How to bag a peak time table at London's busiest restaurants

Frankie McCoy shares her tips on how to beat the hordes
Queue jump: expect to see Londoners queuing outside the city's top restaurants
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Frankie McCoy23 November 2016

There have been so many must-try dishes of 2016, from the knafeh at The Barbary to Jikoni’s scrag end pie and Kiln’s short rib curry. But with only four Mondays until Christmas, time is running out to try them all, especially as restaurants are block-booked for parties.

At the same time, according to one blogger: “Queueing’s just a bit 2014”. That means if you want to eat well this festive season you need to plan. Here’s how to beat the hordes.

Frontload your week

“We may only have 20 seats at Kricket Brixton but there’s plenty of opportunity to beat the prime time queues,” says Rik Campbell, co-founder of the ever-packed Indian joint. He suggests shifting dinner to the beginning of the week, perfect during December, the month where anything goes. According to Campbell: “Monday or Tuesday evenings are always good times to try out those busy places in London, and a good excuse to be social. Thursday through Saturday are always the most popular days but if you don’t mind an early dinner we often have tables at 5.30pm sharp.”

And if you’re determined to have your samphire pakora fix on a Friday evening, look out for Kricket’s new restaurant in Soho opening soon.

Get on the list

The new Chick ’n’ Sours does take bookings, but if you’ve forgotten it’s early-bird dining or a boozy wait. Chef and founder Carl Clarke advises: “The best time to get your chicken fix is to get down when we open the doors at 5.30pm as we always hold tables back for walk-ins. We fill up pretty quick, though, so you can pop your name on the list, head off for a quick one at Ape & Bird and we’ll text you when the table’s ready.”

Do lunch: Bao in Soho is rarely as busy in the middle of the day

Find a queue with perks

Barrafina — “no reservations, no exceptions” — demands continual presence in the typically hour-long queue at all three locations. But it’s no hardship, as a spokesperson points out: “You are welcome to order drinks and snacks in the queue, and consider it pre-drinks at a bar.” Once you’re enjoying a sherry and a pan con tomate you won’t care about dinner. Meanwhile, Trade in Whitechapel offers free brownies to queuers.

Do lunch

If you can escape the office at midday, it’s the perfect time to try the buns at Bao in Soho. In the evening, it’s still impossible to get in but our mole reports that she breezed straight to a table at 12.30pm.

30 must-try dishes in London restaurants

1/31

Go solo

The Barbary’s director, Layo Paskin, insists that a seat isn’t impossible: “Lunch is a good time and the worst wait is never more than 30 minutes. For dinner you need to arrive by 5.45pm and then sometimes after 9pm is possible.”

If you really don’t want to queue, go alone. You’ll be seated immediately and you won’t have to share.

Visit standard.co.uk/restaurants for the latest news and reviews from London’s food scene.

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