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First, a caveat – I don’t eat out all that much when I’m in London because 1) I stay with friends 2) eating out is one of the more expensive things to do in London. (When I lived in London in 1981, I lived primarily on scones that were kindly supplied, free of charge, at the office where I worked.) That said, here are a few haunts – almost all are relatively inexpensive, casual spots:

– Gordon’s Wine bar – This is a sentimental favorite, a short walk from the House of Commons – where I worked when I used to first visited Gordon’s. I returned last year and it was much the same. It’s a short walk north of the Embankment tube station – and you go down into a dark dank cellar (a la Edgar Allen Poe_ for a Ploughman’s (cheese – Stilton or Cotswold; chutney pickle and a big slab of bread) and a kir or kir royale. (There’s other pub grub and drinks but these are my tried and true picks.) A&N – this isn’t too far from your Soho hotel. Just south of Charing Cross tube. 47 Villiers St.

– Neal’s Yard Dairy– The restaurant I loved in Neals Yard, a hidden little courtyard in Covent Garden, is long gone but this  famous cheeseshop just outside the yard – at 17 Shorts Garden – is  where you can pick up Stilton and Cotswold (for less than Gordon’s) and try to find a picnic spot in central london (maybe Trafalgar square?)  I see it’s also at Borough Market now. Near the Covent Garden location is Food 4 Thought, a vegetarian restaurant popular with students because it is relatively cheap and big portions – or used to be.  (A&N – you might tell Mike about it.)

– The Standard – This is a longtime Indian restaurant just north of Hyde Park frequented by Londoners and tourists alike. I’ve been going there for 30 years. Nearby is Khan’s (if it’s still there) which is fancier atmosphere but I always preferred the Standard. 21-22 Westbourne Grove (Bayswater Tube, near Hyde Park – which is well worth a wander. See (Princess) Diana’s garden.)

– Rock and Sole Plaice – London is the only place where I eat fish n’ chips – and this Covent Garden-area chip shop is cute. I usually eat the fish called plaice (hence the name) and I put vinegar on my chips. 47 Endell Street (near Drury Lane.)

– Fortnum and Maison or Harrod’s – if you want an over-the-top and expensive afternoon tea. Either way, these are fun shops to wander in – very British. Harrod’s is very very touristy but the Food Halls are quite a sight.

– Covent Garden also has a good outdoor farmer’s market – and fun scene. On the web it doesn’t seem to be open in the evening but I remember going early evening.

– There’s also a fun old pub just south of Covent Garden – I’ll try to remember the name.

– And Louis Patisserie, 32 Heath Street,  is my sentimental favorite tea parlor in Hampstead, should you be in that area. (It’s in North London, as is Islington.)

p.s. I seem to have spent most of my time in London eating pastry, fish and chips, ploughman’s and indian food – there may be a reason for that. Was least expensive.