During my time living in London I loved eating out and trying new places but also found it incredibly expensive. Ever the one for a good deal, I always looked around for offers. Opentable (previously TopTable) is pretty well known but I’m still surprised by the range of offers they have. I thought I’d pick out some of my favourites to show you that you can dine at the fanciest of places for a reasonable price!
The Savoy Grill
We did this for my friend Toni’s birthday and would strongly recommend. We picked the 3 course menu with a glass of sparkling Rose for £30 but there’s a few different options available. It’s really a pre/post theatre menu so just check your timings when booking that the offer is valid. It’s available Monday – Friday. You can book directly but it’s more expensive and you lose the wine!
Roux at The Langham
Another great offer (note that it’s not available at the moment but often comes up so keep a look out). This is 2 or 3 courses and a glass of bubbles for around £40. Check out the Artesian bar on the way in if you really fancy going all out, no bargains there but cocktails are worth the splurge (see review here).
Alyn Williams at The Westbury
This was a treat for my Dad’s retirement. It’s at the top end of the budget (£65) but you are paying for a tasting menu (and a glass of bubbly is included) so you are getting a lot more for your money. Alongside the tasting menu course you can count on delicious breads, amuse bouche and homemade chocolates to finish. Highly recommended for a special occasion as is the Polo bar in the Westbury for cocktails before or after.
Fera at Claridge’s
This offer is 3 courses and a glass of champagne (Laurent Perrier when we went) for £42. The same menu (minus the champagne) is available when booking directly through Claridges for the same price but only during lunch. Through Opentable you can get the same offer if you book a table before 7pm from Sunday – Wednesday. It’s valid at different points in the year so check ahead. Ask for a tour of the kitchen after your meal, I was a bit worried when my friend Lizzie did (we were on a offer after all!), but the staff were super friendly and gave us a tour so it’s definitely worthwhile.
The Dorchester
Another one that’s got to be on the bucket list. There isn’t currently an offer for the Dorchester (minus the 1,000 points one that you gain by dining through Opentable). As mentioned above, offers vary so check throughout the year. We went to Alain Ducasse on an Opentable offer and again got 3 courses and a glass of champagne for £38 and can highly recommend for the people watching alone!
Massimo Restaurant and Bar
Part of the Corinthia Hotel, this Italian restaurant has the wow factor and offers another good option of 3 courses and a glass of sparkling wine for £35. The great thing about this offer is that it’s valid everyday from 5.30pm and 7.00pm or after 9.30pm. The current offer started in November last year and runs until May.
The Guestbook comment: “Opentable or not – all restaurants made us feel special and it really didn’t matter that we were on a deal. I never would have been able to dine in any of these places without saving and spending a small fortune but these offers mean that I’ve been able to visit and experience high end dining experiences. That’s not to say I’d never consider paying full price for a special occasion given the food, service and atmosphere I experienced, but until I win the lottery I’ll continue to search out a bargain!”
Note: All of the above are up to date at the time of writing so I’d strongly recommend checking Opentable for the latest offers to make sure you get the best deals as they change throughout the year.