Seattle, Washington hound in London for five days

[Tom Armitage]

I'm tagging along with my wife who is attending a conference at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel on Edgware Rd. We arrived last night (sorry for the short notice). An initial foray of the immediate Edgware/Paddington area has resulted in a tentative list that includes:

- Alarez
- Abu Zaad
- Satay House

I've heard mixed things about Mandalay Burmese. Any thoughts?

I'd appreciate any suggestions for places in the immediate area of my hotel that are worthier of my limited time here than the places listed above.

I'm also interested in fish & chips (not that Seattle is short on F&C places) and my current list includes The Golden Hind, Golden Fish Bar, and Sea Shell. If I have to choose one F&C place, are any of these worthy? Other suggestions?

For pubs in the area, The Chapel and The Victoria initially seem worthy. Are they? Are there any pubs worth travelling a greater distance to sample, like White Horse, Dove, or Bull and Last?

Finally, are there any places outside the Edgware/Paddington area that I should make the effort to get to because they offer something both delicious and unique that I'm unlikely to get in Seattle. Texture, for example, since there is no Icelandic cuisine in Seattle, that's for sure. There's virtually no type of food or specific food items that I don't like, so there's no limitations in this regard. Price is not irrelevant, but not a significant hurdle. A few other places that popped up during my research are Providores, Locanda Locatelli, Guinea Grill (pies), and Pearl Liang (xlb).

Any and all suggestions will be gratefully received. I'll report back on my experiences. Thanks.

[limster]

- In Paddington/Edgware Road area

Satay house is pretty good, as is Bonda Cafe, but lots of hounds that have been (I haven't) recommend the Malaysian student canteen run by the Malaysian embassy in Bayswater.

Cocomaya is an excellent bakery close to you, on Porchester Place.

Erebuni - Russian, Georgian and perhaps Armenian food cooked by an Armenian chef, near Lancaster Gate.

If you're willing to head out to Abu Zaad (haven't been but on list to try), might be worth going to Al Waha in Westbourne Grove as it is closer to you (20mins walk). Ice cream next door at L'Artisan du Chocolat is good, and the chocolate is not bad.

Dri Dri gelato on Portabello Road in Notting Hill is also worth a stop.

Have enjoyed Original Tagines (Marylebone) in the past for Moroccan food. But was last there a year ago. I remember the mezze being only ok (apparently Turkish chef), but the bastilla and tagines were good.

Texture was very enjoyable, but not every dish I had on the tasting menu was good. I remember the salmon being mushy, and the flavour combination in that dish seemed basic (e.g. horseradish being the predominant flavour), relying on pretty plating and novel textures to impress. The Icelandic cod however, was superb -- exceptional texture control in the oven, crispy and tender, and the jerusalem artichoke puree smooth, flavourful and rich.

For Italian, I was really impressed by the cheese plate at Ristorante Semplice (just south of Oxford Street), and their carpaccio was also excellent. On the expensive side.

- Beyond

Worth travelling for is Sedap for excellent Penang-style Nyona on Old Street. Unlikely to find in the cuisine in the US.

Bull and Last for food. White Horse for beer. I think both are worth the trip. But if travelling is tricky, a slight compromise would be the Duke of Wellington in Marylebone on Crawford Street, which is still very good for the food.

Hope that helps.

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Cocomaya
35 Connaught St, Paddington, Greater London W2 2, GB

Sedap
102 Old St, Islington, Greater London EC1V 9, GB

The White Horse
1-3 Parsons Green, London SW6 4UL, GB

[Tom Armitage]

Thanks for the great suggestions, limster. Sedap is securely on the list, as well as Bull and Last and White Horse. I checked the on-line menu of Texture, and have decided to pass on going there. Although I'm sure that some of the execution is very good, the nature of the food is too much like what I can get (or cook) at home in Seattle. Time permitting, I'll also try and check out Dri Dri Gelato, Cocomaya, and L'Artisan du Chocolat.

Thanks again for your help.

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Cocomaya
35 Connaught St, Paddington, Greater London W2 2, GB

[greeneggsnham]

Tom, I think I am at the same meeting as you- peds radiology?

Anyway- I also wanted to thank everyone for the reccs. Went by Cocomaya this morning. Adorable place and a quick walk from the conference. I got a delicious pistachio-chocolate croissant from the bakery, as well as some sea salt caramel spread to take back home. Unfortunately, the chocolate shop was not open, which means I might need to go back.

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Cocomaya
35 Connaught St, Paddington, Greater London W2 2, GB

[limster]

You're very welcome! Hope to read about what you think and do let us know if you uncover any new finds.

[zuriga1]

The Golden Hind is well thought of, but Master's Superfish near Waterloo has better chips and is the real McCoy. Providores is very popular as is Pearl Liang. It's really easy getting around London by Tube, but realize there is lots to choose from near your hotel (an area I don't know at all).

Mother of Redmond-based son :-)

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Pearl Liang
8 Sheldon Close, Bromley, Greater London SE20 8, GB

[Tom Armitage]

Thanks, Zuriga. Tonight, I ate dinner at Al Arez and was disappointed. It wasn't terrible, but I've had significantly better Lebanese food in Los Angeles and Glendale, California. So I'm not off to a great start. When I get back to Seattle, I'll give a virtual wave to your son.

[zuriga1]

I like Ishbilia for Lebanese food here, but you can try that next trip. It's often difficult coming to a city and there is such a preponderance of possibilities and we fly blind a bit. That's why Chowhound is such a help! Enjoy the rest of your days... Limster's tips are tops.