Criterion Restaurant is included in the Top 10 Romantic London Restaurants.
About the Criterion Restaurant
The gold gilded ceilings, marble floors and imposing arches make this Grade II listed space a really opulent location. It's kept light by the mirrored walls, and new furniture has refreshed the space.
The Criterion was in Piccadilly even before the famous 'Eros' statue, which arrived in 1893. Both the restaurant and the theatre have had many alterations over the years but the grandeur has been maintained.
The Criterion Restaurant has hosted many famous diners including Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George who regularly met here, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who had the idea for Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes while dining at the Criterion, and H.G.Wells when he was the Chairman of the Royal College of Science's Old Students.
The Criterion's interior has been used in Batman: The Dark Knight in 2008 and Russell Crowe's A Good Year in 2006.
From 1995, the Criterion had Marco Pierre White as it's Head Chef, but the restaurant relaunched in 2009 with new Russian owners and a new head chef, Matthew Foxon, who chooses British produce to ensure fresh ingredients. Both the simplicity and luxury of the menu combines perfectly with the neo Byzantine grandeur of the dining room creating an experience that is perfect for both a formal business meal and relaxed social dining.
Address
London
W1J 9HP
Nearest Tube Station
Piccadilly CircusUse Journey Planner to plan your route by public transport.
Telephone
Open for lunch, traditional afternoon tea and dinner, seven days a week.
A set menu is available at lunch, pre and post theatre, and priced at £18 for two courses and £23 for three courses. (2009)
Official Website
Criterion Restaurant
© Laura Porter, licensed to About.com, Inc.
