The food scene was one of the things I was most excited about in London. As I drew closer to my departure date, images and videos filled my social media feed depicting the wide variety of food London has to offer. While D.C. might have a great food scene, I knew London would be on another level. However, when I landed in London I was quickly overwhelmed. London has many bustling neighborhoods, each with dozens of popular restaurants. At first, I wasn’t sure where to go, I was scared I would pick the wrong place, especially since I did not know the city yet. However, I soon realized that this was an opportunity rather than something to be scared of. I could explore the food scene and use that as a way to also explore London.
On my first night in London, my friend and I ventured out to Soho for the first time to go to Koya, a quaint udon shop. Soho is in central London and is one of the busiest parts of the city. As we walked through Soho for the first time, we kept getting turned around; however, the energy of the city kept us upbeat and excited to explore. We ended up walking the same few blocks at least 10 times looking for the restaurant's entrance. While it was a bit confusing, the journey led us through the quieter streets of Soho, giving us a more personal view of London. We eventually made it to Koya and it was like nothing I had experienced in D.C.. The restaurant was small and long, most of the seats were situated around the wooden udon bar. It was filled with conversations, the clanging of pots and the rich aroma of the udon broth. While the food ended up not being my favorite, I did not feel like I had made a mistake. I had taken the first step in my London journey because I wanted to explore new restaurants.
This trend of going to restaurants but also exploring the local area still continues. While not every restaurant is a home-run, I always value the exposure it gives me to new parts of London. Reflecting on my time so far, some restaurants and neighborhoods truly stand out.
Dishoom (Shoreditch Location)
Dishoom was a take on Indian food I had never seen before. Was it the most authentic food ever? No, but that is what made it stand out to me. I have grown up on Indian food, both homemade and at restaurants. While the food has never been amazing, I had never seen my cultural food represented in a fun and modern way. Dishoom was able to pair comforting flavors with a unique presentation and an amazingly decorated restaurant—such an amazing culinary but also a cultural experience. Dishoom was also my first introduction to Shoreditch which has quickly become one of my favorite neighborhoods.
Flat Iron (Spitalfields Location)
From the second I saw the TikTok raving about Flat Iron’s £14 steaks, I knew I had to go. Although I had spent the first month trying various ethnic foods in London, I was starting to miss American food. Flat Iron was dimly lit and donned rustic brown decor. The menu was simple, consisting primarily of the £14 steak and a few sides. My friend and I got the steaks and shared some sides. The low prices made us weary of the food quality but we were blown away. While the steak was amazing, the stand out was the mashed potatoes, made with bone marrow and topped with crispy bits. The walk to the restaurant was also amazing. Spitalfields consists of a major market, filled with local artisans but also more established shops and cafes. After you pass through the market, you enter Old Spitalfields which is packed with restaurants and buzzing with the energy of the local pubs.
Côte (St. Pauls Location)
I don’t have much experience with French food so when my friends suggested we go to Côte, a French Brasserie, I was intrigued. The walk to the restaurant was beautiful. I had frequently passed through the St.Paul’s stop on the Central line but had never left the station. St.Paul’s is a beautiful cathedral with intricate details that genuinely take your breath away. At Côte, I decided to play it safe and get a bacon quiche, something I had before and have always mildly enjoyed. I did not have high expectations for the quiche as I deemed it a simple dish but I was wrong. The quiche was filled with creamy egg and bacon which was surrounded by a buttery and flaky crust. The fries were long, crispy and salty, something a bit rare in London. Finally, the salad was just mixed greens topped with light dressing but it was the perfect addition to the meal. The meal seemed basic but it was a beautifully crafted culinary experience.
I have loved exploring London’s food scene so far and I hope to keep trying new restaurants. I sometimes feel upset because I know these few months will not give me full access to the city’s food scene. However, I am trying to stay in the moment and enjoy the restaurants I am able to. So far, I have mainly explored Central and East London but am excited to venture into West London and learn about it through its food.
Reshma Chandy
GW England - Queen Mary University of London
Spring 2024
Columbian College of Arts & Sciences
Economics Major