The 10 best value set lunch menus in London
We pick 10 spots across the capital that’ll transform your lunch into the most important meal of the day, whatever the cuisine you fancy
Forget Pret, we have picked 10 spots across the capital that’ll transform your lunch into the most important meal of the day. Whether you’re looking for something quick and easy; a long, lingering catch-up with friends; or a more formal option for entertaining clients, these set lunch recommendations cover all the bases.
Jikoni
In 2016, writer and chef Ravinder Bhogal burst onto the scene with her Asian, east African, and Middle Eastern flavours in a concept she calls ‘cooking across borders’. The set lunch menu is a great way to understand her colourful, flavour-forward style.
Mid-week lunch special: two courses for £30, three courses for £34
Available: Wednesday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm
19-21 Blandford Street, Marylebone, Jikonilondon.com
Bellamy’s
Inspired by Franco-Belgian brasseries, the table d’hôte menu at this Mayfair classic is a real steal. Changing weekly, the concise menu features the likes of sea bass au fenouil, and rump steak with sauce poivre vert. Bonus: the menu is also available for dinner.
Mid-week lunch special: two courses for £29.50, three courses for £35
Available: Monday to Friday, 12pm to 2.30pm and 7pm to 10.30pm
18 Bruton Place, Mayfair , bellamysrestaurant.co.uk
Elystan Street
Always a ‘chef’s chef’, Phil Howard’s desire to cook simpler food continues at this, the Michelin-starred follow-up venture of his iconic The Square. There’s anemphasis on pure, clean, and lighter dishes that use locally sourced ingredients full of vitality and flavour – as showcased in the set lunch menu.
Mid-week lunch special: three courses for £39.50
Available: Monday to Saturday, 12.30pm to 2.30pm
43 Elystan Street, Chelsea, elystanstreet.com
Origin City
A short walk from the birthplace of modern nose-to-tail cooking, St John’s, this relative newcomer isn’t afraid of making bold moves. Focusing primarily on meat (which is all aged and butchered in-house), the set lunch menu is packed with hearty classics like confit duck leg cassoulet, steak haché, and Tamworth pork casserole.
Mid-week lunch special: two courses for £29, three courses for £34
Available: Tuesday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm
12 West Smithfield, Smithfield, origincity.co.uk
Sushi Atelier
Offering great sushi in a laidback setting – without the usual eye-watering prices – is no mean feat in London, but this Fitzrovia spot nails it. The set lunch menus are particularly appealing – they all come with miso soup (with free refills) and a side salad. We love the Atelier Bento (£28), comprising two sashimi, three nigiri, four maki, and a small starter.
Mid-week lunch special: for between £19 and £39
Available: Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm to 3pm
114 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia, Sushiatelier.co.uk
Noble Rot
A vital part of London’s restaurant scene, Noble Rot is perfect for those long lunches over a couple of bottles of decent wine. Featuring different takes on Anglo-French classics, each restaurant’s set lunch menu changes daily but could include grilled squid with citrus salad, seared onglet steak with potatoes and peppercorn sauce, and a generous apple crumble.
Mid-week lunch special: two courses for£22, three courses for £26
Available: Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 2.30pm
2 Greek Street, Soho, 5 Trebeck Street, Shepherd Market, Mayfair, 51 Lamb’s Conduit Street, Holborn, Noblerot.co.uk
The Baring
We’re jealous of N1 residents who can call this there local. In a sea of north London boozers, this one stands out for serving unfussy, crowd-pleasing food in a stripped back, airy space that perfectly blurs the lines between pub and restaurant. Pop in for a pint… and stay for lunch.
Mid-week lunch special: £12 dish of the day, £15 with a pint or glass of house wine
Available: Tuesday to Friday, 12pm to 2.30pm
55 Baring Street, Islington , thebaring.co.uk
Solis at Arcade Battersea
This is one of the standout restaurants at the enormous food hall at the revamped power station. It’s the brainchild of the duo behind nomadic food project, TĀ TĀ Eatery, and they keep things simple with a special of grilled half chicken or flat iron steak, served with fries and an asador salad. The rest of the menu cherry picks favourites from across Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, and Argentina in a nod to the restaurant’s namesake, Juan Díaz de Solis – a 16th-Century explorer.
Mid-week lunch special: chicken, fries and salad for £15; steak, fries and salad for £20
Available: Monday to Friday, 12pm to 2pm
First Floor, Battersea Power Station, Nine Elms, arcadefoodhall.com/solis
Chishuru
Give your lunch break a blast of heat and colour with Joké Bakare’s contemporary Nigerian cooking. What started life as a pop-up in Brixton Village has become a hit West African restaurant in the heart of Fitzrovia and you’re guaranteed to discover a whole range of ingredients and flavour combinations you’ve never experienced before.
Mid-week lunch special: three courses for £35
Available: Monday to Friday, 12pm to 2pm
3 Great Titchfield Street, Fitzrovia, chishuru.com
Poons Wontoneria
Pull up a stool at the counter of Amy Poon’s Charlotte Street pop-up for some of the silkiest, umami-rich wontons in central London. Having grown up working in her parent’s popular Chinatown restaurants, she’s distilled authentic Cantonese flavours into a selection of perfectly made wontons, which includes a jackfruit option that’d convert even the most committed carnivore.
Mid-week lunch special: five wontons with bone broth for £9.80, wonton noodle bowl for £15
Available: Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm to 3pm
23 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, poonslondon.com
Alex Dalzell has written extensively about dining and interviewed some of the world’s top chefs in his role as Head of Content for Europe at Ten Lifestyle Group. Ten is the world-leading travel and lifestyle concierge service which helps 100,000s of members across the globe live life to the fullest. Ten also provide services to valuable customers of some of the world’s leading private banks and premium financial services.
To discover more about how they can unlock your next culinary discovery, plan your winter getaway, or secure tickets to the next sold-out gig visit www.tenlifestylegroup.com and follow @tenconcierge.
