As long as you don’t subscribe to the Joey Tribbiani school of thought that trying someone else’s dish in a restaurant “is a good way to lose some fingers,” there’s a lot to be said for seeking out that dish for two on a menu. Best of all, there’s no food envy involved as you’re both having the same thing. And if it’s loaded with garlic or honking with truffle, that’s something you’ll both have in common after eating it.
So whether you want to go all The Lady & the Tramp over it, or just fancy something that’s suitable for two to share, we’ve plundered London’s menus for suggestions.
Lobster pie for two at Mount St Restaurant
Mayfair - First Floor, 41-43 Mount St, London W1K 2RX
A nod to Andy Warhol’s lobster print, this pie has been on the menu at the Mayfair restaurant since opening day. Absolutely packed with lobster and a rich bisque sauce, it’s the perfect thing to order whether you're here for a romantic dinner à deux or a catch-up with a good friend.
Grilled fish for two at Dove
Notting Hill - 31 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2EU
Jackson Boxer’s Notting Hill restaurant always has a lovely bit of fish on the menu, which is perfect for sharing between two. Right now it’s a wild, line-caught sea bream which they grill over coals and serve with confit garlic and a sauce involving lemongrass and guindilla peppers.
Wood-fired rice at Arroz QD
Fitzrovia - 64 Eastcastle St, London W1W 8NQ
For a serve yourself dish that requires both of you to scrape away to get the crispy bits, there's no better way to say you love someone than sharing a smoky dish of wood-fired rice. Our personal favourite at Quique Dacosta's London restaurant Arros QD is the Presa Iberica and winter chanterelle option, made with a truffled sofrito.
Fondue for two at Champagne + Fromage
Covent Garden, Crystal Palace and Greenwich
The fondue for two at Champagne + Fromage is made with Emmental, Gruyere and Comte and while you try and avoid losing your bread or potatoes in the molten cheese, you can order up a tasting flight of three styles of Champagne. Feeling confident in your relationship? Get the trio of macarons for dessert and see who’s happy to offer that last one up.
Beef Wellington at Bob Bob Ricard
Soho & The City
There’s a lot on the menu at BBR that’s perfect for solo diners, the fruits de mer platter or caviar for one, for example. However, a dish that’s very much intended for sharing is their beef Wellington for two. It’s made with a 28-day-aged fillet of Hereford beef and served with truffle jus. The fact that you’ll also be using their Press for Champagne button is a given.
Confit duck leg and pork belly cassoulet - Don’t Tell Dad
Queen’s Park - 10-14 Lonsdale Rd, London NW6 6RD
The only reason we’d hesitate before suggesting this ribsticking dish from popular neighbourhood spot Don’t Tell Dad to couples, is that we’re not sure any bedroom action would be possible for a while afterwards. Better to have this with a friend instead, so you can slowly spoon out the pork belly and beans between you over the course of a meal here.
Mixed grill sizzler at Brigadiers
The City - 1-5 Bloomberg Arcade, London EC4N 8AR
This sizzling platter from City favourite Brigadiers is an absolute meat feast featuring guinea fowl reshmi kebabs, methi chicken chops, double tandoori lamb chops and tandoori masala jheenga. It'd be a great second or third date spot if you're working in the City, or equally a good place to take a team member post-performance review.
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