aquarius moon Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Can anyone recommend any good places to eat in/around Covent Garden.A bit short notice as I'm going there tomorrow.I've googled The Punch & Judy (which I've also looked down at, but never visited), The Porterhouse, Maple Leaf etc, but would like some advice please.Has to be a nice pub, rather than a restaurant, not expensive as funds are limited!Also, has to have a few vegetarian choices. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jah Lush Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Avoid the Punch & Judy - it's a packed in like sardines nightmare tourist trap. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-658778 Share on other sites More sharing options...
numbers Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 try urban spoon you can filter by area/???/food type etc here's a search below for pubs in that area doing cheap food brings back four results, not sure if any good?http://www.urbanspoon.com/nfp/52/5130/5150/1/Covent-Garden-Pub-Food-Cheap-eats-London-Restaurantsedited to add: the good old http://bistro1.co.uk/menu/food-at-bistro1-restaurant/ (its a chain) does 2 courses for around a tenner, not huge choice of menu but there's always a couple of veggie options, its Turkish I think so has humus, veggie moussaka that type of thing. it's just off covent garden market/the Strand. I used to go there for lunch a lot, quick friendly service and food was nice. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-658780 Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraferJack Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Most of the pubs in Covent Garden are tourist traps and or the worst kidn of chain (ie not nice) - Taylor Walker have loads of pubs around there but the food is grim. As a tourist area the restaurant scene is picking up around there - and even old reliables such as Sagar would make the vegeterarians happyhttp://cheesenbiscuits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/sagar-covent-garden.html10 Cases is a bar /bistro nearby might suit everyonehttp://cheesenbiscuits.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/10-cases-covent-garden.html(yep I'm using the same blogger links, but he's a good one) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-658783 Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Pibe Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/food-for-thought-london-2 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-658785 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 try the Two Brewers, often a pub lunch haunt for me and my colleagues. We get a seat everytime we go http://www.taylor-walker.co.uk/pub/two-brewers-covent-garden/c6783/ Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-658802 Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquarius moon Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 Thanks everyone.I'll check out all the links this evening. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-658814 Share on other sites More sharing options...
southmark Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Try the Lamb and Flag, one of the oldest pubs in the West End. They serve food upstairs at lunchtimes, good ploughman's and the hot food's home made. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-658837 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmora Man Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 I tried 10 cases last week and second SJ's blogger's advice - very good, tho' not cheap. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659236 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigello Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Try Strada for good, affordable pizzas or Tas, the middle eastern place. Shake Shack is good but it will be - if the NYC experience I had - busy and more like an upscale McD's than a pub. NB - Five Guys burgers are large, so go for the mini option if they have it here in the UK. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659238 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Curtain Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Home Slice Pizza in Neil's YardRun by Ry and his jolly sweet teamAll wood fired and V tasty Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659245 Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraferJack Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 [grump mode on]call me a square from the past, but if someone is asking for recommendations, does pointing them in the direction of a chain help?plus part of the reason Strada does "affordable" pizzas is the fact they don't give tips to the staff but use them to pay minimum wageAnd after I pointed out the hazards of Taylor Walker pubs and the gruel they serve someone recommends them!If you like that stuff then fine - but you don't need to seek/give recommendations for it - they are EVERYWHERE Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659252 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcats Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 I was really shocked by the comments about Strada so had a quick google to check it out.According to their website, tips are paid in addition to minimum wage. No idea how to check if this is true.http://www.strada.co.uk/service-charge Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659295 Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraferJack Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1639059/Where-do-your-restaurant-tips-really-go.html Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659301 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 So sorry to upset your delicate sensibilities Strafer Jack. It's a pub near my office, they do basic pub food. Who they're owned by is not that important to me. I was reacting to the OP's specific needs. Somewhere to sit for example - Food For Thought usually has a queue to be seated.I should check the recommendation forum rulebook before I offer my opinions in future. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659304 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcats Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Thanks for that. Shocking. The Tragus Group now claims to pay service in addition to minimum wage (same statement as on the Strada website), so maybe they were shamed into changing their policy. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659305 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 If Strada have changed their policy, that has to be a good thing... but you can always make sure by giving the waiter a cash tip separate from the main bill.A trip to Strada is never going to be a gourmet experience, but it's far from the worst choice if you just want somewhere for a quick inexpensive meal. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659315 Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraferJack Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 JessieApologies if I came over as too strong - I wasn't trying to have a go at youI was just reminded of the time I put a shout out for somewhere nice to eat in a part of town I was unfamiliar with and got lots of replies along the lines of Pizza Express/Strada/ some chain pubAs you and Jeremy point out, not gourmet but not bad if you want somewhere cheap and cheerful. Maybe.But what bothered me at the time (when it was me after a recommendation) was the subtext that I was SO dumb, that I needed to be told Pizza Express do pizzas. I KNOW that if I go somewhere populous anywhere on this island I can find multiple chains selling exactly same stuff as where I came from. If I'm after a recommendation I'm looking for something specific to the location, something I can't find somewhere elseSurely that's common sense rather than me be propscriptive of what you can and can't post? Maybe the OP found your recommendation far more helpful than anything I've written anyway . Post away Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659319 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnL Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 All the chains are so packed ;)In Covent Garden, I'm more likely to pop into the Freemasons or the SunIsn't there a pub/restaurant upstairs in the Piazza (not punch & judy) which is unmarked ??But I'm very pub oriented :) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659364 Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinecone Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 if you like american style burgers, five guys burgers and fries has just (on 4th july) opened in covent garden Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659370 Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraferJack Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 re: the new burger places. People do realise the queues are 2 hours long around lunchtimes (possibly all day)? - the hype train is big for these things Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659373 Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 JohnL, there's the Opera Terrace at the opposite end, which is now a Raymond Blanc thing.At the same end as the Punch and Judy there used to be a place called Bar Gritte which was marked by an apple wearing a bowler hat. They used to do rare groove/acid jazz nights in the nineties - all beards, corduroy and 'Wild and Crazy Guy' hats.The best pub around there is the Nell Gwynne, down a ginnel between Maiden Lane and the Strand. They still have rolls wrapped in cellophane behind the bar and a jukebox. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659374 Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Pibe Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Given the choice in the area I'd probably go Bedford & Strand or Terroir. But they're probably a bit pricey for the current requirement. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659379 Share on other sites More sharing options...
womanofdulwich Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Bistro 1 in Southampton street is reasonable and has good veggie choices- but its not a pub.http://bistro1.co.uk/london-restaurants/covent-garden/ Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659392 Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquarius moon Posted July 5, 2013 Author Share Posted July 5, 2013 Thanks for all todays suggestions, even though they are too late as I've already been!Anyway, back to yesterday. Not only money, but time was limited too. I wish I'd posted this a couple of days previously, so would've had more time to do my homework, instead of going armed with a piece of paper with everyones recommendations, but failing to pinpoint the exact locations.My cousin arrived hungry & thirsty, so wasn't interested in my list, only the nearest pub!I've been to Food for Thought before, being veggie, and he would have suffered the lack of meat if it wasn't for the fact that they serve no alcohol either.So, first port of call 'The Crown & Anchor', Neal St., where he had a nice BLT sandwich.But what's with the wine only being served in 175ml measures at ?5.50 per glass?So, we spent the next couple of hours savouring the atmosphere of the area, complete with a 'live' band and street entertainers & checking out the pubs wine lists.All the Taylor Walker pubs in the area only do 175ml glasses, obviously trying to make people spend more, or buy the whole bottle (which we didn't want)I actually had my heart set on 'Bistro 1', but it was too early to eat so we set off down Maiden Lane, passed 'Rules', complete with a doorman & way too posh and found 'The Porterhouse'. Nice, casual, drinking pub with seats out front in the sun & loads of space inside. Also, served wine in 250ml measures at around ?5.50, so spent an hour there, relaxing & watching the world go by.Still too early to eat so had another wander, but by now the after-work drinking brigade began to descend & were starting to spill onto the pavements. I still wanted to head back to 'Bistro 1' but we were not that close & it was a case of scrambling into the first place we came to where we could actually get in the door!So, had nice dinner in the upstairs section of 'The Bear & Staff' on Charing Cross Rd. A 'Nicholsons' pub, so yes, a chain, but couldn't fault the food or the service.To anybody running down a chain, some are rubbish, but some are actually good, especially if on tight budget.Thanks for all the advice. Will definitely visit 'Bistro 1' at a later date :) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/33868-eating-in-covent-gardenrecommendations/#findComment-659422 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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