The London Restaurant Festival celebrates eating out

The London Restaurant festival has kicked off to a flying start this week, and is dubbed as being the 'biggest one yet' since its launch in 2009 by food critics Fay Maschler and Simon Davis.

Over 350 restaurants are set to take part in the two week event which is designed to raise the profile of the establishments involved, from Michelin Star haute-cuisine to your local curry houses.

There are two main elements to the fortnight festival; events and menus. This year’s events kicked off with an impressive “Pop-up in the Sky” experience, in which diners’ paid £12,500 to have their meal cooked and delivered to a London Eye pod by chefs such as Angela Hartnett of Murano in Mayfair.

Other events on the cards include 'The Gourmet Odyssey' which is perhaps the plushest road trip around, where diners can travel by retro routemaster bus to a number of top London establishments, sampling each course along the way.

Side order events include meat and cheese tasting at Pizza East, tequila sampling at Cafe Pacifico, and Belgravia chocolate tours. If time-intensive events aren't your thing, then simply head to a nearby restaurant and sample their bespoke London Restaurant Festival menu.

Festival menus start at an extremely affordable £10 for two courses at award-winning restaurants such as the Mela Indian Restaurant, whilst it costs as little as £25 to sample the culinary delights of Gordon Ramsay's Foxtrot Oscar in Chelsea.

The London Restaurant festival truly offers something for everyone, whether it be serious foodies or culinary novices, and highlights the remarkable dining culture the city has to offer. Open your mind and your tastebuds to the delights of the London Restaurant Festival. 3-17 October, participating restaurants across Greater London.

For more information and to book events and menus, visit www.londonrestaurantfestival.com

Words: KG

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