I have just returned from London where I shamelessly gorged myself on all sorts of delicious and magical foods. I certainly didn’t achieve all of my culinary goals, but I did put a good dent into my interminable list of places to eat before I die (admittedly some dramatic wording but you should see my cholesterol levels–I’m just being a realist). Here are some places I enjoyed in London:

L’Anima: Amazing creative Italian in the heart of the City.

Galvin La Chapelle: Gorgeous French cuisine in Spitalfields.

Tayyabs: Great Pakistani in East London.

The Greenwich Union: excellent pub food, an excellent pub burger, and delicious beers.

The Hawksmoor: Famous Spitalfields steakhouse that should get equal praise for its meat and its starters like Tamworth belly ribs and Jerusalem artichoke salad.

Monmouth Coffee: Stellar coffee and rich, buttery pastries in Borough Market.

Canteen: great British food in several central locations.

Leila’s Shop: Damn good breakfasts in Shoreditch.

Antepliler: Good lahmacun and amazing künefe in Green Lanes.

Barrafina: Superb Soho tapas joint.

The Wells: A delightful gastropub in Hampstead.

Franco Manca: Neapolitan Pizza in the Brixton Market. Yeah, it’s not Naples, but I’ll take it.

Meze Mangal: London’s best lahmacun is in Dalston.