Economic turmoil or not, those holiday presents aren't going to buy themselves this year (or return themselves next month). But where to go for a quick bite while you're hitting the shops? We suggest trying one of these four top in-store eating options from our 2009 London Restaurants guide:
4 Blenheim Crescent, W11; 020-7221 1992
“An iconic destination for serious cooks”, this “teeny-tiny” cafe “located at the back of a unique bookshop” off Ladbroke Grove features “wildly exciting”, “experimental” Eclectic meals (one choice per day), using recipes “taken from featured cookbooks”; it’s “the biggest bargain in town – but don’t tell anyone, it’s busy enough.”
Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, W1; 020-7823 1839
Using the “same kitchen as the [adjacent] restaurant, but with a lighter menu” of Modern British–Med fare, Harvey Nic’s “hectic”, “casual” cafe is “packed with yummy mummies and shoppers” seeking “to recharge”; whilst “service varies from professional to abject indifference”, it remains “relatively fast.”
Nicole Farhi, 158 New Bond St., W1; 020-7499 8408
“For a quick bite amongst the fashionable crowd”, this “lively” eatery “in the basement of Nicole Farhi” has a “simple”, “reasonably priced” Modern European–Med menu that’s “better than you might expect” – even if sceptics sniff the store should “stick to clothes.”
Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, W1; 020-7734 8040; Reserve Online
Named for Fortnum’s birth year, this classy bar in the refurbished retailer’s fresh Food Hall is “worth the stop” for a “reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly”; its chic David Collins design, “quality” Traditional British bites and “worth-the-stop wine bar” – including hundreds of bottles from the adjacent shop at cost plus corkage – all add up to a “good place for pre-theatre” or post–hamper shopping.