Here at Pomelo we are lucky to be surrounded by some truly exceptional, inspiring dining. As a team with a genuine love for all things food, we're always excited to discover places that celebrate great ingredients without needing a special-occasion budget.
This month, we're sharing our current favourite London lunch spots, all under £50 a head. For the days when you're catching up on six months of life in one sitting, need a change of scenery, or are simply looking for a good excuse to eat some great food.
01. ZARA’S TOP PICK SHEPHERD'S BUSHThe Hawthorn
Zara's tip
Wednesday is steak night: £24 a head, including a properly large glass of house wine.
Good to know
Look out for their guest chef evenings.
Every caterer needs a local, and the Hawthorn is definitely Zara's. It’s a proper pub, and it happens to be a two-minute walk from her front door, which is dangerously convenient.
Through the pub is a restaurant serving great British cooking with a French accent. Warm baguettes arrive on the side with little packs of salted butter. It's relaxed and unfussy, and just right for any evening of the week.
What Zara loves most is that they do the basics really, really well. There's no showing off, just good food cooked properly, with a short, well-chosen wine and beer list to go with it.
Imagery https://www.instagram.com/thehawthornpub
02. OLI H'S TOP PICK SOHOMajorie’s
Oli's order
Rollright with corn and fig, then bavette with egg yolk emulsion.
Good to know
The wine list changes regularly, so ask what's open.
If you’re looking for Oli this weekend, chances are you'll find her living out her Parisian dream in the middle of Soho.
Marjorie's is an intimate, Parisian-inspired cave à manger with a lively, romantic atmosphere and just the right amount of trendiness. It serves the kind of cooking that reminds us why we fell in love with food in the first place.
And if you fancy making a proper occasion of it, settle into their wine bar with a glass from the ever-changing list. After all, when in Paris…
03. LUCY'S TOP PICK NORTHCOTE ROADTamila
The price
Starters from around £5.50, mains around £13.
Good to know
Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Lucy believes your next long-overdue catch-up with friends has to happen in the lively buzz of Tamila.
Tamila brings the vibrant flavours of South Indian cooking to Northcote Road. It already holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand, which celebrates restaurants offering exceptional food at great value, so it’s a spot that speaks for itself.
If you're after thoughtful cooking, bold flavours and a genuinely memorable meal without the hefty price tag, Tamila is well worth a visit.
Imagery https://www.instagram.com/tamila_curry
04. OLI S'S TOP PICK NOTTING HILLNakimushi
Oli's standout
Wild hamachi with yukari ponzu and nori oil.
For colder days
Scottish lobster ramen with seafood paitan and sobrassada, or the steamed brill with red vinegar.
Oli's pick this month is Nakimushi, a new multi-storey Japanese restaurant tucked into a converted townhouse in Notting Hill, from the team behind Dorian. It only opened in September, and word of its food is spreading quickly.
There’s something very charming about the building as we head into the colder months, with three floors and plenty of character. This is the sort of place that feels even better when it’s cold and grey outside.
Imagery https://www.instagram.com/nakimushirestaurant
05. DARCY'S TOP PICK KING'S ROADThe Rabbit
Darcy's order
London burrata with Nutbourne tomato and strawberry, then rotisserie free-range chicken with truffled salt-baked potato.
The price
Set lunch: two courses for £24. At that price, it would be rude not to.
Our Notting Hill newbie, Darcy, has had her eye on The Rabbit for weeks, and we can see why. Nestled on the bustling King's Road, this countryside-inspired bistro champions seasonal menus built around wild, foraged and locally grown produce, proof that sometimes the best escapes are right here in London.
Think thoughtful cooking, exceptional ingredients and a little taste of the countryside without leaving the city.
Imagery https://www.instagram.com/rabbit_resto
