Newlyweds Saffron Brown Powell and Adrian Brown have turned their passion for eating out into a popular blog, twitter feed and Facebook page, all under the name of WE LOVE FOOD (IT’S ALL WE EAT). They review restaurants all over London, and have interviewed some of the city’s top chefs, so are the perfect people to quiz on where to eat in England’s capital city…
What are your favorite restaurants in London right now?
The Hawksmoor Spitalfields Bar for amazing Poutine, short rib French Dip and excellent cocktails. Pitt Cue for ribs, Pulled Pork Bun, Lamb Nuggets and Smoked Chicken Thighs (don’t worry vegetarians, they have grilled baby gem lettuce too). Polpo for Venetian small plates, their pork and fennel meatballs are wonderful. Dishoom in Covent Garden and now Shoreditch, mouth-watering Indian street food, one of our most loved restaurants. For spectacular views across London, head to Duck & Waffle at Heron Tower, which is open 24 hours! A great pre-theatre restaurant located in central London is the Northall.
Are there any local specialties that people really should try when visiting London?
Good old pie and mash at Manzes (there are several locations), Battersea Pie Station in Covent Garden and Camden. London is flipping burgers pretty well at the moment… MEATliquor is dark and grungy, and has the best burgers in town if you don’t mind lining up for them, and Tommi’s Burger Joint are both located near Selfridges on Oxford Street. There is great street food to be tried at Eat St Kings Cross or the Street Feast night market, which has everything from ribs to hot dogs.
Ultimately, nothing says British like a roast dinner, for that try The Duke Of Wellington near Marylebone.
What is your favorite hole in the wall joint that most people won’t have heard of?
The Major of Scaredy Cat Town, a secret bar within The Breakfast Club restaurant in Spitalfields, entered via a Smeg fridge, and only when saying ‘I’m here to see the mayor’. Yes, really! Or, the teeny tiny Bradley’s Spanish Bar on Hanway Street, behind the chaos of Oxford Street.
Where can you get a decent breakfast in central London?
The Hawksmoor, (as above), Nopi, The Riding House Café, Dishoom (as above) for something different, such as a bacon naan roll washed down with a warming Chai. If visiting the Tate Modern, The Table is a must for a hearty brunch.
And the best cup of coffee?
Notes at Trafalgar Square, Kaffeine just by Oxford Circus, and TAP Coffee which has three locations in Central London.
Are there any specialty stores you’d advise that foodies visit to get British food to take home?
There is an abundance of great food markets, such as Maltby Street, Whitecross Street, Brockley Market, Broadway Market and Borough Market. Or, if you want to splash out, the food hall at Fortnum & Mason.