Best comfort food in London and where to eat it

1/8
Lizzie Thomson8 October 2018

As the colder months set in, so do the cravings for dishes that leave you feeling full and wholly satisfied.

Whether it’s a gooey mac and cheese or a meaty pie, the capital has its fair share of dishes that warm both inside and out.

We’ve rounded up the go-to spots that deliver on feel-good food.

Grilled cheese sandwich at The Cheese Bar

Brie-lliantly good: The cheesy sandwich

Ah, the humble toastie. Such simple pleasures can be had from pressing bread and cheese under heat. The folks at The Cheese Bar know their stuff when it comes to comfort food. There are five types of sandwich on offer but the stilton bacon and pear chutney is the one to try for the ultimate treat. The bread is crisp on the outside (for that all important crunch) with a soft centre, and the salty yet sweet filling delights the taste buds.

94 Camden Stables, NW1 8AP, thecheesebar.com

Pici Cacio e Pepe at Padella

Heavenly: The cheesy dish

The standout plate at this legendary pasta spot is the Pici Cacio e Pepe. Sure, it may look like some worms losing a fight against a muddy puddle — but looks can be deceiving. The dish is simple, but has all the components for a winning plate: pasta, butter, cheese (three words that are the definition of comfort food). This delectably cheesy dish uses parmesan, black pepper, garlic and oregano to offer a true taste of Tuscany. Just be warmed, at this London Bridge restaurant you literally have to queue for your pasta, but the best things in life are worth waiting for.

6 Southwark St, SE1 1TQ, padella.co

Pie at Battersea Pie Station

Slice of humble pie: The ultimate comfort food at Battersea Pie Station

Everyone knows that pies bring pleasure. It’s got a homely feel that brings crisp winter evenings and roaring fires to mind. The pies at this place may not look like the prettiest pastries but don’t be fooled, these fellas deliver on taste. The pastry is beautifully browned and would make Paul Hollywood proud (and there's not a soggy bottom in sight). This spot also boasts a whole range of accompaniments, like creamy mash or crispy tatties tossed in garlic and rosemary.

28 The Market, WC2E 8RA, batterseapiestation.co.uk

The best pies in London

1/14

Shepherd’s pie at The Ivy

Two becomes one: Lamb and beef mince in The Ivy's dish

The pie at this institution is worth journeying for — even Chrissy Teigen famously travelled across the pond to try it. It’s made up of both lamb and beef mince, to form the ultimate meaty treat on the bottom. Meanwhile, the top boasts a buttery layer of mash with the tell-tell browned edges. Quintessentially British comfort food doesn’t get much better than this.

1-5 West St, WC2H 9NQ, the-ivy.co.uk

Mac and cheese at Mac & Wild

A gouda combination: Mac and cheese at Mac & Wild

Nothing says satisfaction like watching melted cheese fall off your fork as you dive into a portion of steaming mac and cheese. The dish marries together two spectacularly hearty ingredients for the ultimate taste sensation. Some would say it’s hard to top the humble pasta n’ cheese combination, but this Scottish spot does just that — by adding truffle. It’s a tale of two sides, the bottom creamy and rich and the top crisped to perfection. There is also have a haggis version if you're after something more meaty.

65 Great Titchfield St, W1W 7PS, macandwild.com

Roast dinner at Hawksmoor

Make the roast of it: Hawksmoor's meaty selection

There’s no denying this institution delivers on the steak but the team at Hawksmoor can whip up a rather impressive roast dinner too. Alongside the meat joints which take centre stage on the plate, there’s beef dripping-soaked roast potatoes and the bone marrow and onion gravy (which is enough to make your mouth water just thinking about). It’s rich, beefy and food baby-inducing. That’s what comfort food is, after all.

Across London, thehawksmoor.com

Chocolate mousse at Petit Pois

Chocolate frenzy: Petit Pois' mousse

For those with a sweet tooth, this chocolate dessert will not disappoint. Chef Chris Smith’s mousse arrives at the end of the meal in a very large mixing bowl, before being portioned out to hungry diners. Contrary to most comfort food, it’s light and airy, but packs a punch with flavour. It’s silky and lip-smackingly indulgent.

9 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU, petitpoisbistro.com

Margherita pizza at Sodo

Dough for it: Sodo's creations

A freshly-baked pizza has heartwarming abilities. The tangy tomato layer, the gooey mozzarella and the doughy base are a harmonious combination of flavours. For those not clued up, the name of this restaurant stands for sourdough and the dough in question is fermented for 48 hours, then baked at over 450 degrees so it guarantees that light and airy texture.

63 Pitfield St, N1 6BU, sodopizza.co.uk

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in