With the credit crunch firmly on, Londoners are dining at some of the city’s most outstanding restaurants, and saving their pennies, by sampling amazing lunch deals at a fraction of the cost of dinner.
The deal at Michel Roux Jr’s two Michelin-starred Le Gavroche (+44 (0)20 7408 0881, le-gavroche.co.uk) is legendary: old-fashioned cosseting and three courses of classic haute bourgeois dishes (think braised lamb and olive oil mash), half a bottle of wine, water, coffee and petits fours, all for £48.
Eric Chavot’s meticulous technique and mouthwatering menu make lunch at the Capital (+44 (0)20 7589 5171, capitalhotel.co.uk), the elegant Knightsbridge restaurant, a savvy choice. Three courses, including coffee and divine petits fours, at the two Michelin-starred restaurant costs a very reasonable £29.50. The sweetbread millefeuille with onion compote is delectable.
Pascal Proyart’s One-O-One (+44 (0)20 7290 7101, onemansfish.com) also in Knightsbridge, is unparalleled for creative fish dishes. Three petits plats from the new lunch menu, plus a glass of wine and coffee is a bargain at £19.
Chelsea favourite Tom Aikens (+44 (0)20 7584 2003, tomaikens.co.uk) offers sophisticated dishes, such as roast fillet of venison with crushed celeriac, on the three-course lunch menu for £29.
Meticulously sourced ingredients and superlative pasta give Fitzrovia’s Latium (+44 (0)20 7323 9123, latiumrestaurant.com) the edge. Three courses costs £19.95.
For innovative Indian dishes, such as Goan crab cakes with rye naan and spinach, the vividly decorated Zaika in Kensington is worth a visit (+44 (0)20 7795 6533, zaika-restaurant.co.uk). Four courses costs £19.50.
