It's exceptionally easy to do as a tourist. Last I visited, first we went to a restaurant and ordered and it was subpar. So then we were told "you have to go to a Chippy, if you want real fish and chips" so we did... they should have told us which "Chippy", they are not all the same.

That was the worst culinary experience of my life. I have never had a more oily nasty fried fish. The wet breading just fell off, and it tasted like very old oil. I threw out 2/3s of it, as did basically everyone else.

We ended up eating at indian restaurants the rest of the trip.

[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

To be fair, this is not helped by the fact that British people are often very bad at recommending good places to eat. A lot of people value familiarity over quality.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

We were actually there for my uncle in laws wedding, so you would think we would have gotten better advice. But I guess weddings are busy...

The food at the wedding was amazing though. I can't even remember it all, they brought out so much food. I think there was venison and duck, and fish I have never even heard of before, it was over the top. But his parents were like old money wealthy, so I doubt that's common. It was also in like a minor castle, and the grounds were just gorgeous. I could have spent days just inspecting all the plants, so much variety of foreign plants and super cool hardwood trees.

That was the only great food we had, although the Indian food pretty good. Got old after a week though.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Oddly enough, I had the exact opposite experience last time I was in London. Amazing fish and chips, terrible Indian food. Worst saag paneer I've ever had. By far. And that's a low bar because I've had some really disappointing saag paneer.

Also, I was entertained when the South Asian guy at the Chippie asked me stuff like, "do you have a big car and a big house?" when he heard my American accent. I had to disabuse him of the notion that we're all wealthy. I wasn't even paying for that trip, it was an especially good contract work gig.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Are you a breakfast person? We normally just ate the biscuits from the hotel room and starved until lunch, but one day my dad and I was going to meet up with my mom and her sister for a traditional English breakfast. However we got lost and ended up in some tiny Cafe, God knows where. They were serving lasagna for breakfast, and it was delicious.

My mom and aunt actually found the place and had some beens and toast and blood sausage, they were not impressed.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

I am definitely a breakfast person and a full English breakfast, minus the horrific beans on toast, is great. I'm not sure about lasagna for breakfast though. Seems like kind of a heavy breakfast meal.