EATING IN LONDON - London 2015 - page 657

ers, and London's gay community. Even if you plan to have dinner elsewhere, it's a treat
just to wander around Soho. (For a guided visit, see my West End Walk.)
Note: While gentrification has mostly stripped this area (no pun intended) of its
former “red light district” vibe, a few pockets of sex for sale survive. Beware of the ex-
tremely welcoming women standing outside the strip clubs (especially on Great Windmill
Street). Enjoy the sales pitch—but know that only fools fall for the “ £ 5 drink and show”
lure.
On and near Wardour Street, in the Heart of Soho
(See “Central London Eateries” map, here .)
Running through the middle of Soho, rumbling past what's left of the strip-club zone,
Wardour Street is ground zero for creative restaurateurs hoping to break into the big
leagues. Strolling up this street—particularly from Brewer Street northward—you can take
your pick from a world of options: Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Italian, French and
even...English. Not yet tarnished by the corporatization creeping in from areas to the south,
this drag still seems to hit the right balance between trendy and accessible. While I've lis-
ted several choices below (including some that are a block or two off Wardour Street),
simply strolling the length of the street and following your appetite to the place that looks
best is a great plan.
Princi is a vast, bright, efficient, wildly popular Italian deli/bakery with Milanese
flair. Along one wall is a long counter with display cases offering a tempting array of pizza
rustica, panini sandwiches, focaccia, a few pasta dishes, and desserts (look in the window
from the street to see their wood-fired oven in action). Order your food at the counter, then
find a space at a long shared table; or get it to go for an affordable and fast meal ( £ 7-13
meals, Mon-Sat 8:00-24:00, Sun 8:30-22:00, 135 Wardour Street, tel. [phone]).