The gray streets of London, that are often washed out by the rain, are invigorated along with the emergence of so many extravagant or retro restaurants – there are over 6000 locations that serve dishes from over 70 countries. As British people place a high value on etiquette, every tourist should be familiar with the time slots when there are served the main meals of the day:
- Breakfast: between 7.00 and 9.00;
- Lunch: between 12.00 and 13.30 ;
- The traditional English tea: which is usually enjoyed between 17.00 and 18.30;
- Dinner: between 18.30 and 20.00
Breakfast
Breakfast consists of two fried eggs, a sausage, a slice of ham, mushrooms and baked beans, all served on the same platter, along with browned bread and a cup of coffee. However, other restaurants' menus include: chicken, steak and onion ciabatta or various sandwiches. Generally, the price for such a breakfast isn't more than 6 pounds.
Lunch
English lunch is not one of the most consistent meals of the day, Londoners being accustomed to consume the so called "take-away" products such as: fast food sandwiches, chips and pies, along with some fruits and a drink. Usually, the price for it doesn't exceed 6 pounds, either.
Five o'clock tea
With a tradition of over 150 years, the worldwide famous "five o'clock tea" is the delight of many tourists that have the opportunity to try it in any bar, pub or restaurant in London. The "five o'clock tea" is in fact served around 4:30 in the afternoon and it is very popular among the locals due to their habit of getting a snack after work.
Most often matched with some milk, the English tea is always served along with some traditional English muffins, cookies, cakes, lemon pies and many other pastries. As a dessert, you'll want to try a hot pudding or molasses. The price for this culinary delight can start from £20 upwards, depending on the variety of the menu, as well as on the prestige of the restaurant/pub/bar.
Dinner
As for the offers regarding the most important meal of the day, the once famous menu, that consisted of only meat and two eggs, was gradually replaced by the most succulent and tender steaks along with some of the most delicious vegetable salads.
If you are undecided where to go have dinner, you can choose from a variety of locals, ranging from some famous restaurants such as St. John, HixOyster, AcornHouse or St. Moritz, up to those with low cost services, as well as the increasingly popular Little Bay (in Farrington) - where every customer can eat as much as he pleases and pays as much as he thinks his meal is worth.
If you are a tourist and you don't have enough money to go eat in a fancy restaurant, you can go to a pub and order either one of the following:
- a steak and kidney pie - for 9 pounds
- a lamb steak - for 10 pounds
- a cheese and bacon burger and a side of chips - for 6.5 pounds
- a plate of pasta served with garlic bread - for 8 pounds
- a plate of wild mushroom risotto - for 9 pounds
Either way, a regular dinner menu can cost less than 10 pounds.
Although it may be difficult to find a place in London that offers the best quality-price ratio, mainly because the existence of numerous restaurants that can also be very expensive, there are some places where you will not be disappointed in any respect.
As expected, high prices are applied in the premises near the main tourist attractions in London. Thus, areas which are close to the streets around Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, British Museum or the Palace of Westminster, are the ones where the naivety of tourists can be exploited.
- Breakfast: between 7.00 and 9.00;
- Lunch: between 12.00 and 13.30 ;
- The traditional English tea: which is usually enjoyed between 17.00 and 18.30;
- Dinner: between 18.30 and 20.00
Breakfast
Breakfast consists of two fried eggs, a sausage, a slice of ham, mushrooms and baked beans, all served on the same platter, along with browned bread and a cup of coffee. However, other restaurants' menus include: chicken, steak and onion ciabatta or various sandwiches. Generally, the price for such a breakfast isn't more than 6 pounds.
Lunch
English lunch is not one of the most consistent meals of the day, Londoners being accustomed to consume the so called "take-away" products such as: fast food sandwiches, chips and pies, along with some fruits and a drink. Usually, the price for it doesn't exceed 6 pounds, either.
Five o'clock tea
With a tradition of over 150 years, the worldwide famous "five o'clock tea" is the delight of many tourists that have the opportunity to try it in any bar, pub or restaurant in London. The "five o'clock tea" is in fact served around 4:30 in the afternoon and it is very popular among the locals due to their habit of getting a snack after work.
Most often matched with some milk, the English tea is always served along with some traditional English muffins, cookies, cakes, lemon pies and many other pastries. As a dessert, you'll want to try a hot pudding or molasses. The price for this culinary delight can start from £20 upwards, depending on the variety of the menu, as well as on the prestige of the restaurant/pub/bar.
Dinner
As for the offers regarding the most important meal of the day, the once famous menu, that consisted of only meat and two eggs, was gradually replaced by the most succulent and tender steaks along with some of the most delicious vegetable salads.
If you are undecided where to go have dinner, you can choose from a variety of locals, ranging from some famous restaurants such as St. John, HixOyster, AcornHouse or St. Moritz, up to those with low cost services, as well as the increasingly popular Little Bay (in Farrington) - where every customer can eat as much as he pleases and pays as much as he thinks his meal is worth.
If you are a tourist and you don't have enough money to go eat in a fancy restaurant, you can go to a pub and order either one of the following:
- a steak and kidney pie - for 9 pounds
- a lamb steak - for 10 pounds
- a cheese and bacon burger and a side of chips - for 6.5 pounds
- a plate of pasta served with garlic bread - for 8 pounds
- a plate of wild mushroom risotto - for 9 pounds
Either way, a regular dinner menu can cost less than 10 pounds.
Although it may be difficult to find a place in London that offers the best quality-price ratio, mainly because the existence of numerous restaurants that can also be very expensive, there are some places where you will not be disappointed in any respect.
As expected, high prices are applied in the premises near the main tourist attractions in London. Thus, areas which are close to the streets around Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, British Museum or the Palace of Westminster, are the ones where the naivety of tourists can be exploited.
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