Eating places

I am taking my wife to the Nutcracker at the Royal Festival Hall on Dec22, any suggestions for a good place to eat pre-theatre close by ?

Thanks.

Jon, there are loads of people who will suggest eating places who know better than me, but will you let me know if it's any good ?

Ta



Post edited (13 Dec 03 08:53)

Any hints - price range, likes or dislikes of cuisine?

The Archduke on Concert Hall Approach http://www.thearchduke.co.uk/ remains a good standby, but I suspect it will be horribly busy in the run-up to Christmas.

Similarly you'll probably need to book at the RSJ Brasserie.http://www.rsj.uk.com/

As well as the guide on this site,
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/restaurants/

there are reasonably up to date reviews at
http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/
Select City-South under Location to get Southbank restaurants

There's a Pizza Express and a Chez Gerard directly outside and oppposite side of Belvedere Rd. A short walk to Oxo tower ofcourse and the chinese "Four Regions" is good albeit a little pricey.

The People's Palace in the RFH was really good - a good few years ago ... I assume it's still there - fantastic river views too - and they probably offer pre theatre bookings

There's also a Yo Sushi up by the London Eye in the GLC complex

Or, dare I suggest leaving SE1, and go to Gordons wine bar on Villiers St by Embankment tube, for a slap up meal of cheese and stuff and fantastic wine and then wander over the footbridge ... very sparkly and Christmassy views!

Please....

Yo sushi is quite possibly the worst place on the planet to eat sushi... I'm willing to argue this with anyone... but then again, if anyone knows of places worse then Yo Sushi, then I don't need to hear about them either...

I agree that Gordons wine bar used to be a very nice place though !

The People's Palace is definitely still there- I took my girlfriend there earlier this year for a champagne lunch. The food was good (and decent portions - not just small portions stacked high a'la 'trendy food') and the service was excellent. The RFH has the feeling of being in a school building, and this permeates into the People's Palace, but I think I noticed that more because it was lunchtime and it was empty.

If they can maintain the quality of food and service when it's the evening, then I would imagine it would have a lovely atmosphere about it at night.

James

The Peoples Palace is lovely at night, and quite romantic. It is especially worth going in winter as your view of the river is not blocked by the trees. They can not reserve you a window seat, but I find if you mention it when booking you will get one.

Talking of eating places, I'm trying to find a really good café where I can get a decent plated meal at lunchtime for just a few quid, and where I won't have to fight for a seat.

I used to work for a company that had a subsidised canteen (about £1 for a good plated meal), but now I'm in SE1 I tend to find that the easiest option - a sandwich/crisps/choccy bar - costs £3-4. My local café (Franks on Southwark Road) is decent enough food-wise, but getting a seat can be a nightmare.

The Tas café (in Borough High Street) seems like a nice place, but is a fair old walk - something similar that anyone can recommend would be good.