Thetownend.com

This has probably been done to death before but can anyone recommend a nice, reasonable restaurant in Central/East Central London, suitable for a small group of friends?

I struggle with London, there's too much choice, and too many over-priced average eateries so a personal recommendation would go down a treat.

McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut...

Comedy genius, unpredictable too.

This is the TEF, what did you expect?!

Fifteen is good, and plenty of nice restaurants around shoreditch.

Samdy didn't mention Burger King - Also a culinary delight!

Would help if you narrowed it down a little, Panda.  As you say, there is almost too much choice.  Any prefs at all regarding cuisine, location, price, ambience etc.?

If me and the Misses are in London we normally go for a steak at a place called Sophies just off of Covent Garden, great food and service at not unreasonable prices, only downside is they dont take bookings but the bar is big enough that you dont end up stood around if there is a wait.

http://www.sophiessteakhouse.com/

www.hardens.com

How much do you want to spend?  The best restaurant I have eaten at is the Hawksmoor in Seven Dials - absolutely amazing - http://thehawksmoor.co.uk/

How much is the average per head in there Luci? Sounds amazing...  Could be a good (cheapish) way to earn some easy brownie points with the missus!

Really depends on what you order!  We had the £30 each steak but there are cheaper options (it was absolutely amazing though) and its not snobby or silver service or anything.  The cocktail menu is also amazing.  Our bill came to 150 but we had cocktails, wine, steak and dessert!  You could do steak and wine for about 70 for both of you (35 a head) i'd imagine!

Last time we stayed in London we ate in a little Italian bistro about half a mile walk from the Bristish Museum - can't for the life of me remember what street it was in but its prices were no different from Italian restauraunts in Devizes. That might seem little help, but the point I am trying to make is that you don't have to pay top dollar.

Go here. Fucking amazing, have the Black Angus burger.

Not the British Museum - the Natural History Museum. Somewhere around Kynance Mews.

Sam's right. Stick to the fast food in London otherwise you'll be paying well over £20 for your meal.

Cheers for that. Off to London next month and staying in Holborn, think we'll give that a go!

Tayaabs in whitechapel offers a fantastic curry and its cheap. Expect a queue though

Avoid the rancid curry houses on Brick Lane - very overrated and hygienically suspect

This place...great location and good value.

http://www.dimt.co.uk/

The waiters are really friendly, too.

Not true at all!

Plenty of cheap eats around.

If you book via toptable or opentable there are some great deals to be had.

It's also worth getting a taste card for 50% off the bill. You can get a months free trial if you don't want to pay for membership....

My tongue was firmly in cheek.

I don't mind paying for good quality food.

Although last time I was in London I found a great chinese place near Soho that was awesome and also dirt cheap. Plenty of change for the slot machines too.

I have been thinking for you and what about the big easy?  Its in Chelsea so slightly more West than you were looking at but have live music, the food is good and inexpensive and there is a great atmosphere.......went there on the Bank Holiday and loved it!

http://www.bigeasy.co.uk/v1/index.aspx

Hawksmoor is fucking brilliant.

Goucho Grill off Regent Street

http://www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant.php?id=piccadilly (http://www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant.php?id=piccadilly)