Originally Posted by
aceman
Brick lane is pretty lousy, but haven't been in years, if you are dragged there, negotiate a deal before you go in, I would insist on first round of drinks free and 20% off the bill.
I think this is not a good strategy. If you get a substantial reduction off of your bill and/or free drinks, expect far smaller portions and generally poor value for money. It's best to go with places without touts; anywhere that has to harrass you for your business is not worth the trouble.
Originally Posted by
JohnnyColombia
Go to the restaurant where nobody is haggling you on the door. As a rule of thumb, I'd also avoid restaurants with recesses in the ceiling and blue lights.
Yes. And the places that try too hard to be "modern" and end up looking silly usually have much pricier menus to match their decor and sub-standard food.