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Christmas shopping pit stops
Evening Standard 22.12.06
La Fromagerie in Moxon Street offers welcome respite for weary shoppers
Mid-scrum heaven: Yauatcha, in Broadwick Street
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Christmas shopping is hard on the imagination, the feet, the bank balance, and stress levels always soar. Finding somewhere for a revitalising pit stop can help make things less of an ordeal. Here is our guide to the best places to eat, drink and take time out from the rigours of Christmas shopping.
OXFORD STREET
The Kerala restaurant is a small family-run place just behind Oxford Circus serving South Indian food at bargain prices - the lunch buffet makes it ideal for a pit stop. Kerala, 15 Great Castle Street, W1 (020 7580 2125).
The Eagle Bar Diner is tucked away up Rathbone Place. Look forward to a very good burger and a restorative cocktail. Eagle Bar Diner, 3 Rathbone Place, W1 (020 7637 1418).
Ping Pong is a modern take on a dim sum restaurant (the perfect snack food). Enjoy the brisk service at one of the many counters throughout the afternoon. Ping Pong, 45 Great Marlborough Street, W1 (020 7851 6969).
MARYLEBONE HIGH STREET
Patricia Michelson's splendid mini food hall has a very decent café in its centre - communal table, very good cakes, very good cheese. La Fromagerie, 2 Moxon Street, W1 (020 7935 0341).
Caffe Caldesi is the more casual little sister to the other Caldesi restaurant just down the road. Italian food and a warm welcome. Caffe Caldesi, 118 Marylebone Lane, W1 (020 7935 1144).
The Woodlands chain stretches all the way from branches in India to several outposts in London. The South Indian vegetarian food served is top-notch snack food. Woodlands, 77 Marylebone Lane, W1 (020 7486 3862).
COVENT GARDEN
The Real Greek gang took over an old pub on Long Acre and turned it into one of their popular kebab houses. Good snack food, a glass of wine and back into the fray! The Real Greek Souvlaki, 60 Long Acre, WC2 (020 7240 2292).
There are a number of eating places on Neal's Yard, and the World Food Café is one of the most welcoming, offering vegetarian meals and somewhere to sit down. World Food Café, First Floor, Neal's Yard, WC2 (020 7379 0298).
Gaby's is an old-established pop-in spot with a mixture of Mediterranean dishes and Jewish classics. Soups are good and so is the salt beef. Gaby's, 30 Charing Cross Road, WC2 (020 7836 4233).
BROMPTON CROSS
The old-established Brasserie is something of an institution, with sound bourgeois French food at sensible prices available all through the afternoon. La Brasserie, 272 Brompton Road, SW3 (020 7584 1668).
At Awana, the very slick Malaysian showcase, the satay bar makes a lot of sense for a quick meal and serves the peanutty sauce with everything from chicken to tiger prawns. Awana, 85 Sloane Avenue, SW3 (020 7584 8880).
Tucked away in the large foyer of this converted garage, the oyster bar offers a range of light dishes as well as the featured oysters - very restorative! Bibendum Oyster Bar, 81 Fulham Road, SW3 (020 7589 1480).
SOHO/CHINATOWN
Alan Yau's dim sum shop downstairs offers very slick service and "instant" dining, while upstairs there's a specialist tea room that majors in charmingly exotic cakes. Yauatcha, 15 Broadwick Street, W1 (020 7494 8888).
The HK Diner offers very decent Cantonese food. It's quick, cheap and the vibe is more "diner" than HK. Choose from the good all-inabowl dishes. HK Diner, 22 Wardour Street, W1 (020 7434 9544).
Satsuma is a large and modern noodle restaurant, somewhat in the same vein as Wagamama but handily located in the centre of Soho. Cheap and cheerful. Satsuma, 56 Wardour Street, W1 (020 7437 8338).
EATING IN-STORE
Selfridges - try the mozzarella bar on the second floor - good salads, good charcuterie and amazingly good fresh mozzarellas. Selfridges has also just finished a re-vamp of the "Brass Rail", its salt beef bar (best Irish beef) now within the food hall. Obika Mozzarella Bar, in Superbrands, 2nd Floor, Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, W1 (08708 377377).
Fortnum & Mason - the 1707 wine bar downstairs in the new food hall offers simple dishes such as smoked eel with brandade and a light horseradish cream, or game pie with wild mushroom salad, also some stunning wines at magic prices (wine department retail prices plus £10). Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, W1 (020 7734 8040).
Nicole Fahri - Nicole's is the basement restaurant within the store, but it's one with plenty of style. The menu is created with those ladies who lunch front of mind, plenty of light, elegant dishes for light, elegant customers. Nicole's Restaurant, 158 New Bond Street, W1 (020 7499 8408).
Harrods - since the 1860s smart patissier Ladurée has been wowing them in Paris, more recently it has established a foothold on the first floor at Harrods. Very good cakes and an entire rainbow of their special macaroons. Ladurée at Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1 (020 3155 0111).
Harvey Nicols - The Fifth Floor at Harvey Nic's is given over to food and drink. As well as the slick bar and the pukka Fifth Floor restaurant there is the spacious Fifth Floor Café which serves very good light meals and excellent coffee. Fifth Floor Cafe, Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, W1 (020 7235 5000).
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