Diners' Choice: Contemporary British restaurants in London

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary British cuisine in London? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Roe

5.0

5 (46)

£41 and over

Contemporary British

Canary Wharf

About the restaurant

Roe is a modern and spacious restaurant in the heart of Wood Wharf from the trio behind the critically-acclaimed sister restaurant Fallow St James’s and FOWL.

The extensive a la carte menu is divided into nibbles and flatbreads, skewers and grilled options, with larger plates and sides also available. As well as championing modest, British ingredients, Roe’s dishes showcase underused and underappreciated produce. Rare breed meats and carefully sourced fish from the British Isles are central to the menu, as well as regenerative crops like Wildfarmed native grain.

Top review

Duncan

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent lunch, menu had a huge variety of interesting and delicious sharing plates, and the desserts were 10/10

Little Mercies

4.9

4.9 (19)

£25 and under

Contemporary British

Crouch End

About the restaurant

Little Mercies is a multi award wining local neighbourhood restaurant and bar, serving delicious cocktails and playful seasonal small plates.

Winner most sustainable bar in the UK 2 years in a row

Moro Margarita - Distilled House Preserved Blood Orange, Volcán Blanco Tequila, Blood Orange Salt
"Snickers" Old Fashioned - Peanut Butter, Cacao Nib, Salted Chocolate, Evan Williams Bourbon

Top review

Kate

Dined 4 days ago

This was my first visit to Little Mercies and it was absolutely spectacular. The staff were super friendly and helpful, the service was brilliant. Cocktails sensational, and the food was unbelievably good,I honestly think that the beetroot was the best thing I’ve ever eaten. I don’t live anywhere near to this restaurant but feel like I would go out of my way to go back again.

Smoke & Salt

4.8

4.8 (57)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Tooting

About the restaurant

We love the simplicity of seasonal and local ingredients. Modern dining and ancient techniques such as smoking, curing and preserving are at the heart of our restaurant. These aspects motivate us as well as bringing in other global flavours, ingredients, and cuisines. In this way, we try to reflect the diversity and multiculturality of South London and the UK through our food. We are a Catey and Time Out Love London award-winning restaurant with mentions in the Good Food Guide and the esteemed Michelin Guide.

We are pleased to offer one of the cheapest tasting menu experiences in London too - so don't hesitate to book us for your next special occasion.

Guests will be offered our five OR seven course sharing menus only with options available for dietary requirements only.

If no tables are available do give us a call on 07421327556, we may have something extra available!

Top review

Grace

Dined 5 days ago

Amazing food, amazing staff. Lovely sized restaurant with good atmosphere. One of the best restaurants I’ve been to in a long time

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Experience

Festive Menu at Smoke & Salt

Experience

Christmas Wreath-making Workshop and lunch!

Experience

Smoke & Salt Christmas Lunch

The Lanesborough Grill

4.8

4.8 (858)

£41 and over

Contemporary British

Knightsbridge

About the restaurant

The Lanesborough Grill is home to Executive Chef Shay Cooper’s modern and innovative British cookery, with a focus on seasonal produce from around the country. Signature dishes include Coronation Crab Salad, Dover Sole and Beef Wellington presented table side to share.

A richly decorated dining room, naturally illuminated during the day by a domed glass roof while seductively aglow under softly lit chandeliers in the evening, this grand Regency restaurant offers a truly memorable fine dining experience. On Thursdays, enjoy live entertainment from a jazz trio, whilst on Sundays one of the best Sunday Roast Lunches in London can be found here. An exhibition of modern art by British based artists adorning the walls adds to the ambience.

The Lanesborough Grill is located with the five star Lanesborough hotel located at Hyde Park Corner where Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Mayfair meet.

Top review

Glenda

Dined 2 days ago

My husband and I had the festive menu which was fabulous.would highly recommend for a Pe Christmas celebration.

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4.4

4.4 (1547)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Mayfair

About the restaurant

Francatelli, a new British restaurant in London, celebrates the legacy of 19th-century chef Charles Elmé Francatelli through modern interpretations of his classic dishes. Chef William Drabble, known for his seasonal focus and local sourcing, leads the kitchen, drawing inspiration from Francatelli's 1846 cookbook "The Modern Cook." Expect a menu rooted in simplicity and British produce, with some show-stopping flourishes.

Top review

David

Dined on Nov 2, 2024

Went for Saturday lunch. Food was excellent. We chose between lunch menu and Al La carte I had the lunch menu with a haddock soup to start followed by mussels and cod. Both were excellent. Others tried the Ham which was superb and Portobello Mushrooms went down a treat as well. Service was top notch as you would expect and good value.

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Experience

Christmas Day 2024

Experience

3 Courses Menu, New Year's Eve 2024

Experience

Lunch Set Menu

The Buttery

4.7

4.7 (440)

£25 and under

Contemporary British

Belgravia

About the restaurant

With gorgeous rustic interiors and a stunning country garden, The Buttery has become a local institution in the heart of Belgravia perfect for breakfast, brunch, or just a slice of cake and a cup of tea. Featured in CN Traveller as one of London's top brunch spots, The Buttery is unique, fun and intimate. Our menus combine creative seasonal dishes with traditional favourites, using the very best of British ingredients.

Our food is unpretentious, fresh and beautifully served with super-friendly service. Our drinks hit the spot too, with the finest London-roasted coffee from The Gentlemen Baristas, classic cocktails and a carefully curated wine list featuring produce from some of the pre-eminent British vineyards.

The summer months in particular is when The Buttery comes into its own with our stunning walled garden perfect for laid back al fresco dining. We look forward to welcoming you soon with attentive service and a big smile.

No dogs allowed inside!

Top review

Scott

Dined 2 days ago

Friendly, kind staff, food is fresh & tasty. Can be terribly crowded, especially with large baby carriages. Causing people to bump into one another. Carriages should be left outside in this space.

The Garrison

4.6

4.6 (2398)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Bermondsey

About the restaurant

The Garrison Public House is a bustling neighbourhood restaurant at the heart of Bermondsey Streets creative community and just a short skip from the comestible delights of Borough Market. We take full advantage of being an independent restaurant; from our quirky, inimitable interior to our considered wine list and engaging staff, we make sure everything we do is done with The Garrison style. We are open everyday for lunch and dinner and our menu focuses on seasonal produce from our favourite artisan suppliers. Downstairs, our Cinema Room is available for private hire

Top review

Matt

Dined 7 days ago

Fabulous food, fabulous setting, fabulous wine recommendation, fabulous evening had by all. Will def be back.

Bill's Restaurant & Bar - Westfield White City

4.4

4.4 (591)

£25 and under

Contemporary British

Shepherd's Bush

About the restaurant

You’re in Westfield White City, you’ve been there so long you can’t remember what life was like before you walked in. You need a break. Enter Bill’s Westfield, your shopping saviour. Take a seat, put your bags down, enjoy. Whatever time your retail therapy ends, we’ll be open.

Top review

Tracyvip

Dined 4 days ago

The food was good, ambiance great, definitely recommend

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Experience

Set Menu Christmas

Experience

Christmas Set Menu Early Bird

Experience

New Year's Eve

Gallery

4.7

4.7 (7987)

£41 and over

Contemporary British

Covent Garden

About the restaurant

Introducing Gallery (formerly known as Thames Foyer), a vibrant space at the heart of the hotel for drinking and dining, where guests can enjoy a perfect blend of our theatrical flair and relaxed charm.

The beautiful new space will seamlessly integrate contemporary style whilst remaining true to our much loved heritage. Innovative menus, carefully crafted by our talented culinary team, will entice you in showcasing traditional recipes with a modern twist.

The Savoy’s legendary afternoon tea will return, in addition to breakfast, coffee, lunch, cocktail hour and dinner.

Our delectable lunch offering will be available between 12:30 and 17:30 on a walk in basis.

*Please note that any reservations made are subject to the timely completion of the renovation and we may need to contact you to offer alternative dates should we experience a delay with the work.

Dress code: smart casual.

Top review

Juhyun

Dined 2 days ago

It was great to enjoy on my own, and the service was excellent. I had a wonderful time thanks to Chloe’s great service.

Stem and Stem - Restaurant and Florist

4.8

4.8 (43)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

St Paul's

About the restaurant

Michelin-trained chef Edward Boarland along with business partner Dee Reid have launched a new concept restaurant, wine bar and florist at 12 Bow Lane in London, called Stem and Stem.

The concept of Stem + Stem champions British produce, both in the kitchen and the
florist, where possible sourcing as many local ingredients and products from South
East Farmers who advocate sustainability so they can bring the best product to the
table for their guests.

Guests should expect a dynamic menu at Stem + Stem, which changes more than
seasonally. Ed often seeks inspiration from everyday life transporting this straight to
the kitchen with new menu additions every few weeks.

Top review

Dr Miu

Dined 1 day ago

Oysters were super fresh. Small plates: both the cured cornish mackerel and roasted mushrooms were not full of flavours (umami) and beautifully presented. The coley maincourse was exquisite - strong bold spinach colour against the crispy skin and perfectly cooked fish... really seafood at its best. (Seafood dishes are consistently good here). perfect creme brulee ... o, and lovely chablis and gervey chambertin. am thinking of coming back already. Flowers are beautiful ... just a little gem in the city. Would highly recommend.

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