UK: what to eat out?

yirara

I'll be on business in a tiny seaside resort next week and wonder what the best dinner option might be for me. No, not a specific restaurant, but some general advise on what to eat in the UK. If I was in London I'd eat a few nigiri sushi, a misosoup and edamane. But there's no sushi in that town. Lots of fine dining, lots of chippies and pubs.. and the average Chinese, Indian and Italian by the look of it. My stomach can't deal with fried and very fatty food, and I don't want to go too much over my calories, but I need something substantial enough in the evening. Not too happy about eating out alone, thus I might chose for take away or a simple place. Any ideas?

cwolfman13

I'm partial to bangers and mash, shepherds pie, and fish 'n chips myself...I especially love mushy peas.

KarenJanine

Where will you be exactly? There's probably someone here that lives nearby or knows the area and can make some specific recommendations.

There are a lot of chain restaurants and pubs in the UK where you can see the menus online beforehand. Some places also have calorie counts or recommended 'lighter' options on the menus. Portions are usually smaller than those in the US (though I don't know where you're from).

tkphotogirl

Which town? Someone on here might have local knowledge. I'd probably go for Indian food and have something like tandoori king prawns (no sauce so easier to guesstimate calories) and plain rice.

rhubarbrach

It's not fine dining but everywhere has a whetherspoons pub. All the food has the calories on the menu and a wide selection of everything. What I think would be good for you, if your on your lonesome, it wont be too intimidating and there is often a TV on for some distractions
Saying that, if your by the seaside, treat yourself to a proper chippy tea

Chief_Rocka

giggity

yirara

Sorry, it's such a tiny place with just one big business that I'd prefer not to tell.
So, no fish and chips, no bangers and mash and the usual food as I'll have reflux problems for days if I'd eat those. Mashed potatoes without butter would be ok, but then I'd need a grilled, not a panfried sausage. Mushy peas are lovely though!
Btw, there only seems to be something like a chain cafe and a chain pub or something. Lots of independent places.

KarenJanine

Independent cafes and pubs will do simple things like jacket potatoes, ploughmans salads and sandwiches.

If you go for a takeaway, tandoori chicken and plain rice, or a tomato-based curry would be less fattier options. For Chinese, just avoid deep-fried items. You could have plain rice with vegetables and chicken.

If you go for Italian, there's usually some form of pasta with pomodoro sauce. Most Italian restaurants also have grilled meat or fish options.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

I'd go for steak and salad. Great protein, you can guesstimate the calories well. Just ask for no dressing on the salad.

If you go for Chinese I find egg foo yung not too horrendous, again good protien and it doesn't soak the oil up to bad.

smotheredincheese

I'd go to a pub and have a jacket potato and salad or something. As has already been said, pretty much everywhere has a Wetherspoons nowadays and they list the calorie count of all their foods on the menu, which is useful in a way but their food is also so much higher in calories than other places.
Personally though I'd just pick a nice looking independent restaurant and decide what to get after looking at the menu. I wouldn't worry about having to eat out alone, most restaurants will be packed in a seaside town at this time of year so you'll just blend in to the crowd.

yirara

Thanks guys. Gives me some ideas. Nah, it's not about being noticable or something. It's just boring to really eat out alone. Then I'd rather get a take away, lay on my hotel bed and play a computer game while eating *blush*

smotheredincheese

yirara wrote: »

Thanks guys. Gives me some ideas. Nah, it's not about being noticable or something. It's just boring to really eat out alone. Then I'd rather get a take away, lay on my hotel bed and play a computer game while eating *blush*

You might find a nice restaurant with a sea view or something, go out and explore the seaside!

yirara

I'll go for a hike once the business part is done. Sitting outside: nah, I'm too used to 45C outside temperatures at the moment. I'd need winter clothes to survive the British summer

KarenJanine

yirara wrote: »

I'll go for a hike once the business part is done. Sitting outside: nah, I'm too used to 45C outside temperatures at the moment. I'd need winter clothes to survive the British summer

Haha it's actually been pretty mild here lately so you're coming at a good time. It wont be anywhere near 45 though!

yirara

Not wanting to start a 'my summer is better than your summer' discussion, but I was in London last summer, and in the evening I was sooo freezing in my hotelroom. I took my book and sat down in the steamroom, and it didn't feel particularly hot, but pleasantly temperate

Furbuster

Tandoori or tikka from the Indian? That's cooked dry. With rice or bread? Would your stomach handle that?

yirara

Might be a good idea, Furbuster. I don't mind fullfat dairy or olive oil over a salad, but something seem to happen to fat when it's heated, regardless of whether it's molten cheese, oil or very farty meat. That jyst gives me reflux.

Furbuster

I think farty meat would give anybody a bad belly

slideaway1

Get yourself down to Nando's mate. I hope you like chicken.

laineybz

slideaway1 wrote: »

Get yourself down to Nando's mate. I hope you like chicken.

and Nando's do a takeaway! Win win!

yirara

Well.. if each small town had a Nandos... Like I said: hardly any chains there. I did notice a Thai restaurant. Maybe they have something I can eat.