Cuisine Guide

Top Rated — Best British in Central London

Discover handpicked British restaurants in Central London, with what to order first at each place.

Every place here is handpicked. Signal score shows how strong and consistent the review coverage is, not a star rating.

23 restaurants

1
Bentleys

British Seafood · ££££ · Piccadilly Circus

92Signal

Start with

Bentley’s Fish Pie

Regarded as a classic with a 'piped and golden mashed potato top,' it features smoked haddock, salmon, and prawns in a 'mustard-boosted sauce.' Critics call it the 'essence of a PG Wodehouse novel' made by someone who 'understands the engineering of the dish.'

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

2
The Ritz Restaurant

French / British · ££££ · Mayfair

91Signal

Start with

Langoustine À La Nage

Universally cited as a masterpiece; huge, sweet crustaceans served in a rich, buttery sauce with bronze fennel.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

3
Quality Chop House

Modern British · ££££ · Farringdon

90Signal

Start with

Confit Potatoes

Universally acclaimed as 'legendary' and 'famed,' these crispy, duck-fat fried cubes are considered even 'more glorious served in the restaurant' than from the adjacent deli.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

4
Claridge's Restaurant

British · ££££ · Mayfair

90Signal

Start with

Black Truffle Buckwheat Crumpets

Described as 'unusual and lovely,' these starters are topped with 'curly slivers of truffle' and represent a defining signature of the restaurant's new identity.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

5
Wiltons

British / Seafood · ££££ · St. James's

89Signal

Start with

Twice-Baked Stilton Soufflé

Cited by multiple critics as the best in London—rich, cheesy, and perfectly crisp on the outside.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

6
Lorne

Modern British · £££ · Victoria

89Signal

Start with

Black Pudding

Described as 'seriously memorable,' this loose-grained boudin noir is likened to 'mulch and loam and fudge and blood in the most delicious way,' with reviewers suggesting they could eat it with a spoon like Nutella.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

7
The Grill at The Dorchester

Modern British Grill · ££££ · Mayfair

88Signal

Start with

Welsh Rarebit Crumpet

Described as 'heavenly,' 'light, fluffy and zingy' with the tang of good cheese and plenty of Worcestershire sauce.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

8
Corrigan's Mayfair

British / Irish / Game · ££££ · Mayfair

88Signal

Start with

Roe Venison en Croute

Acclaimed as "simply the best venison dish" a critic has ever had, it features "huge chunks of stunningly good, ruby-red roe" paired with pickled red cabbage and a "wonderful" cep sauce.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

9
Nessa

Modern British Bistro · £££ · Soho

88Signal

Start with

Cheese & Onion Croquettes

Universally praised as some of the 'best' critics have ever had, these golden, gooey bites of Montgomery’s Cheddar are described as 'sharp, flavourful and oh-so addictive.'

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

10
The Goring Dining Room

Modern British · ££££ · Victoria

88Signal

Start with

Eggs Drumkilbo

The late Queen Mother's favorite dish; a legendary seafood cocktail packed with lobster, langoustine, and shredded eggs, topped with 'sparkling cubes of soft, savoury aspic.'

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

11
Restaurant St. Barts

Modern British · ££££ · City of London

87Signal

Start with

BBQ Scallop with Peppers

Consistently cited as the meal's highlight; Andy Hayler named it the 'best dish' for its depth of flavor and 'gentle spicy heat,' while other critics describe the preparation with red pepper as 'outstanding.'

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

12
Angler

Modern British / Seafood · ££££ · City of London

87Signal

Start with

Lobster Ravioli

Described as the sort of dish you "just sit and stare at," it is noted by critics for being "artful on the eye and brilliantly bold to taste" with its accompanying spiced lobster bisque.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

13
Quo Vadis

Modern British · £££ · Soho

85Signal

Start with

Smoked Eel Sandwich

Consistently cited by critics as a 'must' and a signature of the house, this dish is the cornerstone of Jeremy Lee's 'hearty, British, seasonal cuisine.'

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

14
Aulis

Modern British · ££££ · Soho

85Signal

Start with

Truffle Pudding

A universally acclaimed Simon Rogan signature, this savory bread and butter pudding is often served with a black garlic emulsion and is described by Hot Dinners as a 'rather good' and highly desirable addition to the meal.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

15
Sweetings

British Seafood · £££ · City of London

82Signal

Start with

Dressed Crab

The crustaceans are cooked and dismembered fresh every day on the premises; critics describe the result as 'irreducibly crabby' and needing nothing more than a squeeze of lemon and buttered brown bread.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

16
Regency Cafe

British Cafe · £ · Westminster

82Signal

Start with

Set Breakfast

Described as the 'archetypal ideal of a Propa Caff,' this deal remains 'every bit as awesome as it’s ever been' with thickly sliced bacon, herbless sausages, and crisp hash browns that defy London inflation.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

17
Kitchen Table

Modern British / European Tasting Menu · ££££ · Fitzrovia

81Signal

Start with

Parker House Rolls

A long-standing staple of the menu; the wild garlic butter version is described as 'sublime' and 'particularly intense' due to the use of pickled flowers and stalks from the previous season.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

18
Holborn Dining Room

British · £££ · Holborn

81Signal

Start with

Hand-Raised Pork Pie

Jay Rayner describes this as a 'bold expression of pig' and a 'noble' example of the craft, served hot with a rich gravy made from calves' feet and reduction.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

19
The George

British Gastropub · ££££ · Fitzrovia

80Signal

Start with

Scottish Langoustine Scampi

Described as 'clever but also delicious,' this dish features whole langoustine tails served with 'far superior' crushed minted peas and tartare sauce.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

20
Cafe Deco

Modern British / European · £££ · Bloomsbury

80Signal

Start with

Egg Mayonnaise with Anchovy

Explicitly called a 'mainstay' on the menu, these are praised for their 'sunset yolks' and generous dollops of silky homemade mayo.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

21
Fish Central

British Seafood · ££ · Clerkenwell

80Signal

Start with

Cod and Chips

Described as the 'best fish and chips in Zone 1 by some distance,' featuring a 'light, delicate batter' and 'superbly moist' fish.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

22
Dean Street Townhouse

British · £££ · Soho

80Signal

Start with

Mince and Potatoes

Commonly cited as the restaurant's signature dish, it is a comforting British classic that embodies the 'thoroughly soothing experience' noted by critics.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

23
Cafe Grill

British · ££££ · Soho

80Signal

Start with

Fish Bhorta

The essential must-order item supplied by the editor.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

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