Bernice Hurst

Try Theresa Whittle at www.rangerorganics.co.uk. She may be able to help. Good luck. Bernice

I had two years of writing up reviewers' comments for the AA guide and would not advise anyone to rely on it.

While freely declaring my subjectivity and interest, I can honestly recommend Grazing, 19-21 Great Tower St. You can see the menu at grazingfood.com. I'm sure you will find something to enjoy and look forward to seeing a rave review afterwards. Bernice

Add my vote for all three - GFG, Good Pub Guide and Hardens. I would advise against the AA guide. For the two years I wrote up entries, many had not been visited and I had to rely on menu only with no guidelines from inspectors. This was several years ago, however, and they may have smartened up their act since then.

Overall I suspect, with your parameters, Brighton or Oxford may have more pressing claims. Yes to Oxford which meets all requirements other than the sea. But there is the river...

Has anyone been? ←

Great lunches available at Grazing, 19-21 Gt Tower St, right near Tower of London. See www.grazingfood.com and enjoy - you're bound to. quote=Chufi,Jan 28 2009, 08:02 AM] Hi all, I'll be in London for a weekend in mid-March. I'll be travelling with a group (about 11 women) who like good food but may not have it as their top priority (as I do). It's been years since I've been in London.. I could use some recommendations! Location is not really important since I expect we'll be all over the city for various sights/errands etc. But I would love to hear of some cool places that are not too expensive and where you can have a relaxed dinner with a group of 11 women. I realize that's a hard question, so here's a more specific one.. I'd like to have lunch on my own or maybe with just a couple of my companions, at a place that's really good, new, interesting, different, excellent, talked about. I've been browsing the board here but it's a bit confusing.. haven't found anything that stands out so far. And an even more specific question: has anyone been to the Petersham Nurseries lately, and what's your opinion? Is it worth the trek from London? Thanks! ←

Going past The Strand almost down to the Tower of London, great lunches to be had at Grazing, 19-21 Great Tower St. Eat in or takeaway to sit by the river or tower, rotisseried meats a speciality, all sandwiches made to order with or without your choice of (fantastically popular) crackling, stuffing, roast potatoes and veg or piled into a Yorkshire Pud. See Time Out for pix and fuller review or go to www.grazingfood.com. And enjoy your visit.

Have a look at Cotswold House Hotel in Chipping Camden. It was excellent when I stayed a few years back, still has a good reputation and the food in the hotel as well as several pubs in the town was pretty good.

Not in the areas you specified but north of Borough Market, Grazing, 19-21 Great Tower St. The coffee IS freshly ground and comes from Union Coffee Roasters. Menu includes fantastic stuff for breakfast or lunch especially bacon, sausage, black pudding or haggis sandwiches and roast meats with or without Yorkshire pud and all the trimmings.

I'm going back three years so maybe it has changed and improved but I would definitely advise against The Lanesborough. All the PR is about their wonderful butler service and how pampered all their guests are - maybe if they come in waving around £100 notes as tips or covered in bling or followed by a train of paparazzi. We were totally ignored even after calling down for information several times. And rip off doesn't even begin to cover the cost of a single glass of orange juice in the bar because our room wasn't ready on time (we were not early). Our kids booked what was supposed to be a very very special overnight stay and did not expect it to be memorable in the way it turned out to be. They even tried to give us a bill just minutes after my son had requested that it be given to him and not us.

Grazing, 19-21 Great Tower Street, EC3R 5AR - around the corner from Monument tube and a two minute walk from Tower of London. Brilliant roast meat sandwiches for lunch, eat in or takeaway, plus salads, baked stuff and what I can say with complete and utter bias is the absolute best breakfast in the City.

For the perfect venison burger, each and everyone handmade to order from Chilterns free range venison, try GRAZING, 19-21 Great Tower St, EC3R 5AR. (Or check it out first at www.grazingfood.com).

I don't know any of those you are considering but have heard excellent reports of Red Snapper. Good luck.

What memories you have revived. It was the venue for many special meals when I first came to England and met my husband 37 years ago. Having grown up in NYC, I thought I was used to Chinese food but this was a whole different cuisine. Not just toffee apples but my introduction to crispy duck in pancakes. Always a treat to go there but it would be miraculous if it was the same, or better, after all that time. I think I drove past it a year or two ago and was intrigued that it still existed but wouldn't dream of going in, preferring to leave the memories intact.

Actually, I was going to mention proofreading. There was at least one extraneous apostrophe. If people are careless with their own publicity material, it leads to questions about how careful they are with their other standards.

Just back from an excellent lunch, light and tasty, good food that was not too precious. Matt wasn't there, which was disappointing, but whoever cooked for us did a darned fine job. Much enjoyed start to finish - bread mentioned on another strand was especially good, fresh pasta delicate and fully flavoured with mushrooms, roasted tomatoes and parmesan shavings. Almond and gooseberry tart with vanilla ice cream was a perfect finish. Wouldn't normally have all three courses for lunch but as Mary, the restaurant manager, told us when we discussed choices, portions and dishes were chosen to make sure there was still room without bloating and needing a wheelbarrow to get back to the car. Mary and the waiter, whose name I'm sorry I didn't get, made us feel particularly welcome (possibly because no one else was there? I doubt it, I think they would have been as friendly even if rushed off their feet). It's been many years since my last visit and I thought the re-decoration was lovely, welcoming and comfortable. I look forward to going back in winter when the fire is lit although the garden looked particularly inviting for a warmer day than today. Oh yes, and fixed price menu was extremely good value, £10.95 for two courses plus £3.95 for the third.

If you're talking chain or group restaurants, there's also a Malmaison in Oxford which are usually a pretty safe bet click. ← Yes, sorry I forgot to mention that one. The atmosphere and entertainment value of this area and its redevelopment are pretty top notch, worth an hour or so to wander around although the admission price to the old Gaol is pretty steep.

There are actually a few possibilities. For posh nosh, definitely Le Manoir or The Vineyard at Stockcross (an easy drive from Oxford along A34 towards Newbury). In the City, but friendly rather than posh - Al Shami, Walton Crescent, neighbourhood Lebanese, good food though not elegantly presented (e.g. plate of fresh veg to start off with consists of WHOLE pepper, tomato, cucumber etc). Branca, Walton St, reasonable though not exceptional Italian Petit Blanc and Loch Fyne, also Walton St, also reasonable though not exceptional Gees, Banbury Road used to be good (and still is by reputation) but I haven't been there myself for several years The Old Parsonage has a good reputation Chang Mai also has a good/excellent reputation Shortish drives For quirky and fun, excellent Thai food - The Crazy Bear at Stadhampton (less than 20 minutes' drive) - one of my all time favourites (English/European food is also good but not as good as the Thai stuff). If you hit this one, make sure you have a good look around - atmosphere is great. The Crab, Chieveley (also not far off A34/M4 interchange at Newbury) The Trout at Tadpole Bridge (hard to find, best to check map or call them) For fun (but not food) in the City, try to find the Turf Tavern. Excellent OLD pub, down a little alley way accessible from Holywell St or New St. Have a good stay. Bernice

Four of us had lunch in the Savoy Grill in November and although it was pleasant and enjoyable, certainly not sensational. I've eaten several times at GR in Chelsea and it was always exceptional. Maze is also excellent; a very different (and fun) proposition.

Or create one as a legacy of your own.

Not sure whether the food will be any good or not but there used to be a walkway to the Hilton Hotel from the terminal. Good luck.

I've always thought that part of the idea, at least, was to get people in and impress them so much that they'd keep coming back and pay regular prices. Doesn't always work though. There is a celeb chef with a pub near here whose place is always jumping during prix fixe lunch and dinner hours then deserted the rest of the time. The whole idea only holds up if the food and service are good enough to convince people that it's worth paying more on another occasion.

Hi Kim - Yep, the chef and food are good and the location fantastic but the prices are horrific. I haven't been there for a couple of years now. It's also a good 30 minute drive from M40.