London's best BYO restaurants

1/6

10 April 2012

Credit crunch, recession, economic slowdown. I don't know about you but all this talk of doom and gloom makes me want a drink.

Yes, we should be tightening our belts, but that doesn't mean we don't want to eat, drink and be merry, does it? So let's raise our glasses to the lovely London restaurants that allow you to "bring your own".

Instead of the usual eye-watering mark-ups you'd expect on wines à la carte, they charge a small "corkage" fee, so you and your mates can tuck into a bottle of your favourite wine without paying through the nose. And crucially, you're not restricted in your culinary choices. In days gone by it was just cheap and cheerful Brick Lane restaurants that offered BYO, but now you can take your own plonk to sample everything from spit-roasted meats to modern British.

Here's London Lite's guide to the best BYOs in town.

Alounak
For authentic Persian food at very reasonable prices, you can't do much better than Alounak in Olympia.

The decor and experience is atmospheric, the food plentiful and tasty. The menu of kebabs, classic dips and salads served with fresh bread is supplemented by dishes of the day. Go tonight to try Wednesday's lamb and fried aubergines in tomato sauce.
Corkage: no charge. 10 Russell Gardens, Kensington, 020 7603 7645

Rotisserie Jules
Is there a more perfect midweek supper than roast chicken, green beans and a bowl of creamy gratin dauphinoise? Yep. All of the above with a nice bottle of red from the offie.

Rotisserie Jules, with branches in South Kensington and Notting Hill, made its reputation on simple spit-roasted meats like roast chicken (from £18.25 for a whole chicken with two side dishes), leg of lamb or duck designed for sharing with friends, but now also offers warm salads, soups and sandwiches.

Both branches are conveniently close to decent wine shops and in Notting Hill the Oddbins Fine Wine store is handily located if you're feeling flush.
Corkage: £5. 6-8 Bute Street, South Kensington, 020 7584 0600; 133a Notting Hill Gate, 020 7221 3331

Tayyabs
What started out in the Seventies as a neighbourhood café has gone on to become a hit with critics, foodies and locals alike.

Expanded and refurbished a couple of years ago, this Whitechapel destination continues to offer what is arguably London's best Pakistani Punjabi food, with tandoor roasted meats a speciality.

Daily specials, including the unmissable Thursday treat of karahi lamb chops, are excellent.

Booking is essential as the queues here are always impressive. Be warned, some dishes pack a lot of heat so your wine choice risks being overpowered. Going the beer route could be the answer for a much-needed cooling beverage.
Corkage: no charge. 83-89 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, 020 7247 6400, tayyabs.co.uk

Green & Blue
It's BYO but not as you know it at this Clapham wine bar-cum-shop. If you don't fancy anything from its menu that day you can bring along the food of your choice - be it home- cooked from the chippy or from Maccy D's - then take your pick of Green & Blue's excellent wines. You'll be charged £3 "chippage" just to cover the use of utensils, napkins and all the other tablewear.

Wine mark-ups are low anyway (compare them with a top restaurant list and you'll see as much for yourself), but on Tuesdays you can drink anything over £10 at shelf price.

The last Friday in the month is Champagne Club when you can drink any champers you like at shelf prices. We say, give these wonderful people a medal.
"Chippage" (for bring your own food): £3. 20-26 Bedford Road, Clapham, 020 7498 9648

1707 Wine Bar
The smart new 1707 Wine Bar at upper-crust store, Fortnum & Mason, is not strictly BYO, but pick any wine off the shelves in the wine department and enjoy it in the bar for £10 corkage.

The menu's list of classic dishes is designed to allow the wines to shine. Try smoked salmon tart with lemon (£11.50) with a chilled chablis or partridge-and lentil salad (£14) with a red burgundy. The wine bar is open until 11pm, Monday-Saturday, and noon to 5.30pm, Sunday.
Corkage: £10. 181 Piccadilly, 020 7734 8040

Mangal Ocakbasi
This may be a basic-looking place but it's a fun option, especially for a pre- or post-show dinner if you're going to Dalston's nearby Arcola Theatre.

Mangal Ocakbasi is one of London's best-known and best-loved Turkish restaurants, offering a vast choice of expertly grilled authentic kebabs from the charcoal grill. The grilled quail, £8, or lamb spare ribs, £7.50, come highly recommended. Polish it all of f with plenty of delicious homemade bread and a generous plateful of tomato salad.
Corkage: no charge. 10 Arcola Street, Dalston, 020 7275 8981

Rochelle Canteen
This cool daytime hangout was once east London's best-kept secret. On the site of the old bike sheds at the now converted Rochelle School, the Rochelle Canteen is ostensibly for artists living in the onsite studios, but anyone can go here - just press the "canteen" buzzer to gain admittance.

The combination of terrific food from Melanie Arnold and Margot Henderson (wife of St John's Fergus) and stripped-back chic is catnip to the area's art, design and fashion folk.

A recent lunch here delivered a superior pork and prune terrine and cured mackerel to start, with a comforting bowl of Moroccan soup, harira, and roast pigeon for mains. Seville orange tart rounded things off nicely. All this at just over £40 for two.
Closed weekends and evenings. Corkage: £3.50 for champagne; £5 for wine. Rochelle School, Arnold Circus, Bethnal Green, 020 7729 5677

London's best BYO restaurants

Read More