Not the most pleasant word in the dictionary, but a dinner at Beast King Crab & Steak Restaurant is surely one of the most memorable dinners we’ve had at London. Fans of the ever-popular Burger & Lobster would know that Beast Restaurant is the other brainchild of the same owner, and it is a five-month-old joint that is the talk of the town.

It is similar, yet very different. Beast Restaurant is a posh outlet in Marylebone, and it is a stunning underground restaurant for diners of the after-dark. Longitudinal log tables and seats fill the indoor sitting area, together with endless candles to light up the restaurant. It felt like we stepped right in to a scene from Phantom of The Opera – the regal British atmosphere is second to none. The open kitchen makes the place less intimidating and we had fun exchanging banters with the chefs. The team of wait staff stands all around the space, ever ready to serve.

Be seated, have a drink, and the staff will brief you about how Beast Restaurant works. There is no menu. At £75 per person, you are in for a feast that is fit for even the biggest beast. Like many other things in London that will shock you with its price tag, this dinner is an indulgence, one that only those with a raw love for premium steak and Norwegian red king crab will covet. If you are willing to splurge, Beast Restaurant will promise you a theatrical and gastronomical experience.

And the night began with an appetiser of cheese platter for us. Presented in a hacked cheese wheel, dig in to crumbly good cheese and savour them with the accompanying olives and artichoke.

The succeeding salads come in different variations – every one so fresh and tasty. Beetroot and roasted potatoes, French beans and plump tomatoes, each salad came in a lovely portion and the plates fast filled our table. Refills are available and free of charge, and if you love beetroot as much as we do, one serving is definitely not enough.

But save some space for the stars of the show – Norwegian Red King Crab and Angus Beef. The sheer size of the crab was jaw-dropping for all of us at our table of four, and the slab of steak was so thick and perfectly medium rare – just the way we had wanted it. And we were to understand why the dinner was well worth the £75/pax we paid.

The king crab was the freshest we ever had, every leg so long with full chunks of sweet flesh. It was so good that we almost forgot that it came with condiments. We would suggest eating the crab on its own, but they taste marvellous too with the accompanying herb butter sauce and Thai sweet chili dip.

And we cannot get over how beastly the steak was! No pun intended. We spoke with the chefs and learned that each steak requires an average cooking time of 40 minutes – depending on the customer’s preferred doneness – and another 5 minutes of cooling down before it is served to pamper palates.

You get either a USDA Rib Eye or Striploin, or both if you have a group of four and more. The doneness can be done separately if not all diners have the same preference, but medium rare is the most ideal to fully enjoy the creaminess of the beef.

Think the show is over? Not really, because everyone needs some sugar for the soul. The daily desserts differ, but the mainstay – a very groundbreaking one – is the deconstructed cheesecake that we polished off despite the fact that we were already so bloated after our starters and mains. We were not told that desserts were to be served, but boy were we glad all the same. A very intricate creation, Beast Restaurant’s version of deconstructed cheesecake is presented like a work of art, and tasted better than it looked. Even our friend who is not usually a fan of sweets was wowed by it and couldn’t resist helping himself to more!

We went in starved, and left very stuffed. And very impressed with dinner. We love Beast Restaurant, as with Burger & Lobster. The owner is brilliant and he must feel so proud with two very successful concepts. The idea is to be so damn good at one thing, and leave people with no choice but to try it to complete their lives. And Beast Restaurant has done exactly just that.

Beast Restaurant
3 Chapel Place
London, W1G 0BG
Tel: +44 20 7495 1816
Nearest Station: Bond Street/Oxford Circus

Fine dining is a flourishing business in London, with countless of hopeful fancy restaurants competing endlessly to be at the forefront of this extravagant trade. From United Kingdom’s highest restaurant to the regular hangout of Kate Moss, these extraordinary places will make your dining experience worth every pound. Here are 5 of the best fine dining restaurants in London that you must dine at.

Duck and Waffle

Dining at Duck and Waffle is truly an extravaganza. Upon entering Heron Tower, feel your pulses quicken as you are transported to the 40th level in 12 seconds. Its prime location on the 40th floor and offers an unrivalled panorama view of the capital of United Kingdom. What is most astonishing is that the modern European restaurant-cum-bar is open 24/7!

As its name suggests, Duck and Waffle’s signature dish is Duck and Waffle – A tender duck confit complemented with a fried duck egg and maple-strewn waffle. Photography is prohibited when celebrities happen to dine in the restaurant.

Heron Tower
110 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4AY
Tel: +44 20 3640 7310
Daily: 6am – 11am, 11.30am – 4.30pm, 5.30pm – 12 midnight
Nearest Station: Liverpool Street

Gauthier

Gauthier Soho is a multi-award winning restaurant that offers marvelous food at very affordable prices. Their prices remain humble despite having been featured in reputable press such as The New York Times and being bestowed a Michelin-star in 2011.

Believe it or not, two-course set lunches at Gauthier start from as low as £18 per head! The French brasserie is located in a homely setting and patrons have to ring the doorbell before being led upstairs to the dining area. Gauthier Soho certainly deserves to regain its Michelin star for its excellent food, gorgeous interiors and lovely staff.

21 Romilly Street
London W1D 5AF
Tel: +44 20 7494 3111
Mon: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Tue to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Leicester Square

Hakksan

Hakksan was the first Chinese restaurant to be awarded a Michelin-star and till this very day, its prestigious star remains. Famous designer Christian Liaigre is the brainchild behind the dimly lit grand dining area, which grants patrons a sense of romantic intimacy.

Hakksan’s classy ambience and impressive dishes have revolutionized Londoners’ impression of Chinese food. The menu consists of traditional Cantonese cuisine with a Western twist. Start with their four-style dim sum platter, which consists of mouthwatering delicate fusion dumplings.

8 Hanway Place
Fitzrovia, UK W1T 1HD
Tel: +44 20 7907 1888
Mon to Wed: 12pm – 3.30pm, 6pm – 12.30am
Thu & Fri: 12pm – 3.30pm, 6pm – 12.45am
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 4.30pm, 6pm – 12.45am
Nearest Station: Green Park/Bond Street

Pearl Liang

British restaurant critic Giles Coren had given this thumbs up on Pearl Liang’s lobster noodles a few years ago and till date, the dish remains a hot favourite. After having a few bites of the aromatic dish, we had to agree with him.

Chunks of fresh lobster meat and chewy noodles dipped in the fragrant thick sauce had us sold. While prices are slightly steep (expect to pay two times more than what you pay in China Town), the aesthetics do make up for it. End your meal with the delicious deep fried chrysanthemum custard buns, which comes in a set of three.

8 Sheldon Sq
Paddington, UK W2 6EZ
Tel: +44 20 7289 7000
Daily: 12noon – 11pm
Nearest Station: Paddington

The Wolseley

While we will never be royals, the nearest experience of being one would be dining at The Wolseley. The grand European café’s stunning Venetian-Gothic architecture was once home to a prestigious car showroom in 1921.

Today, it is famed for its breakfast menu, especially the eggs benedict. During high tea, your eyes are in a treat as assortment of fluffy sandwiches, jam-filled scones and sweet cakes are stacked onto three tier stands. British celebrities are in favour of this glorious place and Kate Moss is the most frequently spotted one.

160 Piccadilly
Mayfair, UK W1J 9EB
Tel: +44 20 7499 6996
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Green park

About the writer
Hui Jun Ng was previously a marketing executive and freelance photographer in the food industry. Her work has been published on Epicure, Lifestyle Asia and Meld Magazine etc. She is currently on a break and traveling around the world. Follow her travel adventures on Instagram or The Keepers Map where she shares useful curated travel itineraries.

When I was planning my trip to London, there was only one goal – to squeeze in as many good meals as possible into my itinerary, and I am happy to tell you that I managed to check out most of the places on my to-eat list. The next time you are in London, I hope this guide on Where to Eat in London will be helpful.

Burger & Lobster

If there could only be one place for me to recommend, this would be it. The concept of Burger & Lobster is brilliant. There are only three items on the menu – burger, lobster and lobster roll – and at £20 each, they represent fantastic value. A whole fresh lobster grilled to perfection, a generous bowl of lemon butter dip, and served with a side salad and a bucket of fries – all for only £20?

It has the winning formula: a sexy crowd, delicious cocktails, unpretentious and fun atmosphere, and brilliant food at an unbeatable price.

36 Dean Street, Greater London W1D 4PS
Tel: +44 20 7432 4800
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Leicester Square

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

If you are a fan of Chef Heston Blumenthal – chef and owner of The Fat Duck – you should drop by Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the swanky Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park. Go there for their three-course sample menu during lunch, which is reasonably priced at £36.

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA
Daily: 12pm -2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Knightsbridge

Fernandez and Wells

When you are in Soho, you should go to Fernandez and Wells for a coffee. They have three locations – Beak Street, Lexington Street and St Anne’s Court – in the area, so I am sure you can find them easily.

73 Beak Street, London W1F 9SR
Tel: +44 20 7287 8124
Mon to Fri: 7.30am – 6pm
Sat: 9am – 6pm
Sun: 10am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus

Flat White

Another cafe in Soho to go for coffee is Flat White, a small and humble artisanal coffee joint which aims to bring good coffee to London.

17 Berwick Street, London, Greater London W1F 0PT
Tel: +44 20 7734 0370
Mon to Fri: 8am – 7pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

Four Seasons Duck

Four Seasons Restaurant serves many Cantonese dishes, but what keeps people going back again and again is the legendary roast duck.

84 Queensway London, Greater London W2 3RL
Tel: +44 20 7229 4320
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bayswater

Hawksmoor

One of the most popular steakhouses in London, Hawksmoor has several branches in town, but we went to the new branch at Air Street, which is just a 2-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus station. Given the proximity to the theatres, it has a very value-for-money Express Menu for pre-theatre dining (5pm – 6.30pm), and post-theatre dining (10-11pm). A 3-course menu with a 250g ribeye as the main course is only £26.

5a Air Street, London W1J 0AD
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 10.30pm
Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Sun: 12pm – 10.30pm
Tel: +44 20 7406 3980
Nearest Station: Picadilly Circus

Hix

This is a good place to sample Mark Hix’s signature seasonal British cooking in a stylish atmosphere. Some of the items on the main course menu include Ground Rib Steak Burger (£16.95), Glenarm Lamb Cutlets (£23.50) and Moyallon Bacon Chop (£18.75), but we would recommend the Hanger Steak with Baked Bone Marrow (£19.95). There is also a very hip underground bar where you can go for pre-dinner cocktails.

66-70 Brewer Street, London, W1F 9UP
Tel: 020 7292 3518
Daily: 12pm – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus

Hummingbird Bakery

A trip to London would not be complete without having the legendary red velvet cupcake from Hummingbird Bakery. Enough said. Do yourself a favour and pick up a red velvet cupcake; they make the world’s best red velvet cupcake, and few things in life are as satisfying as sinking your teeth into the moist and crumble red cupcake.

155a Wardour Street, Soho Square, London W1F 8WG
Tel: +44 20 7851 1795
Mon to Sat: 9.30pm – 8pm
Sun: 10am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road

Jamie’s Italian

Jamie Oliver needs no introduction. Jamie’s Italian serves rustic and comforting Italian fare at prices that will not burn a hole in the pocket. Pastas are available from £6 – £15, and most main courses are under £20.

11 Upper St Martin’s Lane, London WC2H 9FB
Tel: +44 20 3326 6390
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 11.30pm
Sat: 11.30am – 11.30pm
Sun: 12pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Covent Garden

Koya

This Japanese eatery in Soho attracts a long crowd during meal times – from tourists who have heard about this place from travel guides and blogs, to Asians seeking comfort food while being across the globe from home.

Koya is listed in our Top 10 Cheap Eats in London.

49 Frith Street, London, Greater London W1D 4SG
Tel: +44 20 7434 4463
Daiiy: 12pm – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road

L’Eto Caffe

And then, there is L’eto that sits on the same street as Hummingbird Bakery. They have an insane display of daily fresh bakes, and it is almost frustrating to pick just one. Every item baked and assembled with love, and you can almost smell the pastry chefs’ passion in every piece. The best part? They are very affordable.

155 Wardour Street, London W1F 8WG
Tel: +44 20 7494 4991
Mon to Tue: 8am – 9pm
Wed to Sat: 8am – 11pm
Sun: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road

Little Social

For those of you who cannot get a table at Pollen Street Social, head to Little Social – Jason Atherton’s new restaurant that is just over the road from the original.

5 Pollen Street, London, Greater London W1S 1NE
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

Lola’s Bakery

When I asked for suggestions on Instagram for the best cupcake bakery in London, many people told me to try Lola’s Bakery. I have to say that the recommendations are spot on. The cupcakes from Lola’s are moist and very delicious. Definitely one of the best cupcakes in London.

16 Lansdowne Row, Berkeley Square, London W1J 8QF
Tel: +44 20 7495 6166
Mon to Fri: 9am – 7pm
Sat: 10am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Green Park

Maison Bertaux

Maison Bertaux, one of the oldest patisseries in London, is our go-to place for afternoon tea. They offer many beautiful cakes and pastries, but our favourite is their almond croissant.

28 Greek Street, London, Greater London W1D 5DQ
Tel: +44 20 7437 6007
Mon to Sat: 8.30am – 11pm
Sun: 9.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Leicester Square

Ottolenghi

Ottolenghi is one place in London that sets a smile on my face because each visit sees me swooning over their amazing array of desserts and pastries. You will know why when you are there.

Ottolenghi is listed in our Top 10 Cheap Eats in London.

63 Ledbury Road, London W11 2AD
Tel: +44 20 7727 1121
Mon to Fri: 8am – 8pm
Sat: 8am – 7pm
Sun: 8.30am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Bayswater

Pollen Street Social

Pollen Street Social by Chef Jason Atherton is one of the places that I have always wanted to try. After eating there, I am delighted to say that it lives up to its billing. Pollen Street Social serves a very good value-for-money set lunch (2-course for £26, 3 course for £29.50), which I highly recommend. It is a good way to dine there without breaking the bank.

8/10 Pollen Street, London W1S 1NQ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7290 7600
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

Polpo

In London, there are many great restaurants that serve simple and delicious food in a casual and lively atmosphere, and Polpo is one of them.

Polpo is modelled as a Londoner’s interpretation of a bacaro – a typical Venetian tavern that dishes out simple food and good local wines. Think of it as an Italian version of tapas restaurant where you order small plates and drinks to unwind after a long day at work. Prices here are affordable; all the tapas are under £10.

41 Beak Street, London W1F 9SB, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7734 4479
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 10.45pm
Sun: 12pm – 3.45pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

Pitt Cue Co

Pitt Cue Co is one of those no-reservation restaurants in London, and it is not because they are playing hard to get, but because they only have 30 seats. The food here is not rocket science; just good ol’ American barbecue.

With limited seating capacity, this is a quick service restaurant and not a place to linger. If you do not mind waiting in line, what you get in return is a hearty meal at very decent prices.

Pitt Cue Co is listed in our Top 10 Cheap Eats in London.

1 Newburgh Street, London W1F 7RB
Tel: +44 20 7287 5578
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

Punch and Judy

For a traditional British pub experience, go to Punch & Judy. This pub is where people go to grab a bite and have some drinks after work. The Sunday Roast, in particular, was hearty and satisfying.

40 The Market, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8RF
Tel: +44 20 7379 0923
Mon to Sat: 10am -11pm
Sun: 12pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Covent Garden

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

Gordon Ramsay’s recent appearance in Singapore is a testament to his popularity. Love him or hate him, he is a character and with so many restaurants under his name, there is bound to be one that you will like. The set lunch at his flagship Restaurant Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road is only £55 for a 3-course menu – surely a steal for a three Michelin star restaurant.

68 Royal Hospital Road, London, Greater London SW3 4HP
Tel: +44 20 7352 4441
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.15pm
Nearest Station: Sloane Square

Roast Restaurant

If you are going to the famous Borough Market on the weekend, start off with a hearty brunch at Roast Restaurant. Perched above the Market, Roast uses seasonal ingredients to create classic British cooking.

Borough Market, Stoney Street, London, Greater London SE1 1TL
Tel: +44 845 034 7300
Mon to Fri: 7am – 11pm, 12pm – 3.45pm, 5.30pm – 10.45pm
Sat: 8.30am – 11.30pm, 12pm – 3.45pm, 6pm – 10.45pm
Sun: 11.30am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: London Bridge

Most food lovers should be familiar with Chef Jason Atherton — who was formerly working for Gordon Ramsay at the highly-acclaimed Maze restaurant. Within the past two years, he has slowly built up his restaurant empire around the world. Some of his restaurants include 22 Ships in Hong Kong, Table No 1 in Shanghai, Esquina and Pollen restaurant in Singapore, and of course, Pollen Street Social in London – the first restaurant that he opened back in 2011 after leaving Gordon Ramsay.

I have heard a lot about Pollen Street Social from friends who are staying in London, and have always wanted to dine at the restaurant. After having a meal there, I am delighted to say that it lives up to its billing.

Pollen Street Social serves a well-priced set lunch (2-course for £26 and 3-course for £29.50). The set menu is small and concise, with three options under each category. We began with a refreshing Colchester crab salad, English asparagus, citrus, radish salad. Also good was a beautiful slow cooked egg with mushrooms on toast and crispy wild cabbage.

Following which, we had a Roasted Cornish Hake cooked in red wine, and accompanied by broccoli stem, cockles, crispy quinoa and whipped artichoke. The fish was fresh and tender, but what worked wonders for the dish was how the crispy quinoa and whipped artichoke complemented the fish.

The other main course was the perfectly-cooked Muntjac Deer with beetrot, red onions, puree potatoes, with smoked beetroot juice.

A pre-dessert of Pear sorbet with vanilla cream was served to cleanse the palate. To round off the meal, we opted for the Tiramisu. It was a deconstructed rendition consisting of chocolate sponge, Italian biscuit, Kahlua jelly, chocolate, mascarpone and chocolate sorbet. It was, in essence, a brilliant pairing in terms of textures and flavours.

The set lunch menu changes periodically, so most of the items that we had are no longer available. But you can be assured that the food at Pollen Street Social is always up to standard.

There are many fantastic restaurants in London that offer excellent set lunches, but I would venture to say that Pollen Street Social has one of the most value-for-money options in town. For something more substantial, go for the 8-course tasting menu at £79.

Pollen Street Social
8/10 Pollen Street
London W1S 1NQ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7290 7600
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

Good Chinese food and restaurants are aplenty in London, but I have always found a general lack of variety in the food they serve. Whilst the food are tasty, finding the same few items on the menu in most restaurants can leave one relatively bored of Chinese cuisine after a while. So, you ask, where can one satisfy a Chinese cuisine craving and be pleasantly surprised by the meal at the same time? Well, if you are willing to splurge a little, I’d definitely recommend HKK London.

Opened by the international Hakkasan group of restaurants, HKK serves modern Cantonese cuisine that errs on the edge of fusion cuisine, but yet manages to retain its strong Asian flavours. HKK has adopted the concept of a blind-tasting menu, with 15 courses for dinner at £95 per person and a shorter 8 course version for lunch at £48. If you wish, you can ask for the menu beforehand, but the anticipation of the next dish definitely makes the meal more exciting.

The menu changes regularly, but for ours, we were presented with a total of 7 appetizers, 1 palate cleanser, 4 main courses, and 3 desserts. As with most tasting menus, certain dishes stood out more than others, but the overall standard of food was very high. Out of the fifteen dishes we had, these, in my opinion, were the highlights:

There is usually a certain guilty pleasure involved in eating Peking duck because of the unhealthy layer of skin and fat. With HKK’s version of the Cherry wood roasted Peking duck, however, the sinfulness was worth every bite. The duck meat was well roasted, and the sauce was not too sweet.

The Dim Sum trilogy comes up top, perhaps only second to the wagyu beef. Served in a bamboo basket, the waiter told us to use the paintbrush to coat the dimsum sparingly in the soy sauce. Think dimsum reinvented: notes of truffle were infused inside the different types of skins (one in pastry and another in fried skin) and each had a distinct taste from the others. I can safely say this is the best dimsum I have ever had.

Many people have tried lobster noodles in London, but HKK’s Wok-fried lobster with pan-mee takes the cake. At first glance, it looks more like lobster pasta, but they actually use the kind of yellow noodles you would find in wanton mee. I finished the noodles in a few mouthfuls, and was left imagining how wonderful it would be to have this lobster noodle served in full size portions as per other Chinese restaurants.

One word to describe the Jasmine tea-smoked wagyu beef: perfection. It is hard to explain how stellar the beef was. Simply saying that it was tender, fragrant, and flavourful, hardly does the dish any justice. I definitely wished that I could have had a second portion of it, or maybe even a third.

At the end of our meal, the head chef presented each of us with a stamped copy of our menu that night, as if to congratulate us on the completion of the meal. Indeed, a fifteen-course dinner may sound daunting, but with miniscule portions, we left the restaurant deeply satisfied, but not overly full. Dining at HKK was indeed a remarkable experience, and I would highly recommend it for a memorable night out.

HKK London
Broadgate West, 88 Worship Street
London EC2A 2BE
Tel: 44 (0) 20 3535 1888

About the writer:
Amanda is a Singaporean with a passion for good food, fashion, and travelling. She is currently attending boarding school in the United Kingdom, and looks forward to many such new experiences after she begins university next year. Follow her adventure on instagram.