EATING IN LONDON - London 2015 - page 650

Road, as well as outlets on Rupert Street, and on Haymarket—both a block from Picca-
dilly Circus, within Selfridges and Harvey Nichols department stores, in the Whiteleys
Shopping Centre on Queensway, and in several major train stations.
Ask and Pizza Express serve quality pasta and pizza in a pleasant, sit-down atmo-
sphere that's family-friendly. Jamie's Italian (from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver) is hipper
and pricier, and feels more upmarket.
Carry-Out Chains
While the following places might have some seating, they're best as an easy place to grab
some prepackaged food on the run.
Major supermarket chains have smaller, offshoot branches that specialize in sand-
wiches, salads, and other prepared foods to go. These can be a picnicker's dream come
true. Some shops are stand-alone, while others are located inside a larger store. The
most prevalent—and best—is M&S Simply Food (an offshoot of the Marks & Spencer
department-store chain; there's one in every major train station). Sainsbury's Local gro-
cery stores also offer some decent prepared food; Tesco Express and Tesco Metro run a
distant third.
Some “cheap and cheery” chains, such as Pret à Manger, Eat, Apostróphe, and Pod
provide office workers with good, healthful sandwiches, salads, and pastries to go. Among
these, Eat has a reputation for slightly higher quality...and higher prices.
West Cornwall Pasty Company and Cornish Bakehouse sell a variety of these tra-
ditional savory pies for around £ 3—as do many smaller, independent bakeries.
PUBS
Pubs are a basic part of the British social scene, and, whether you're a teetotaler or a beer-
guzzler, they should be a part of your travel here. “Pub” is short for “public house.” It's
an extended living room where, if you don't mind the stickiness, you can feel the pulse
of London. Smart travelers use the pubs to eat, drink, get out of the rain, watch sporting
events, and make new friends.
Though hours vary, pubs generally serve beer Monday-Saturday 11:00-23:00 and
Sunday 12:00-22:30, though many are open later, particularly on Friday and Saturday. As
it nears closing time, you'll hear shouts of “Last orders.” Then comes the 10-minute warn-
ing bell. Finally, they'll call “Time!” to pick up your glass, finished or not, when the pub
closes.
A cup of darts is free for the asking. People go to a public house to be social. They
want to talk. Get vocal with a local. This is easiest at the bar, where people assume you're