If you're tired of London...

So we ditched the little 'un with my folks and took a trip up to London for a little retail therapy.  It's been a couple of years since we've visited the West End and in that intervening time the place seems to have gotten noisier, busier and grubbier.  I used to like the bustle, the visceral feel of the place.  But now, it seemed to me an unhealthy place; stricken by coagulated traffic and claustrophobic crowds. 

For lunch we popped into one of the Leon restaurants (at the north end Carnaby Street).  I read through one of their recipe books whilst on holiday and was looking forward to trying out some of their food.  It runs pretty much like any fast food / sandwich place - you elbow your way to the front of the queue, trying to choose what you want before you get to the counter else the person behind you will dart ahead of you.  Once there, bark the order, repeat it at least once and cough up the cash.  We ate inside, managing to snag the last table before the lunch time rush began in earnest.  Given the lack of space, they've managed to make it feel comfortable - unlike the migraine inducing ambiance of McD's and its ilk.  The food was pretty good, too.  I went for the meatballs (the pork jambalaya I had seen on their online menu a mere rumour in the actual shop) whilst Mrs went for chili chicken.  Both came with slaw and brown rice.  Despite that, the meals were really tasty and filling.  And the cup of fresh lemonade was wonderfully tart.  However, I would have to question the prices - I know it's London, I know it was tasty food - but six quid for a few chunks of chicken / handful of meatball plus a couple of spoons of rice and slaw seems a couple of pounds too much.  But perhaps I am just a penny pinching yokel these days, rather than the cosmopolitan man-of-the-world I perhaps think I am.

On the way back to the tube station we saw Gilbert & George.  They were dressed in tweed, natch, and deep in conversation as the walked along.  Of course, they may have been enacting an art happening entitled Gilbert & George - walking in tweed.  If so, I expect I'll get invoiced soon for visiting this outdoors art gallery.