all things legal, from old movie posters to framed caricatures and political cartoons. The cozy place also features a working fireplace and lots of dark-wood tables and chairs. N.B. Many patrons regard Seven Stars as London's finest pub, so a modicum of reverence is always appreciated when you visit. TUBE: Holborn or Chancery Lane

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Sutton Arms
6 Carthusian St, London  EC1M 6EB • 20-7253-0723
Description: THE CITY. The Sutton, as regulars know it, is a classic London pub, complete with creaky wood floors, dark wood accents, and a cozy bar. The place is known as a pint-lover's haven, but it also gets strong praise for its surprisingly inventive fare. The daily menu includes roast chicken with fennel, roast pork loin with applesauce, and guinea fowl with roasted shallots. Desserts (including puddings) are also impeccable, so save room. An upstairs dining area offers quieter, more traditional environs than the bar. TUBE: Barbican

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The Guinea
30 Bruton Pl Berkeley Square, London  W1X 7AA • 20-7499-1210
Description: MAYFAIR. This upscale pub sits just down the street from The Ritz in one of London's wealthiest districts. The historic establishment dates to the mid-1700s, and its patrons frequently spill out onto the sidewalk, as businesspeople try to impress important clients. The menu offers a wide array of choices, including some of the best steaks in the area - the filet of beef with wild mushrooms and red wine sauce, horseradish mash and parsnip crisps is a hearty delight. Inside, polished brass and wood detailing contribute to the classy ambience. TUBE: Green Park

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The Queens
49 Regents Park Rd, London  NW1 • 20-7586-0408
Description: PRIMROSE HILL. This popular neighborhood pub is nestled near Regent's Park on the city's north side. If you're unfamiliar with the area, keep an eye out for the pub's distinctive, mustard-yellow exterior. Inside, a welcoming ambience pervades, and the pub's centerpiece is a long, narrow bar where bartenders are eager to take your order. A wide variety of food is available, including cider-battered filet served with hand-cut chips and pea purée, aged ribeye steak with chips or roast flat mushroom with shallot and stilton butter. TUBE: Chalk Farm

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The Westbourne
101 Westbourne Park Villas, London  W2 5ED • 20-7221-1332
Description: BAYSWATER. Take a break from typical city pubs, and venture off the beaten path to this local favorite and, probably, London's first gastropub. A shaded outdoor seating area invites folks to relax, and the spacious interior is similar to that of many pubs, attested to by well-loved wooden tables and a large wooden bar. The Westbourne is is a great place to hang out with friends over a few pints of lager or ale. And should hunger pangs hit, a wide variety of pub food is available, including oysters, salmon, seabass and halibut. TUBE: Royal Oak

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Trafalgar Tavern
6 Park Row, London  SE10 9NW • 20-8858-2909
Description: GREENWICH. This popular, Regency-style establishment dates back to 1837. Through the years, such famous individuals as Charles Dickens and William Thackeray have visited the tavern to enjoy whitebait dinners, which are still a popular menu item. The interior features two levels: The spacious first floor boasts typical pub decor, while the upstairs Nelson Room is a ballroom with ornate chandeliers and a magnificent river view. Today, this room hosts a wide variety of functions and events. Live jazz music is often provided, and outdoor seating is available when weather permits. TUBE: Greenwich, via Docklands Light Railway

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