Troughs and watering holes near the Albert Hall

[Colonel Danby]

I bow to your better contacts Philip: you must have been very proud receiving a letter from Letheby's. I once got a long reply from John Drummond to my letter about House matters, but I fear it must be small fare compared to your triumph with the caterers. And I have dined in RAH, and found it overpriced and not that impressive repast at those sort of prices. Anyway, this argument is futile: you like eating at the RAH, and I don't. Sorted.

Then we shall have to agree to differ, mon Colonel. I repeat, there is nothing 'indifferent' about the food, and I suggest that you may not have tried it recently. Also, it's not the Hall that are exploiting a captured market. The Hall has outsourced the catering, as it has for as long as I can remember, and my memory goes back as far as Letheby & Christopher, who were the predecessors of Leith's, who were the predecessors of rhubarb. As I have in my files a letter from a Letheby & Christopher catering manager thanking me for my comments I do not think you will dispute that last point. Just asking, but when did you last get such a letter?

Where I think we will agree is that the current positioning of the catering is unfriendly to prommers. We are a different audience, and the caterers ignore that at their commercial peril.

By the way, although there was a bag search on Friday, I'm not aware that comestibles were forbidden. Certainly I had no problem bringing in cough sweets and a water bottle. Rumour has it that the Hall have learned their lesson about the difference between bringing food in, and consuming it in the Hall, and that the knuckle-draggers have been warned accordingly.

[Barbirollians]

There is a Brindisa nearby - lovely tapas .

[hmvman]

Thanks for the recommendation of Côte Brasserie in Kensington. We ate there before the Prom this evening and went for the £11.90 3-course menu. It was excellent value for money.

[Nick Armstrong]

Thanks for the recommendation of Côte Brasserie in Kensington. We ate there before the Prom this evening and went for the £11.90 3-course menu. It was excellent value for money.

[teamsaint]

do they provide doggie bags?

oh, and is it acceptable to receive a delivery from Dominos during the interval?

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

Wanting something a little more Mediterranean ahead of this evening's verismotastic I gioielli della Madonna at Holland Park, I headed to Carluccio's and enjoyed a very fine penne alla luganica, washed down with a glass of Sicilian red. Sad, however, to report another tiramisu masquerading as cake rather than a trifle-based dessert...

[PhilipT]

A brief update on my post #16.

A look at the Elgar Room menu suggests that it has gone more mainstream this year, but I haven't had the opportunity to dine there yet.
The new Café Bar at Door 12, open all day, does decent food but it's not cheap - a lunch of soup, cold beef salad and a glass of wine cost around £20. It seems to be popular at tea-time, though I don't think much of their tea.

Just a matter of historical record now, but I thought the restaurants and West Arena Foyer Bar (where the salad bar has moved to) did well to serve proper food, not just packets of sandwiches, during the 30-minute intervals of Götterdämmerung (and, presumably, the other Ring operas). £7.50 for a ham salad and a slice of lemon cake was OK, and very welcome during such a long performance.

[Dermot]

During a visit to London last weekend, we went to the Botticelli Reimagined exhibition at the V&A museum. As my fellow visitor has knee trouble, we were looking for somewhere to dine afterwards without the need to walk far or take the Tube. I came across Ognisko Polish restaurant on Exhibition Road and, even though I had never eaten Polish food, made a reservation.

http://www.ogniskorestaurant.co.uk/

It is situated in one of the fine Prince's Gate buildings and the dining room is elegant and exceptionally comfortable. Our booking was for 8pm on Friday and the restaurant was packed with a good atmosphere. The Polish staff were helpful and patient in explaining the menu to newcomers to their cuisine. Many of the diners started with shots of infused vodka, a house specialty, but as we had already drunk wine in the V&A, and would be having more with our meal, we skipped these. We each had a placek (is that the singular of placki?) to start and then a main course with two 500ml carafes of wine. It was a wonderful evening and we lingered there, relaxing over our wine, for two and a half hours.

Ognisko does a pre-theatre menu, 2 courses £18.50/3 courses £22.00, which might be suitable for prommers. You would need to check at what time they start serving dinner. I have dined in many branches of Côte, including Kensington, on visits to London over the years and agree that it offers exceptional value. Dining in Ognisko is more of an occasion, however.

[Beef Oven!]

During a visit to London last weekend, we went to the Botticelli Reimagined exhibition at the V&A museum. As my fellow visitor has knee trouble, we were looking for somewhere to dine afterwards without the need to walk far or take the Tube. I came across Ognisko Polish restaurant on Exhibition Road and, even though I had never eaten Polish food, made a reservation.

http://www.ogniskorestaurant.co.uk/

It is situated in one of the fine Prince's Gate buildings and the dining room is elegant and exceptionally comfortable. Our booking was for 8pm on Friday and the restaurant was packed with a good atmosphere. The Polish staff were helpful and patient in explaining the menu to newcomers to their cuisine. Many of the diners started with shots of infused vodka, a house specialty, but as we had already drunk wine in the V&A, and would be having more with our meal, we skipped these. We each had a placek (is that the singular of placki?) to start and then a main course with two 500ml carafes of wine. It was a wonderful evening and we lingered there, relaxing over our wine, for two and a half hours.

Ognisko does a pre-theatre menu, 2 courses £18.50/3 courses £22.00, which might be suitable for prommers. You would need to check at what time they start serving dinner. I have dined in many branches of Côte, including Kensington, on visits to London over the years and agree that it offers exceptional value. Dining in Ognisko is more of an occasion, however.

I ate there a few years ago and really enjoyed it very much indeed. Reasonably priced for the location and good value. Good beer too, I remember!