This week is an ode to London’s weird and wonderful eateries. To the culinary rebels without a cause. To the restaurateurs who refused to play by the rules. Well, we say, to the victor go the spoils. Don’t hesitate to add your own quirky numbers to our little list below…

Central:

 

Archipelago, 110 Whitfield Street, W1T 5ED. Book here with TopTable.

Crocodile, wildebeest or locusts anyone? It’s like The Lion King turned into a restaurant (where the circle of life comes to an abrupt culinary end). ‘Hakuna matata’ clearly didn’t quite work out. With dishes and décor from literally the four corners of the earth, you won’t forget this gastronomic adventure in a hurry. It is on the expensive side though. Zebra is hard to come by these days we hear.

Thanks for the tip off: Dave Foot, Rick Elmos, Ramin Beheshti and Grazzie Bell.

Sarastro, 126 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5SU. Book here with TopTable.

This opera-inspired restaurant passed our character-test with flying colours. A real drama queen’s favourite in the heart of Theatreland. Opera-box style seating. Velvet drapes. Live opera on Mondays/Sundays. Granted, its food repertoire isn’t as good as the décor, but it’s pure theatre nonetheless. Like a master of ceremonies, however, this great little place reminds us that the show must go on…

Thanks for the tip off: Sophie Clapton, Jack London, Dafni Glinos, John Owen, John Roderick and Beate Våje.

East:

 

LMNT, 316 Queensbridge Road, E8 3NH

Shiver me sphinx! This Egyptian themed dining hall is something straight off the set of Indiana Jones. There are Sphinx fireplaces, saucy loos and hieroglyphics galore. And you can perch yourself on a hanging balcony or in the gigantic urn. Cleopatra would be proud.

Thanks for the tip off: Michelle Godfrey, Pablo Discobar, Red Sarah, Isobel Scott, Alicia O’Dell, Katie Brotherhood and Nadja Willis.

The Wapping Project, Wapping Hydraulic Power Station, Wapping Wall, E1W 3ST. Book here with TopTable.

This place is not particularly little. It’s in a great Wapping big power station. Excuse the pun. It’s a multi-talented GLP, combining both an exhibition and performance space as well. The Engine and Turbine Houses are where you’ll find the restaurant and bar. Pay the Prospect of Whitby pub a visit while you’re there. It’s only across the road.

Thanks for the tip off: Francesca Wells and Cecilia Lundqvist.

 

West:

 

Tiroler Hut, 27 Westbourne Grove, W2 4UA

Austrian food, Austrian dress and Austrian showbiz. Yodeling, Accordion and the Tirolean Cow Bell Cabaret. Austria’s got talent.

Thanks for the tip off: Steve Furst, Roya Dabir-Alai and Anthony Pears.

North:

 

Little Bay, 228 Belsize Road, Kilburn, NW6 4BT

Comfort food, faux gold and snug little nooks, crannies and balconies. What more could you want?

 

Thanks for the tip off: Clare Lowenna Lean, Aj Elder, Donagh O’Leary, Steve Causer-Smith, David Charles, Caroline Conner and Hoa Pham.

 

South:

Upstairs, 89B Acre Lane, Brixton, SW2 5TN. Book here with TopTable.

This GLP is a secret no more but that matters little (unless you have trouble booking). Once inside, it’s not so much quirky as charmingly intimate. But you do have to buzz your way in, through an unassuming side street doorway. And that was enough to make us feel special. Plus the food was delicious like.no.other. It’s the sort of place which is a halfway house between intimate restaurant and secret supper club.

Thanks for the tip off: Richard Frost (aka Frosty).

Petersham Nurseries, Church Lane, Off Petersham Road, Petersham, Richmond, TW10 7AG. Book here with TopTable.

A restaurant as Mother Nature intended… in a greenhouse. The setting couldn’t be more delightfully natural. Mind the tulips on your way in.

Thanks for the tip off: Steph Phillips (of AMV fame), Mary Higgs (of the great date guide fame), Lindsey Towell, Barbara Boster and Charlotte Senn.

That’s all for this week folks. Follow us on Twitter and good times will follow: http://twitter.com/glpLondon.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 at 8:10 am and is filed under Newsletters, Quirky Restaurants. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.