Posted on August 28th, 2024 by Ronel
In common with most large European cities, London and the surrounding areas are full of restaurants, cafeterias and fast food outlets for those who may not have the time or the inclination to prepare a home-cooked meal. Whether your preference is for kleftiko, the iconic “stolen lamb” dish from Greece, a fiery vindaloo from Goa in India, or a helping of ragύ alla bolognese (spag bol), there are plenty of places to eat in Kingston upon Thames to oblige you.
For many years, dishes such as steak and kidney pudding, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, Lancashire hotpot, cottage pie, and shepherd’s pie were the mainstays of British cuisine. Invading Danes and Vikings introduced the techniques for drying and smoking fish, leaving behind the legacy of Scotland’s “Arbroath smokies”, better known as kippers, to those living South of Hadrian’s Wall.
Had it not been for the Norman invasion, there might have been no wine on British tables until our brief flirtation with the European Union.
Britain is indebted to its multicultural society brought on by immigration. Indian, African and West Indian immigrants have gifted us with a host of mouthwatering new taste sensations.
Many places to eat in Kingston upon Thames owe their origins to immigrants from countries like Poland, Greece, Italy, China, Japan, Pakistan, Jamaica and, more recently, South Africa. Britain is home to almost 220,000 South Africans, of which over 53,000 reside in and around London.
“Saffas”, or “Saffers”, as South African expatriates are widely known, introduced us to the tasty dried meat known as biltong, a more flavourful and healthier version of American jerky. In turn, we were treated to the unique blend of Portuguese and African cuisine with peri peri chicken exclusive to the South-African born Nando’s.
Furthermore, if you are looking for somewhere to eat in Kingston upon Thames and wish to sample the ultimate seafood feast, you won’t beat Ocean Basket. Now a worldwide phenomenon with over 200 restaurants serving 18 million people annually, it was born of a Greek immigrant family that opened a tiny, seven-seater diner and seafood deli in Pretoria, South Africa.
Fish, invariably accompanied by chips, has long been a staple on the British dining table, and many choose to purchase it ready-cooked from one of the approximately 11,000 chippies that, between them, sell 360 million portions of fish and chips every year.
That said, many fish and chip lovers are now eager to sample some of the more exotic fruits of the sea. Following the opening of two Ocean Basket restaurants in the Greater London area in 2022, thousands have been flocking to Bromley and Kingston upon Thames to dine on oysters, mussels, prawns, calamari, and succulent Cape hake. Why not join them? Follow this link to book a table at one of the best places to eat in Kingston upon Thames.
