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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Diamond in the Rough, July 20, 2000
This guide includes 350 entries with the stated criteria for inclusion being that the restaurant is both recommended as a place to dine and that "it must be possible to eat a meal for 35 pounds a head or less." (We do note no definition as to what precisely represents a meal is given.) As such it includes eateries that range from the inexpensive to the moderately pricey.Each entry is given one page that includes a price range, e.g. 8-40 pounds, with the lower figure representing the least one can "get away with" (per person), and the higher being the cost "if you don't hold back". Again these definitions are loose, but the price ranges in our experience prove reasonable. Each eatery is discussed in plain English, no obscure symbols here, as to type of cuisine and ambiance, with numerous sample menu items being given (prices included). The reader is left with a relatively accurate idea of what to expect. The guide orders restaurants by location, rather than alphabetically or by cuisine, a feature that we prefer but some may find inconvenient. Indices listing all entries by both cuisine and in alphabetical order are included in the back. We do note that several very renowned places are conspicuously absent here. Whether those eateries are ignored for culinary reasons or otherwise is not discussed. Do not expect a relative rating of each restaurant, there is none given. We consider this somewhat of a weakness; it would be helpful to know if a place is just recommended or if is considered outstanding. A short list of favorites by cuisine is given, but comparison ends there. Physically the book is reasonably small and will easily fit into most handbags. Weighing only about ten ounces it is readily toted about. As a compendium of the author's 350 favorite dining spots, the book is a prodigious effort. We have replaced our 1999 edition with this updated version. As frequenters of London we find this guide well worth having; it is one of the few that will accompany us on our next trip.
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