Simpson's-in-the-Strand
Part of the Savoy Hotel, Simpson's is a place for meat and fish lovers, though everyone will appreciate the stunningly ornate interior and air of times gone by. The place has been serving traditional food since 1828.
Porters English Restaurant
This Covent Garden favourite is extremely popular with tourists. Head to Porters if you fancy tucking into hearty, satisfying classics such as pies, cod and chips, and roast beef.
Notting Grill
The focus at Notting Grill is definitely on meat. Its owner is renowned chef and TV celebrity Anthony Worrell-Thompson. Rest assured you'll only get the best cuts, as he has searched the land for the finest livestock. Booking is essential.
Rhodes Twenty Four
If you're after views with your food, Rhodes Twenty Four delivers on both. Admire the cityscape and dig into haddock with crab kedgeree, Irish stew or globe artichoke. Don't leave without trying the jam roly poly!
Seashell
With its firm, flaky haddock and chunky chips, Seashell is a down-to-earth fish and chip restaurant, popular with locals and tourists alike. It can get busy but this only adds to the atmosphere.
Rock and Sole Plaice
Leave your diet at the door and dive in to the Rock and Sole Plaice for fine frying. Eat in or take away.
Rules
London's oldest restaurant is in the heart of Covent Garden. Serving up traditional British cuisine since 1798, Rules places an emphasis on game, oysters, pies and puddings.
St John
A traditional English eatery housed in a former smokehouse. St John specialises in what chef Fergus Henderson has termed "nose-to-tail eating", meaning that no part of meat is inedible.
Borough Market
A firm favourite with foodies, offering high quality, mainly organic meat, fish and veg, cheeses, bread, cakes and more. In fact, a shopping trip to Borough Market can fast become an entire day out as you wander through stalls, sampling the produce and enjoying the general bustle.
Spitalfields
While not strictly a food market, Spitalfields offers a wide range of organic fruit and veg, bread, cheese and meat. Sunday is the best day when there are also lots of arts and crafts stalls.
Belgo Centraal
Check out the fashionably funky chrome, factory-like interior and long tables at Belgo Centraal in Covent Garden. The "Mini Belgo" menu allows kids aged 12 or under to eat for free at all times (one child eats free per adult ordering a main meal from the a là carte menu). The main menu is Belgian in style with an emphasis on the country's specialty dish: moules and frites (mussels and chips).
