8 Restaurants To Know When You Forgot To Make A Reservation
How much do you live life on the edge? Do you occasionally run a red light? Or sometimes not wear a helmet on a Boris Bike (are we still calling them that)? Or perhaps you put five sugars in your tea instead of none – you wild cat. Well, this article’s for you. Because we’ve compiled a list of places for when you can’t find anything to book.
They reserve tables specifically for disorganised walk-ins just like you… however, there is the chance that you’ll be beaten to it by another walk-in. Don’t blame us when that happens, just go and buy a picnic and find yourself a nice park to sit in.
Kolamba
This little hot spot is a firm favourite of ours. Full of the flavours, spices, and colours of Sri Lanka, the chefs here have raided the recipe books of friends and family members back in Colombo (also known as Kolamba). And the result is divine.
When you can’t go on holiday, this is the next best thing. If you can’t go to an island, let the island come to you. There’s a mix of Sinhalese, Tamil, Moor, Dutch, and Malay in some seriously tasty sharing platters and street food dishes.
And guess what? They love a walk-in! Some of their tables are kept unreserved for just this reason. So pull up a chair and dive into your favourite selection of curries, sambols, and rotis.
Where: 21 Kingly Street, Carnaby, W1B 5QA
Website:www.kolamba.co.uk
Mercato Metropolitano
Mercato Metropolitano is like a street food market in Italy – there’s lively chatter, lots of different vendors, pizzas, cocktails… except perhaps when it rains. Then you’re reminded that you’re freezing cold and in Elephant & Castle.
It’s one of London’s largest outdoor spaces and you can eat and drink until your heart’s content. Once a disused paper factory, the 45,000 sq ft space is normally home to 40 vendors, a micro-brewery, and a number of community projects.
Where: 42 Newington Causeway, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6DR
Website:www.mercatometropolitano.com
Dumplings’ Legend
Old reliable Chinatown. Of course they have space for walk-ins. It’s just something they’re always prepared for. They live for the walk-in.
Try Dumplings’ Legend, which does what it says on the tin. It makes legendary dumplings, normally 8,000 of them a day. Choose from 47 variations of dim sum, from spicy pork to spicy crayfish.
Where: Gerrard Street, Soho, W1D 6JQ
Website:www.chinatown.co.uk
Bellanger
Everything from Corbin & King is just fab. There are fresh British ingredients, heaps of comfort food and everything is of a certain standard you come to expect from the upmarket chain, and Bellanger is no exception. They’re only accepting walk-ins onto the terrace, which is great news for us, and what’s more, if they’re full, they’re doing takeaways too.
Overlooking Islington Green, it has relaxed brasserie vibes and serves up French classics such as coq au Riesling, steak frites et salade, croques monsieurs, and plenty of fromage. And if you have room, finish the meal with crêpes dripping in lemon and sugar.
Where: 9 Islington Green, N1 2XH
Website:www.bellanger.co.uk
Theo’s
Don’t hold back on the carbs at Theo’s. They serve incredible Neapolitan-style sourdough pizzas from a wood-fired oven. Think deep red wine, crispy crusts, and oodles of cheese.
For both their Camberwell and Elephant & Castle branches, they talk about a light-
Where: 2 Grove Lane, Camberwell, SE5 8SY
Website:www.theospizzeria.com
Granger & Co
Notting Hill’s beautiful and very chi-chi Westbourne Grove is home to the finest shops and eateries. One of the most popular with the locals is Granger & Co.
There’s extra seating on the pavement and, unlike its sister restaurant in Chelsea, you can’t book – it’s walk-ins only. Line up for light seafood plates of crab linguine, shrimp burger, parmesan crumbed chicken schnitzel, coconut curry, and grilled halloumi. It’s seriously delicious. The wait will be worth it. The bill, perhaps not.
Where: 175 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, W11 2SB
Website: www.grangerandco.com
Hide
Looking over the leafy field of Green Park (and the very busy road just in front of it) is the super lovely, and super expensive Hide. They’ve managed to squeeze in a serious amount of seats within their artfully placed awnings and long grasses and disguise the chewing gum-clad pavement as an actually really lovely outdoor terrace.
The chef here, famed Ollie Dabbous, cooks up the most delicate and detailed menu (along with a fabulous wine list). There’s barbecued Iberico pork cheek, confit of lightly smoked organic salmon, and charcoaled asparagus. And while you can reserve a table, they do keep some spaces for walk-ins from nearby private banks and hedge funds, oh and for stragglers like us too.
Where: 85 Piccadilly, Mayfair, W1J 7NB
Website:www.hide.co.uk
40 Maltby Street
The glorious Maltby Street Market is the gift that keeps on giving. Many a weekend has been spent here wandering up and down taking morsels from each train archway and market stall until you have to roll home.
Normally, most of the places only open up shop on the weekends, but 40 Maltby Street is open Wednesday to Saturday. This is the perfect spot for natural wine and sustainably sourced food. Located within Gergovie Wines’ warehouse, this is a no-bookings establishment sourcing bottles and by-the-glass selections from boutique European producers.
Where: 40 Maltby Street, (the clue’s in the name), SE1 3PA
Website: www.40maltbystreet.com
