London’s Ethnic Cuisine

Is there anything besides fish and chips and mushy peas in London?

Yes. There is a wide variety of ethnic restaurants. I’d definitely return to the following places:

• Colbeh Iranian Restaurant, 6 Porchester Place, London (near Edgware Road) (www.colbeh.co.uk)

This small  restaurant is known for its “Persian comfort food”. At the front is a traditional Tanoor oven that is used to bake Naan bread.  People rave about the lamb shish kabobs and assorted lamb and chicken dishes, but the ample portioned vegetarian dishes should not be passed up.

If Thai food is what you’re looking for, try one of Busaba Eathai’s locations.

• Busaba Eathai 106-110 Wardour Street, London and other locations (www.busaba.com)

This restaurant serves a diverse and authentic menu of Thai salads, noodles, curries, and stir-fries.

Our group indulged in a cross section of vegetarian, fish, and meat dishes that met the individual needs of all. Everyone was delighted in the quality of the food that we tasted.

No matter where I travel, I usually stop somewhere for ice cream. While in Soho, we escaped another downpour by having a snack at Amorino.

• Amorino, 41 Old Compton Street, (Soho) London (http://www.amorino.com/en)

For another Mediterranean food fix, our traveling companions made a request to stop at Fairuz.

• Fairuz, 3 Blandford Street, (Marylebone) London (http://www.fairuzrestaurant.co.uk)

Shortly after being seated, our waiter placed a bowl of fresh vegetables (lettuce, carrots, tomato and green onions) on our table. We munched on the vegetables as we examined the menu. One vegetarian entree caught one of our companions attention.

We shared freshly made felafel that were tasty and crisp.

Another place to consider for felafel is Yalla Yalla (Beirut Street Food 12 Winsley Street www.yalla-yalla.co.uk).  I was recovering from jet lag and didn’t think to take any pictures at this cozy Lebanese restaurant after we waited close to an hour to be seated.

Italian food is usually a safe bet.  The freshly made pizza at Princi was delicious.

• Princi, 135 Wardour Street, London ( www.princi.com)

The pizza is served on the left side of the restaurant. The right side is for customers who want to indulge in a wide array of foods displayed in the cases- desserts, breads and assorted entrees. The coffee is an excellent accompaniment

After enjoying the marvelous play, Matilda, we raced across the street in a driving downpour to Kopapa for a light post theater meal. It was a perfect location.

•  Kopapa, 32-34 Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, Covent Garden, London (www.kopapa.co.uk)

This eclectic restaurant offers a small menu that is constantly changing. What is posted online today is different from what was available the beginning of June. The food was delightful, but the portions were on the smallish side.

For out last night, we dined at Dehesa- Charcuteri and Tapas Bar.

• Dehesa, 25 Ganton Street, London (www.dehesa.co.uk)

The Spanish and Italian influenced tapas dishes were designed to be shared. Our table was filled with a variety of items that matched the eclectic tastes of our group.

The next dish included a combination of baby artichokes, cime di rapa, goats curd and spicy almonds.

The dessert on the left had small delicate donuts that needed to be savored with the small dab of  vanilla cream. The dark chocolate cake on the right was delectable with a specially made caramel ice cream.

After enjoying our dinner, we strolled down Regent Street, a major shopping mecca in London’s West End. We admired the picturesque view. Large British flags hanging overhead added a special touch. It reminded us of the patriotic souls who graced the streets of London during the Diamond Jubilee.