A guide by beardy1
The best tapas in central London - a little family-run restaurant at the Wardour St end of Old Compton St. Excellent value. You'll have to wait for a table in the evening - but you can usually walk right in at lunchtimes.
63 Old Compton St., Soho W1
It's a vegetarian restaurant serving cuisine from southern India. The food is invariably delicious and cheap, even cheaper at lunchtime when they have an excellent buffet. It's not licenced but you can take your own booze (bought at the supermarket next door if need be). You can't reserve tables, so be prepared to queue at busy times. They also do food to take away. A terrific alternative to the overpriced chain food outlets on Euston Station, as it's only a couple of minutes' walk away.
121-123 Drummond Street, NW1; 020 7387 5556; Euston
Bali Bali is a Malaysian restaurant just off Cambridge Circus, in the heart of theatreland. Excellent food and great service in a relaxed, bustling atmosphere and at budget prices, this is my favourite restaurant in London.
150 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2. Nearest tube is Leicester Square (walk north) or Tottenham Court Road (walk south).
www.balibalirestaurant.com
A wonderful, casual cafe with excellent food at reasonable prices. It is located in the crypt of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square, access off Duncannon Street. Profits from the cafe stay at St Martin-in-the-Fields and help to support, among other things, it's care of the homeless and vulnerable.
St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, England
www2.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/page/cafe/crypt/crypt.html
Brilliant, cheap little live blues joint right in the centre of town, fiver on the door and drinks promotions. Drinkable house red, horrid little loos, great clientele. Fight for a table near the band.
20 Kingly Street, Soho, London W1B 5PZ Tel: 020 7287 0514
www.aintnothinbut.co.uk/
