|
The stresses of wedding planning (and
interference from well meaning family members) can take
their toll on the best of relationships and sometimes you
just need to take a break from it all to reconnect, spend
some quality time with each other and remember why you had
decided to get hitched in the first place! Leave the trials
and tribulations of wedding planning behind and take your
fiancee out for a romantic meal at one of these fantastic
dinner date destinations in London.
Eriki
Indian Cuisine
ERIK is a pioneering, sophisticated and charming Indian
restaurant serving up a delightful range of refined and
authentically created Indian food. The warm and courteous
hospitality of the staff coupled with the stylish, elegant
décor of the restaurant will go a long way to
providing you with a memorable and romantic dining
experience.
The unparalleled expertise of ERIKI's chefs has enabled
them to craft together an outstanding menu, which caters
for a range of taste palettes and preferences and
traverses India from North to South. Vegetarians and meat
eaters are equally well catered for by ERIKI's expansive
menus.
 |
 |
Every dish we have tasted on the menu is
sublime but Murgh Xacutti, Khatta Meetha Baingan, Kali
Dhal and Kadai Methi Paneer all deserve a special mention.
For dessert, try the mango rasmalai - heaven in a bowl.
ERIKI is ideally situated in Swiss Cottage, close to the
fashionable tree lined neighbourhoods of Hampstead and St
Johns Wood. The restaurant is just a few minutes journey
by public transport from Central London, making it the
ideal prelude before a night out in the West End. 4 -
6 Northways Parade
Finchley Road
London NW3 5EN
0207 722 0606
Mango Tree
Minimalist Thai chic finds a home in Belgravia with Mango
Tree - a sleek, spacious, award-winning thai restaurant
that exudes classic charm, chic hauteur and
sophistication.
The dining room is cavernous yet buzzing ... beiges and
copper tones are predominant against a background of huge
ceiling-to-floor windows. The warm, ambient light from
low-slung chandeliers creates a minimalist setting,
complemented by the religious statues and thai artefacts.
The service epitomises Thai hospitality at it's finest -
charming, sincere, friendly yet unobtrusive.
The menu reflects the delicate styles, fresh ingredients
and refined flavours of authentic Thai cuisine. The wine
list has been painstakingly put together after tireless
visits around Europe's vineyards and the choice of
cocktails is on a par with some of London's prominent
bars.
 |
 |
Each dish emerges from the kitchen
succulent, aromatic, exotic and bursting with flavour,
that only the freshest of ingredients. Signature dishes
include vegetable Por Pia Pak (a crispy roll served with a
pungent and sweet spicy sauce), Tod Mun Pia (spicy
fishcakes seasoned with curry leaves and served with a
sweet and sour sauce), Tod Mun Goong (breaded shrimp cakes
with an aromatic plum sauce) and probably the best satay
in town with the classic peanut dipping sauce.
Amongst the mains that grabbed our attention were Pad
Thai Goong (stir-fried Thai rice noodles with tiger prawns
in a spicy sauce served with fresh Chinese chives, peanuts
and beansprouts), Gai Pad Med Mamuang - an instant hit
with me - (stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts), an
inimitable Green Thai vegetable curry.
The presentation of the food is amazing, portions are
more than generous and the desserts offer the culmination
to the perfect romantic meal. Mango Tree is situated a
stone's throw away from Victoria Station.
46 Grosvenor Place,
Belgravia,
London SW1
020 7823 1888
Noura
Noura is an award-winning Lebanese
brassiere chain well liked for its flamboyant style, warm
service, chic design and wonderful food. Noura Central is on
the corner of Jermyn Street and Regent Street. You will be
hard pressed to come across such plush surroundings that are
so beautifully designed. The ambience at Noura is
quintessentially romantic and well liked by a diverse
clientele spanning many nationalities.
Service by snappily dressed staff cannot be faulted, it is
both professional and friendly and the excellent food is
supported by an outstanding international wine and champagne
list, one of the biggest in London.
 |
 |
Food tastes fresh and lingers on the
palate and so moreish you just can't stop eating. Hot &
Cold mezzes delight, served along with traditional bread
fresh from the oven at the centre of the room. Food at
Noura is reasonably priced, with a great choice on offer
for vegetarians.
We'd recommend starting with a selection of mezze,
favourites being Moutabbal (aubergine with sesame seed oil
& lemon juice), Batata Harra (spicy potatoes), Hummus
Beiruty (hummus with a spicy seasoning) and Moujadara,
(lentils and rice served with a seared onion topping)/
Follow with a boldly flavoured grilled dish or one of the
delightful vegetarian main courses (the Moussakka is a
treat) and try to leave space for the delicious baklava
pastries to finish. 122 Jermyn Street
London
SW1Y 4UJ
Tel: 020 7839 2020
La Porte Des Indes
From the outside La Porte Des Indes
looks just like any average Indian restaurant. It's only on
entering that it's breathtaking splendour is revealed, a
massive dining space with the wow factor in every sense. If
your date isn't seriously impressed, we'll want to know
where he or she's been dining!
Much like it's sister restaurant The Blue Elephant, no
money has been spared in creating a remarkable interior of
Indian stone balustrades, spectacular foilage and cascading
waterfalls. In many ways La Porte Des Indes resembles
another world, with plentiful space and staff to attend to
your every whim. Food here uses French influence to great
effect across the menus, but isn't afraid or ashamed to
offer traditional Indian dishes either.
 |
 |
The menu is varied and impressive,
catering to vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
Flavours are subtle and refined as would be expected from
a restaurant serving up fusion Indian cuisine and
pleasantly enough you can eat to your heart's content
without feeling bloated, as can be common after a rich
Indian meal. Dishes that stood out included Roasted Chilli
Seekh kebab, Murgh Malai Kebab, Farsan (assorted gujarati
starters), Lasooni Jhingha, Dhaba Murgh and Saag Paneer.
The restaurant is conveniently located off the Edgware
road, close to Marble Arch tube station. 32 Bryanston
Street,
Off Edgware Road
London W1H 7EG
TEL: 020 7224 0055 |