Looking for Affordable Food the Next Time You Tour London? Try the (Mostly) Ethnic Fare
Anyone who ventures to tour London, has to be prepared to feel practically robbed. To begin with, any Tube ride no matter how short, can wind you up 4 pounds poorer. And if you thought you could make up for it by picking a really simple modest meal at a back lane restaurants, your bill is likely to end up looking like something from L.A - only, the pound is worth about twice what the dollar is. London is unbelievably expensive; but you wouldn't know it to look at it. Everywhere you go, tourists from every part of the world, and the locals too go at it, eating, drinking and getting entertained like they thought things were going at fire sale prices. But there are certain ways of keeping your costs down and to a budget when you tour London. It could be quite an adventure in itself tuning in to the right kind of word-of-mouth.
How meaningful would it it be to tour London without a real taste of authentic Britain? This is actually possible on a budget - at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - a dark labyrinthine set of bars and dining tables on Fleet Street, set in ancient building from five centuries ago. They say that this was a favorite of Samuel Johnson's (he ate in the Chop Room out front). You know who Samuel Johnson is don't you? He was the first lexicographer in English - creator of our first dictionary. It's pretty cheap here - a poached salmon salad will cost you about 8 pounds, a big old serving of french fries and fried battered fish and peas go for the same; the excellent treacle pudding, served with custard, goes for 5 pounds, and the stellar ale, you could get for less than 2 pounds for half a pint. It's all really quite old world, and you'll feel right at home. Some of the guests at the tables look like they could probably afford to spend ten times this on a meal; but there's something about the atmosphere and the prices that no one can pass up a chance to sample.
Chinese is pretty new to London; somehow, it's taken it a while for it to take hold here unlike in North America. But now that it's taken hold, the cooking is often so great, you wonder what took them so long. Consider dropping by at the Bar Shu on Frith Street in Soho. It's so good here, the reviewers keep going there, and repeating themselves in the magazines they write for. Certainly, some of the items on the menu seem to forget that they are supposed to be on an affordable menu; but if you stay away from the newfangled stuff, all the classic recipes are excellent value. For about 9 pounds, try the dementingly delicious green beans and minced pork - it's great, it's spicy, and it's only tolerably hot. But if you want something intolerably hot, try the hot dried beef with Chinese pepper. It'll have you reaching for your ale, trying to bring a little life back to your poor overwhelmed tongue. If you would like wine to go with it, it goes for about 5 pounds of glass. This restaurant certainly adds a little spice when you come tour London.
Over by Notting Hill, you'll come by a cheerful restaurant called Alounak; it's authentic, and it's reasonably priced. The portions are generous too; the chicken with berries, saffron and rice is an excellent value at 8 pounds. Or try the lamb kebab for 12 pounds. The authentic coconut and cardamom dessert, Faludeh, at 3 pounds, is spectacular. There are usually lots of Iranians at the tables; that's a pretty sure sign that the food is the authentic taste.But how about the Spanish Tendido Cero at Old Brompton Road in South Kensington? It lives up to its Spanish name with all the liveliness and music; the anchovies and olive oil go for 5 pounds, the Spanish cheeses go for 7 pounds, and the delicious (if you are not squeamish) exotic black pig goes for 15 pounds. It's all terribly friendly. And it's a sure sign the food will tast great.