Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
up with City types at lunchtime downing pints of Wandle ale from Battersea brewery,
Sambrook, and tucking into soup of the day (£5.50); fish and chips (£11.95); and pies
(£10.50). Up the spiral staircase, the dining room is a more serious affair with an
extended menu, and attracts more serious diners. Propose the deal over halibut with
clam chowder sauce, or lamb rump with celeriac purée and crispy potatoes, then clinch
it with apple crumble. At weekends it's popular with families and groups of friends.
76 Paul St., EC2.
&
020/7729-9270.
www.theprincessofshoreditch.com. Main courses £11.95-£18, set
lunch 2 courses £14, 3 courses £18. AE, MC, V. Mon-Thurs noon-3pm and 6:30-10pm; Fri noon-3pm and
6-10:30pm; Sat-Sun 10am-4:30pm and 6-10:30pm. Tube: Old St.
Inexpensive
Albion
TRADITIONAL BRITISH/CAFE Sir Terence Conran's Boundary Project is
all-embracing: Within the trendy
Boundary hotel
(p. 193) there's a smart basement res-
taurant, summer rooftop terrace bar, and the Albion ground-floor shop, bakery, and cafe.
Don't be fooled by the retro decor with its wood and leather banquettes, industrial lights,
and white tiles. Despite its description as a “caff,” this is really a posh cafe where the punt-
ers wear trendy trainers rather than cloth caps. Being Sir Terence, it's all extremely well
done. You can eat all day on good old British classics—omelet; potted shrimps; devilled
kidneys; or rump steak. Free Wi-Fi is the icing on the steamed syrup pudding.
2-4 Boundary St., E2.
&
020/7729-1051.
www.albioncaff.co.uk. No reservations. Main courses £8.75-
£13.50. AE, MC, V. Daily 8am-midnight. Tube: Liverpool St./Train: Shoreditch High St.
Song Que
VIETNAMESE Kingsland Road remains the headquarters of London's
Vietnamese restaurants, so there is plenty of competition in the area. Song Que holds
its own—although not for its decor, which is more garish cafe than chic London venue.
The vast menu includes reliable
pho
noodle soups with the well-flavored, aromatic
broth full of meat and herbs. Barbecued quail is another favorite for its deeply satisfy-
ing, well-cooked meat. At night the lines are long; the best time to go is at lunch.
134 Kingsland Rd., E2.
&
020/7613-3222.
Main courses £4.50-£6.20. MC, V. Mon-Sat noon-3pm and
5:30-11:30pm; Sun 12:30-11pm. Train: Hoxton.
WHITECHAPEL
Inexpensive
Tayyabs
INDIAN This Pakistani/Punjabi-inspired restaurant goes from
strength to strength. In a former Victorian pub, it's on two levels and near enough to
the City for savvy bankers to make it their local lunch spot. Tayyabs' gutsy food at low
prices makes it a welcome change from the more tourist-orientated Brick Lane Indian
restaurants. Punjabi meat curries, flavorful kebabs, and their now well-known mari-
nated lamb chops are the staples; or go for the daily specials.
83 Fieldgate St., E1.
&
020/7247-9543.
www.tayyabs.co.uk. Main courses £6-£10. AE, MC, V. Daily
noon-11:30pm. Tube: Aldgate East or Whitechapel.
BETHNAL GREEN
Very Expensive
Viajante
CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN When he was performing culi-
nary miracles at various East London venues, Portuguese-born Nuno Mendes was the
darling of diners desperately seeking the next big thing. Now he's resurfaced inside
the
Town Hall Hotel
(p. 194). In a restaurant with a kitchen so open it feels like
you're in somebody's living room, this El Bulli-trained chef serves dishes that will
either knock your socks off or leave you scratching your head. From the first
amuse
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