Southbank, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

“Great views over the Thames” and a vast interior (it was built as ‘The People’s Palace’ – the destination restaurant originally at the heart of the Brutalist South Bank arts centre), make this D&D London operation “good for both business and social” dining. The cuisine has often seemed like an afterthought here, but was mostly well-rated this year.

“Still serving hearty gastropub food in a chilled-out way” – this “long-time favourite” near the Old Vic remains one of London’s top foodie boozers thanks to its “ever-changing menu” of “innovative dishes with a nod to nose-to-tail dining”. Its performance has been less consistent in recent years, though (“some options matched the reputation for robust, powerful flavours, but others in my party reported basic errors that we wouldn’t expect at these prices”).

2021 Review: For some reporters, the National Theatre’s “brisk” in-house diner delivers on the “plain good food near the theatre” you’d hope for, so “it’s a shame” that the “food is complacently ordinary” for too many others to make it a reliable recommendation. Top Tip – “best when you can sit in the garden”.

2019 Review: “Thank goodness for the view” – the “saving grace” at this riverside grill in the South Bank arts centre, sibling to its D&D London stablemate next door. For most reporters, the food is little better than “average” – “not so much dialling as texting it in these days. Such a shame as the space is so wonderful!”.

2022 Review: “The set menu is good value” at the National Theatre’s most salubrious in-house dining option, so it’s “always reliable” as a pre-show pit-stop. But critics would welcome a bit more ambition, saying the current effort is “a wasted opportunity” given the site and its captive audience. Top Tip: “the waiters are always a good source of play reviews”.

Named for National Theatre architect Sir Denys Lasdun, this new all-day British brasserie will be run by the team behind The Marksman. Opened May 2023.