While the “Eat Out to Help Out” restaurant discount scheme has seen huge uptake, the 50 percent off voucher on food and non-alcoholic drinks — capped at £10 per head, and funded by the government — ended on 31 August.
Hospitality trade body boss Kate Nicholls has called on the government to extend the scheme for a month, telling BBC Breakfast that the scheme had boosted both consumer confidence and business. Last week, after it was revealed over 35 million meals had been served in two weeks, Nicholls said the initiative had been “hugely beneficial.”
But, before the government does or doesn’t announce its extension, a growing number of London restaurants are extending the scheme on their own dime, offering either a straight continuation of the Monday – Wednesday deal or their own spin. Here’s a running list of who’s doing it, and what the deals are.
A number of London restaurants have resumed dine-in service. However, eating outside, remains, right now, the safest way to eat in the city, and diners can check with restaurants to confirm their Covid-secure measures before deciding to visit.
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Brawn on Columbia Road in Hackney would be extending the Eat Out to Help Out offer through September. The details of any extension at Brawn have not yet been confirmed.
Normah’s Cafe
Where: Queensway Market, 23-25 Queensway, W2 4QJ
What: Normah Abd Hamid’s small, but spectacular Malaysian cafe inside Queensway Market is offering 25 percent-off throughout September.
Barshu
Where: 28 Frith Street, W1D 5LF
What: Soho Sichuan restaurant Barshu is offering 50 percent off all food and non-alcoholic drinks (up to £10 per person) every Tuesday to Thursday in September.
Royal China Club
Where: 40-42 Baker Street, W1U 7AJ
What: One of London’s iconic Cantonese restaurants is offering 25 percent off Monday to Thursday throughout September.
Elliot’s
Where: 12 Stoney Street, SE1 9AD
What: Borough Market natural wine bar and modern European small plates restaurant Elliot’s will continue the same 50 percent-off scheme throughout September, offering a discount on the likes of wood-fired sourdough pizzas, Cantabrian anchovy toasts, and potato flatbread with trout roe, sour cream, and chives.
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Where: 85 Piccadilly, W1J 7NB
What: Ollie Dabbous’ Michelin-Starred Mayfair restaurant will continue the scheme, as it was in August, throughout September by offering a discount of 50 percent of up to £10, Monday to Wednesday at the more casual “Ground” restaurant, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The offer is available in HIDE “Above,” the more formal dining room on Wednesdays for dinner.
Clipstone
Where: 5 Clipstone Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 6BB
What: Fitzrovia’s modern European bistro (from the team behind Portland and Quality Chop House) will continue the same 50 percent-off scheme throughout September.
Casa do Frango
Where: 2 King John Court, EC2A 3EZ and 1st floor, 32 Southwark Street, SE1 1TU
What: One of London’s best (Algarvian-style) chicken and chips restaurants will continue the same 50 percent-off scheme throughout September. It means the restaurant’s trademark piri piri chicken, with a side of chips costs £7; with a bottle of Super Bock: £10.50.
Bubala
Where: 65 Commercial Street, Spitalfields, E1 6BD
What: Throughout September, on ‘Mezze Mondays’, this vegetable-heavy Middle Eastern restaurant will offer a special set menu for £20 per person. For the rest of the week, the Bubala Knows Best feasting menu will be priced at £32.50 per head. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout September, this menu will be discounted by £10.
Casse-Croute
Where: 109 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, SE1 3XB
What: Bermondsey’s brilliant French bistro will continue the scheme through September, but offer the discount only at lunchtime, Monday to Wednesday.
Pique-Nique
Where: Tanner Street, Bermondsey, SE1 3LD
What: Casse-Croute’s slightly smarter (chicken specialist) sister site will extend the scheme throughout September, lunch and dinner, Monday to Wednesday.
Rhythm Kitchen
Where: 257 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17 9PT
What: Caribbean restaurant and jerk chicken specialist Rhythm Kitchen will offer 50 percent off up to the value of £10 on Tuesdays in September.
Brigadiers
Where: 1-5 Bloomberg Arcade, EC4N 8AR
What: City-based all day Indian barbecue restaurant and sports bar will offer 20 percent off the full menu (excluding alcohol) throughout September on Tuesday: 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.; Wednesday: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.; Thursday – Saturday: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Quote “Stay Eating Out” when booking.
Gymkhana
Where: 42 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, W1S 4JH
What: Michelin-starred Indian restaurant will offer 20 percent off the menu (excluding alcohol) throughout September on Tuesday and Wednesday: 5.30 p.m. – 6 p.m.; Wednesday – Saturday: 12 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. Quote “Stay Eating Out” when booking.
Trishna
Where: 15-17 Blandford Street, Marylebone, W1U 3DG
What: Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, which specialises on the coastal cuisine of the country’s south west will offer 20 percent off (excluding alcohol) throughout September on Tuesday and Wednesday: 5.30 p.m. – 10.30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 12 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. Quote “Stay Eating Out” when booking.
Hoppers
Where: Three locations
What: Sri Lankan and South Indian road-stall-inspired mini group will offer two discount options throughout September: A free drink with the “Taste of Hoppers” set menu before 6.30 p.m., Monday to Friday; and unlimited hoppers/dosas with a late-night set menu post 9.30 p.m. Monday to Thursday (£25 per person.)
Berenjak
Where: 27 Romilly Street, Soho, W1D 5AL
What: Soho restaurant inspired by the hole in the wall kabab shops of Tehran will offer offering a bottomless kabab menu from 9.30 p.m. each evening, priced at £30 per person throughout September and beyond. It also includes unlimited lager or gin and tonics.
Sager + Wilde / Fare
Where: Various locations
What: A continuation of the 50 percent off up to the value of £10 (Monday to Wednesday) at wine bars on Hackney Road and Paradise Row, plus pizza and small plates spot Fare on Old Street. Throughout September.
Oren
Where: 89 Shacklewell Lane, Hackney Downs,E8 2EB
What: Eastern Mediterranean restaurant and grill Oren will extend the scheme throughout September, and open on Mondays for the first time.
Kricket
Where: Three locations
What: Indian-inspired restaurant mini chain Kricket will offer 50 percent off everything except alcoholic drinks (“unlimited”) on Mondays for the rest of the year.
Sea Containers
Where: 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PD
What: Restaurant inside the riverside hotel on the Southbank, with views across the Thames to St Paul’s Cathedral, will offer a straight extension of the scheme throughout September.
Gunpowder
Where: 11 White’s Row, Spitalfields, E1 7NF and 4 Duchess Walk, SE1 2SD
What: Both of these modern Indian restaurants have introduced a new £10 lunch offer. “Rice Plate Special” is inspired by the canteens of Mumbai. It features a rice dish, chopped salad, and a house pickle, such as Hyderabadi lamb biryani, kachumber raita, and chilli pickle.
Legare
Where: Cardamom Building, 31 Shad Thames, Tower Bridge SE1 2YR
What: This low-key great Italian restaurant in the shadow of Tower Bridge is offering a pasta, salad, and cannolo at £10 at lunchtime through September, with a straight extension of the scheme, Monday — Wednesday, at dinner.
Sophie’s Steakhouse
Where: 42 — 44 Great Windmill Street, Soho W1D 7NB; 311 — 313 Fulham Road, Chelsea SW10 9QH
What: A straight extension of the scheme through September, with the added bonus of half-price martinis.
Soho House Restaurants
Where: Cecconi’s Pizza Bar, Cafe Boheme, and Dean Street Townhouse in Soho; The Allis, White City; Electric Diner, Portobello Road; Pizza East and Hoxton Grill, Shoreditch.
What: A straight extension of the scheme throughout September, at all the group’s public restaurants across London.
Quality Chop House
Where: 88-94 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3EA
What: “To celebrate and extend the success of the Eat out To Help Out scheme,” the modern British restaurant will offer three of its “iconic” dishes for £10 in “QCH Classics” set lunch throughout September. It will include the infamous mince on dripping toast, confit potatoes, and extra virgin olive oil ice cream.
Homeslice
Where: Various locations
What: An extension of the 50 percent scheme through September at four currently open branches of the pizza chain.
Smokestak
Where: 35 Sclater Street, Shoreditch E1 6LB
What: More of a set-menu at David Carter’s east London smoker, with a starter, say charred corn salsa or pig tails; a smoked meat bun with a side; and gelato/sorbet coming in at £15 Monday — Wednesday.
Farzi Cafe
Where: 8 Haymarket, St. James’s SW1Y 4BP
What: An extension of the 50 percent off up to the value of £10 per person will be extended until 12 September, Monday to Friday (5 p.m. to 10.30pm) and every Saturday at lunch (12 to 5 p.m.)
Manteca
Where: 58 — 59 Great Marlborough Street, Soho W1F 7JY
What: A miniature version of the deal from Chris Leach’s pasta and charcuterie space, with focaccia; mortadella or chicken liver parfait; and any pasta dish available as a £10 trio Monday — Wednesday through September.
Polpo
Where: 41 Beak Street, Soho, W1F 9SB and 81 Duke of York Square, Chelsea, SW3 4LY
What: An extension of the scheme through September at both branches of the Venetian small plates restaurant. It will also introduce a weekly changing menu at Soho so it “can get a bit more creative in the kitchen.”
Applebee’s Fish
Where: 5 Stoney Street, SE1 9AA
What: Applebee’s fishmonger and seafood restaurant in Borough Market will extend the scheme by offering 50 percent off dishes (up to £10) every Monday and Tuesday throughout September.
Murano and Cafe Murano
Where: Murano: 20 Queen Street, Mayfair, W1J 5PP; Cafe Murano Bermondsey: 184 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ; St. James’s: 33 St James’s Street, SW1A 1HD
What: Chef Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-starred Italian restaurant in Mayfair, and her more casual pasta restaurants — Cafe Murano in Bermondsey and St James — will offer 50 percent off food and non-alcoholic drinks to the value of £10 at lunch and dinner throughout September. Opening times are TBC.
Ombra
Where: 1 Vyner Street, E2 9DG
What: One of lockdown’s major success stories, chef Mitshel Ibrahim’s canalside trattoria will offer £10 off the restaurant’s new four-course set menu throughout September on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
Top Cuvee
Where: 177B Blackstock Road, Highbury East N5 2LL
What: Another one of lockdown’s major success stories is christening a newly decluttered menu with a 25 percent off deal, available every Wednesday through September.
Delhi Grill
Where: 21 Chapel Market, Angel N1 9EZ
What: Offering a 50 percent discount on all food seven days a week throughout September to celebrate the Punjabi restaurant’s 10 year anniversary.
Pizzaro Restaurants
Where: Various locations.
What: A straight extension of the scheme through September at one of the city’s top Spanish restaurant groups.
Benares Restaurant
Where: 12a Berkeley Square, Mayfair W1J 6BS
What: £10 per person off food and non-alcoholic drinks for lunch or dinner when ordering from the à la carte or tasting menu every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until 30 September at Mayfair’s original Indian fine dining restaurant.
Brindisa Restaurants
Where: Various locations.
What: If diners quote “comemos” when booking, pioneering tapas chain Brindisa will apply the same discount as August, Monday — Thursday.
Aqua Shard / Hutong / Aqua Kyoto
Where: 32 London Bridge Street, London Bridge SE1 9SG
What: A straight extension of the scheme through September, with a £30 minimum spend at the Shard’s suite of luxe-scene-to-be-seen restaurants.
Mama Shelter London
Where: 437 Hackney Road, Hackney E2 8PP
What: Hackney’s hip hotel restaurant will offer straight extension of the scheme through the month of September.
Bala Baya
Where: Arch 25, Old Union Yard Arches, 229 Union Street SE1 0LR
What: A straight extension of the scheme through September at the Tel Aviv-inspired bar and restaurant.
Arabica
Where: 3 Rochester Walk, Borough Market SE1 9AF; 7 Lewis Cubitt Walk, King’s Cross N1C 4DT
What: The self-described Levantine restaurants will offer straight extension of the scheme through September.
Flesh and Buns/Shack-fuyu
Where: 41 Earlham Street, Covent Garden WC2H 9LX; 32 Berners Street, Oxford Circus W1T 3LR; 14A Old Compton Street, Soho W1D 4TJ
What: The trio of izakaya-influenced restaurants will offer straight extension of the scheme through September.
Norma
Where: 8 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 2LS
What: Sicilian-inspired hotspot on Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia will offer a large portion of handmade pasta on the specials board for just £10, Monday — Wednesday, throughout September.
Paladar
Where: 4-5 London Road, SE1 6JZ
What: A straight extension of the scheme through September at the Elephant and Castle restaurant that harnesses the variousness of cuisines in Latin America.
Check back for further announcements and updates soon.