Top Fives: Bring Your Owns
Booze can be so expensive. Have two or three bottles of wine with your meal, and suddenly that bill is soaring through the roof. Which is why the 'Bring Your Own' restaurant where - strangely enough - you bring your own alcohol to consume with your meal - is such a damn fine idea. And these are five of the best places going...
1. Chez Maria , 5A Princes Street, The Market, Richmond, Surrey (020 8948 1475)
Small, eccentric restaurant where the food is described as 'French/Portuguese' but leans towards the French classics.
2. Lahore Kebab House , 2 Umberstone Street, E1 (020 7481 9737)
Ace grill house serving fierce kebabs, terrific bread and workmanlike curries to the City faithful. A bargain.
3. Alounak , 44 Westbourne Grove, W2 (020 7229 0416)
One of a mini-chain of Iranian eateries that started out in a Portakabin beside Olympia. Great starters with grilled meat to follow.
4. Shamyana , 437-439 Streatham High Road, SW16 (020 8679 6162)
This place dishes up hot Punjabi food - there are all manner of kebabs and some serious specials (like an awesome nihari). Ignore the rather extravagant d?cor and concentrate on the low prices.
5. Huong Viet , An Viet House, 12-14 Englefield Road, N1 (020 7249 0877)
At this homely establishment (the canteen of the Vietnamese Cultural Centre), you'll find simple, light Vietnamese dishes - good seafood, excellent pho (noodle soup).
