Restaurants Overview
Eating out in England is a little bit of a different experience than in the US. Things are more leisurely for a start; and as you’ll see below, planning ahead makes things a lot easier. But despite the UK’s dubious culinary reputation, I’ve always found tons of good food there, and that’s especially true in London, where incredible restaurants abound. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Reservations are almost always required – The English call this a booking, and the first thing you’ll be greeted with upon walking into nearly any type of restaurant is “Have you booked?” I’ve been turned away many times by restaurants with a sea of empty tables because the staff assured me that they would soon be filled by guests who had taken the time to book. While hearing this piece of news has more than once sent me storming out onto the street with my embarrassed children in tow, I’ve come to accept over the years that playing by the rules (and rolling with the punches when we can’t) is the best way to go. This booking thing holds true everywhere I’ve ever been in England, not just London.
If you’re planning Sunday lunch at a pub (a highly recommended activity), you should try to book at least several days in advance. You’ll also often be asked for how long you want the table – 90 minutes or two hours. When your time is up, you’ll be expected to skedaddle pronto. And if you do find yourself without a booking on a Sunday afternoon (as we have many times), ask to have your name added to the list and cut in half the amount of time they estimate you’ll have to wait. You may be required to remain on-premises while holding out for a seat, but there are far worse ways to pass the time than having a pint or two in a lovely pub on a Sunday afternoon.
Kids aren’t always welcome. Dogs almost always are – English restaurants aren’t as welcoming to kids as most American establishments are. Most don’t explicitly ban children so it can be a bit difficult to tell until you start getting the hairy eyeball when your offspring offends in some way. But many places (particularly pubs) that are kid-friendly will advertise that and clearly cater to families. When our kids were young, I always felt more comfortable in those environments and greatly appreciated the small playgrounds they will sometimes have so parents can drink a beer or two in peace. As for dogs, you won’t find them in restaurants, but I’ve rarely been in a pub where I didn’t see one or more – something I find absolutely charming.
Tipping isn’t expected, but it’s greatly appreciated – We get the tipping question a lot; and although it’s becoming more common, it still isn’t expected like it is at home. Sometimes it’s included in the bill so check that first. If not, we typically leave 10% to 15% depending on the situation. If you want to add a tip to your credit card, you need to let them know before (or when) you give them your card so they can add it to your total, as they will bring a machine to your table and run your card there…no chance to add anything afterwards. Ed says you never tip the bartender in a pub – they may actually be offended if you do!
Don’t expect great service – Given some of the comments above, this probably doesn’t come as a surprise, and it doesn’t apply only to restaurants. Service in general is just not like what you’ll experience in the US. Shopkeepers will act like they’re doing you a favor to take your money, and hotel clerks will walk away for a tea break in the middle of checking you in (this happened to me on a recent trip to London). There are definitely exceptions, but it’s best to keep expectations low.
Not all pubs are created equal – It’s hard to say exactly what makes one pub better than another (for me anyway). When Ed’s dad was still with us, he could take one glance at a place and immediately tell whether it met his standard. He passed this trait on to Ed, who can tell a decent or good pub from a bad one pretty much instantly. He just can’t tell me how to do the same. I have learned a few general guidelines over the years though…
Slot machines are bad.
Real ale is good. This is the warm, flat beer that they “pull”, not the kind that comes out of a tap.
Lots of signs advertising cheap food specials is bad, as is an overly long menu (good restaurant rule in general).
A nice fire plus a good beer on a cold night makes everything seem fine.
Also, in most pubs, you order everything at the bar, including your food. Sunday lunches are the most common exception. And I nearly forgot food service hours and closing times. Pubs will often stop serving full lunches at 2 pm and dinners around 10 pm. Closing time is technically 11 pm, and they will call last orders shortly before. More and more though, pubs will have “shut-ins” after 11, meaning that no one else can come in but the people already there can stay and drink until the landlord (and very occasionally the police) decides to throw them out.
Vegetarians and vegans are welcome – There are many vegetarians and vegans in England, so there’s always one or more items on the menu suitable for these groups. I think their vegetarian options are excellent and order them frequently. They are also generally very accommodating when it comes to food allergies.
