ONE of the questions I am most often asked by people, strangely enough, is, "Where should I eat in London?" To date, I have been unable to give any sort of decent answer to the inquiry - where, after all, can you even begin to answer the question? - so I am truly grateful to the food writer Charles Campion, who has just written London Restaurants - The Rough Guide 1999, and has surely answered the query of every Irish person visiting the sprawling metropolis.
The book is not merely witty and very well written, but by dividing London into its respective areas and choosing more than 300 of the best places to eat from across the spectrum, it is truly useful, whether you are in London for a weekend or for a year. Campion has worked hard on this; the research is comprehensive, authoritative and contemporary. In fact, my advice would be that you simply should not go to London without a copy of this smart little book in your pocket.
It is strong on ethnic food, covers the swish places as well as the simple, and it knocks every other guide to London food into fourth place. At £6.99, it is also a bargain.
Charles Campion, London Restaurants - The Rough Guide 1999 (Penguin £6.99)