The Solo Trip - Restaurant Edition
This is where my solo adventures began, so here are some of my top picks for the best solo dinner out in the UK. You're going to want to save this one for safe keeping...
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Look, we all need to eat, and for some people eating alone can be a big challenge. The fear of being judged or the worries that come with confidently walking into a new space and securing your table for one can be too vast for some, stopping them from being able to enjoy the true simplicity of a solo dinner.
So here are my top picks for you to enjoy over the next month on a solo dinner. Whether you’re new to the practice or this is your first time, you’ll be sure to have a brilliant experience at one of these delicious spots. Each spot has links to my series Come & Have Dinner With Me, so you can see what’s on offer at each spot and what.
London
Dishoom - One that needs no introduction. Excellent behaviour all around. - 4/5.
Mr Bao - One for my trendy south east girls, you just can’t go wrong with a stuffed bun. 5/5
L’Escargot - Snails! That’s all - 4/5
Willows - So cute, so trendy, so delicious. Small plates lovers will enjoy. - 4/5
Andrew Edmunds - The first place I went for a solo dinner in London. Talk about personality! Such a treasure. - 5/5
Milk Beach - Australian food is tres delicious, this is a great spot with a delicious interior. - 4/5
Rocca - One for the fancy girls in Dulwich, I got a lemon finger bowl and some extra crunch bruschetta so I was over the moon. - 3/5
Randall & Aubin - Historic and constantly busy, lovers of oysters and seafood need to go here ASAP. - 5/5
Inko Nito - Famously I once asked if the Kimchi Rice could be made less spicy and they gave me more rice for my tiny fragile mouth. Such a great ambience. - 5/5
The Black Lamb - A classic gastro style menu that goes above and beyond to be innovative and intriguing. Great spot in Wimbledon. - 4/5
Le Fauxmagerie - Vegan cheese, ambience that’s perfect solo and for an intimate date as well as some of the best ‘cheese’ and crackers you’ll try. Also! Chutney heaven! - 5/5
Bubala - Yes it’s all over TikTok, yes you should still go. Some of the best bread and pitta in London. They also do a set menu for one. 5/5
Doppo - Some of the friendliest folk in Soho. Exciting and experimental food, great view for people watching too. 5/5
Mildreds - A vegan classic, but sometimes the classics stand the test of time. Always a good time at Mildreds. 4/5
Chotto Matte - Where you would go if you appeared to enjoy indoor crazy gold and/or having sex on a first date. Bit wild for me, but the Japanese fusion food was interesting - 2/5
The Ivy - Look, i’m a creature of habit so this if I get the chance to go to The Ivy, you know i’ll be there. 5/5
Brasserie Zedel - Felt like I was on a cruise ship but amazingly, I wasn’t! French food complete with a cheese cart, hello! - 4/5
INO - Hands down my favourite restaurant of all time - ever. Perfect solo tables, great central spot and some of the most delicious dishes i’ve ever tried. - 5/5
Lilienblum - Shoreditch girls listen up, this is a very large very spacious restaurant with delicious carpaccio and Tel Aviv inspired food.
Further Afield
Motley, Manchester - A great opportunity to try some local cuisine aka. The Manchester Egg. A bed of piccalilli? Sign me up. - 4/5
Refuge, Manchester - Part of the Kimpton Clocktower in Manchester, it’s a great spot for small plates. I think about the Tikka Octopus I had perhaps twice a week. 5/5
Ducie St Warehouse, Manchester - Great to co-work in as well as find some delightful plates. Famously this is where I tried sweetcorn ribs for the first time. 4/5
Rudy’s Pizza, Manchester- I see Rudy’s has made it’s way to London, but i’d recommend going to Manchester to try this flavoursome hit. - 5/5
Cecconi’s, Bicester Village - Perhaps the chicest venue of all time, this was a delight after a day of shopping and mincing around. 4/5
Rockfish - They play the shipping forecast in the toilets and also have unlimited chips with each dish. Insane behaviour. - 5/5
This list will be updated regularly with new additions so make sure to save or bookmark for future reference. Let me know of any spots you’ve tried and i’ll go and see if they have Jamie’s solo seal of approval.
You can follow along with Come & Have Dinner With Me at Instagram here.