Affordable tasting menus in London: 18 of the best budget friendly options

Going out for dinner is a time to unwind, indulge and catch up with loved ones over a few plates of food. But often, with so much on offer, even choosing what you want to eat can be challenging - and an unwelcome stress on what is otherwise a lovely time. Thankfully, restaurants in London and beyond have a solution for such a dilemma, and that’s a tasting menu. For these, guests are treated to a selection of the chef's best dishes, and it can range anywhere from four to 20 courses (note: it’s worth bringing your appetite).

Often the downside is that these can rack up a hefty bill, with a majority of the options in London coming in north of £100. So we’ve decided to track down the best affordable tasting menus, where you can feast for less than the three digit counterparts, and with many costing you less than half of that.

There’s always a good reason to head out for food, whether it’s to catch up with friends or celebrate an anniversary, so it’s important to have plenty of choice when it comes to finding your restaurant. We’ve got a selection of fine dining options, including a spot that boasts a Michelin star, as well as a more low key eatery that's set on a boat. With this variety also comes a range of budgets, so it’s easier to narrow down, whether you’re after somewhere alarmingly close to payday, or feeling reasonably flush.

One thing we can guarantee you is that these are all tasting menus under £100, with many of the cheap tasting menus coming in at under £50 - all whilst still maintaining a consistent level of quality. So what are you waiting for? Take a look through our list to find your next big meal out, get it booked, and then that truly is all of the ‘hard work’ done.

Affordable tasting menus under £100

Believe it or not, finding a tasting menu in London under £100 isn't an easy task, but they do exist! While we're not claiming these menus are cheap, they are exceptionally good value when you consider the time and skill that goes into every single one. Find our favourites below for a special occasion dinner that's worth every penny. 

Restaurant St Barts, Barbican

What: St Barts remains one of London’s most intriguing fine dining experiences, and the only London restaurant to hold both a Michelin star and a Michelin Green star. Its full price tasting menu is £165 a head, but if you visit for lunch, the price is less than half of that, at just £75 a head. The five-course menu inclues house bread and snacks, monkfish with flamingo pea miso, Chinese water deer with charcuterie, and a black koji and barley tart to finish. It's one of the most unusually brilliant offerings in the capital. 
How much: £75 for lunch menu
Where: 63 Bartholomew Close, EC1A 7BF
Book now: Restaurant St Barts

Mortimer House Kitchen, Fitzrovia

What: Specialising in nostalgic Italian cuisine, Mortimer House Kitchen brings a slice of the Venice to central London with a four-course tasting feast. Available for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, the set menu kicks off with a trio of Venetian Cicchetti, including beef carpaccio, red mullet with sweet-and-sour onions, and whipped salted cod with fried polenta. Next, is a slow-cooked duck ragu, followed by slow-braised cuttlefish, and whipped lemon sorbet for dessert. What's more, each course is paired with an exclusive wine from the Veneto region.
How much: £70 for four courses
Where: 37–41 Mortimer Street, W1T 3JH
Book now: Mortimer House Kitchen

Ploussard, Battersea

What: It might look like any other trendy wine bar from the outside, but Ploussard conceals some real magic. We’re talking about the remarkable Carte Blanche menu, which brings together a range of a la carte dishes into a tasting menu format, often at a snip of the usual price. Expect around eight courses of elevated modern French cooking, where classic technique and seasonal and foraged ingredients reign. A busy, in-the-know vibe completes the package, and you can tag on a brilliant wine pairing for just £65.
How much: £85 for eight courses
Where: 97 St Johns Road, SW11 1QY
Book now: Ploussard

Smith’s Bar & Grill, Paddington

What: Smith’s Bar & Grill probably doesn’t spring to mind when you think tasting menu, but now it will! These guys offer a seven-course taster for the humble price of £55. Even with the wine pairing – an extra £35 - your meal still comes in under £100. It’s outrageous value for money. Dishes are overtly classic, from beef tartare to cod with a Dijon mustard sauce, and the setting is especially suited to memorable occasions, with a marble bar, leather banquettes and a cascade of hanging light fixtures.
How much: £55 for seven courses
Where: 25 Sheldon Square, W2 6EY
Book now: Smith’s Bar & Grill

AngloThai, Marylebone

What: Founded by John and Desiree Chantarasak, this Marylebone spot has made a name for itself over the years, starting life as a supper club, before going on to win a Michelin star for its bold Thai flavours and exceptional British produce. Seasonal menus are packed full of inventive dishes, with a multi-course lunch tasting menu available for £65 a head. Expect the likes of fermented barley pork with shrimp paste, and wok-fired aubergine with chalk stream trout. The site’s signature Brixham crab with caviar and coconut ash cracker is available as an add-on - for those who don’t want to miss out. 
How much: £65 for lunch menu (excluding Saturdays)
Where: 22-24 Seymour Place, W1H 7NL
Book now: AngloThai

Kanishka, Mayfair

What: We’ll let you in on a little secret. Kanishka’s tasting menu might usually be £120, a little steep for most, but on Fridays it offers its regular taster for just £85 a head. Not bad, right? If you’ve always wanted to try Atul Kochhar’s unapologetically punchy cooking, this is your chance. The seven-course offering include the likes of lamb truffle soup with spiced lentil hummus and savoury partridge pastry, and lamb Wellington with a rogan jus.
How much: £85 for tasting menu (Fridays only)
Where: 17-19 Maddox Street, W1S 2QH
Book now: Kanishka

Farang, Highbury

What: Farang in Highbury is as good as ever, and few seem to know about this incredible tasting menu deal, which lays on seven courses for a very wallet-friendly £65 per person. There’s the option of a wine pairing (with wines coming from the excellent Passione Vino in Shoreditch) for an extra £25 per head if you choose. Sebby Holmes’ cooking at Farang is beautifully balanced and the team still goes to great lengths to get just the right produce direct from Thailand. Also, we can confirm that there’s no way you’ll leave hungry - you get a phenomenal amount of food that’ll satisfy even the hungriest diners.
How much: £65 per person
Where: 72 Highbury Park, N5 2XE
Book now: Farang

116 at the Athenaeum, Mayfair

What: Tucked just off Piccadilly, 116 at the Athenaeum is all about delivering refined British plates at refreshingly affordable prices. Chef Ian Howard’s seasonal tasting menus definitely fit the bill, offering five courses for just £60 a head. Start with the likes of chestnut mushroom soup with sherry and thyme, and pork scrumpet salad with pickled radish, followed by stone bass with crushed new potato salad, and caramel mousse with chocolate soil and honeycomb to finish. Vegan and vegetarian alternatives are also available, with a bespoke wine flight for those who are looking to make the occasion more celebratory.
How much: £60 for five courses
Where: 116 Piccadilly, W1J 7BJ
Book now: 116 at the Athenaeum

Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, Mayfair

What: Yes alright, we’re aware that this is sort of breaking our own rules but hear us out, because we think £125 per person to eat seven courses at one of the UK’s top three Michelin-starred restaurants is value worth shouting about. Dishes such as lobster with tandoori spice, carrot and citrus, and pigeon with quince, Savoy cabbage and smoked eel, are straight from the dinner menu (which will cost you £225 a head before supplemental courses and drinks) so it’s worth blocking off an afternoon to enjoy all the same food but much cheaper.
How much: £125 per person
Where: The Connaught, Carlos Place, W1K 2AL
Book now: Hélène Darroze at The Connaught

Perilla, Newington Green

What: Perilla is tucked away in Newington Green and offers small European plates in a pared-back setting. Chef Ben Marks is one of London's most exciting chefs, and his cooking combines smart techniques with seasonal ingredients. If you’re someone who likes to order a little bit of everything, your bank balance will thank you for opting for the tasting menu here, where you can still enjoy four courses for a fraction of the price. Keep your eyes peeled for brassicas with smoked eel and a poached egg, beef short rib bourguignon, and a chocolate and orange millefeuille.  
How much: £66 per person
Where: 1-3 Green Lanes, N16 9BS
Book now: Perilla

Casa Fofo, Dalston

What: Ex-Pidgin head chef Adolfo de Cecco has something very good going at Casa Fofo, which is just up the road from his old restaurant site in Hackney Downs. The daily tasting menu is ever changing, with dishes taking a wide range of influence from all over the world. With just 16 covers inside, bookings aren’t always easy to come by, but the relaxed minimalist interiors are a lovely place to spend an evening, and there are outdoor courtyard tables in the summer too. For a taste of what's on offer, dishes have included tomato with kimchi and tofu, pollock with bergamot and chanterelle, and strawberry grapes with sake lees and white chocolate.
How much: £73 per person
Where: 158 Sandringham Road, E8 2HS
Book now: Casa Fofo

Angelina, Dalston

What: Angelina combines an unlikely fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisine to create unique kaiseki tasting menus served in a laid back setting. Expect dishes like focaccia with peach and burrata, tuna with lardo and moromi, and langoustine ravioli with sansho and chicken. The kaiseki menu serves up a whopping 13 courses of magic, with dishes at the time of writing including a katsuobushi donut with beef and Barolo, rosemary and nori focaccia, and lamb katsu with mussels and puntarelle. There's a very reasonably priced wine pairing on offer too. 
How much: Kaiseki menu £68 per person
Where: 56 Dalston Lane, E8 3AH
Book now: Angelina

Six by Nico, Fitzrovia and Canary Wharf

What: Six by Nico is well known for it's oft-changing seasonal tasting menus. Six is the magic number here, as each tasting menu features six dishes, all based around a theme that changes every six weeks. You could find anything from Sicilian inspired plates to innovative dishes inspired by fairytales, but something we can guarantee you is that it won't set you back an arm and a leg. Of course if you are looking to push the boat out, then you can also add on an optional wine pairing.
How much: £55 per person
Where: 33-41 Charlotte Street, W1T 1RR; 6 Chancellor Passage, E14 5EA
Book now: Six by Nico Fitzrovia, Six by Nico Canary Wharf

Affordable tasting menus under £50

It goes without saying, but tasting menus under 50 quid in the capital are real rubies amongst the rubble. From fusion dinners to vegetarian feasts, enjoy a multi-course affair for less than £50 with these incredible-value menus.   

Ayllu, Paddington

What: If fusion food is your thing, then you’ll want to check out the tasting menu at Ayllu, which brings together the very best of Peru and Japan. There are three different tasting menus available that start at a mere £39 per person, with the top price only peaking at £65. Expect dishes like salmon and tuna tacos, Peruvian beef BBQ and grilled tuna. There's also a vibrant vegetarian menu which swaps meat and fish for veg-forward favourites, from mushroom ceviche to seaweed salad. 
How much: From £39 per person
Where: 25 Sheldon Square, W2 6EY
Book now: Ayllu

Brindisa Tapas, Battersea and South Kensington

What: While not a tasting menu in the strictest sense, we love that Brindisa’s offering allows greater choice and agency over which dishes you eat, as well as how many. Tapas, after all, is essentially a more relaxed tasting menu just with multiple dishes landing in quick succession. Available throughout the week, you’ll get to choose from a range of classics like patatas bravas, croquetas de jamon and premium charcuterie, all for a fraction of the typical cost.
How much: Three dishes for £16, five for £22
Where: Unit 25 Battersea Power Station, 25 Circus Road West, SW11 8NN; 7-9 Exhibition Road, SW7 2HE
Book now: Brindisa Tapas Battersea; Brindisa Tapas South Kensington

Rogues, Bethnal Green

What: One of our favourite Hackney haunts, wine bar and restaurant Rogues is just a fantastic time, whether you’re here for a snack and a drink or a proper dinner. The tasting menu is more of a chef's choice affair, with various a la carte dishes highlighted each night - as a result it can come in anywhere between £50 and £70 depending on the dishes available. Even at the top end that's still excellent value, and you get to try one of the best bread courses in London - Rogues' signature potato and thyme sourdough with Bovril butter.
How much: £50-£70 per person
Where: 460 Hackney Road, E2 9EG
Book now: Rogues

Tendril, Mayfair

What: Chef Rishim Sachdeva worked at Chiltern Firehouse and The Fat Duck before starting Tendril, and his experience is put to good use at 'mostly vegan' Tendril. From his lovely earthen-hued restaurant in Mayfair, Sachdeva is blazing a trail for plant-based cooking with an innovative tasting menu of mostly vegan and vegetarian food. Think butter bean parfait with chilli garlic, grilled celeriac skewers with onion jam and harissa, and confit squash massaman with shiso, lemongrass aioli and potato terrine.
How much: £47 per person
Where: 5 Princes Street, W1B 2LQ
Book now: Tendril

Bubala, Soho and Spitalfields

What: Bubala’s ‘Bubala Knows Best’ menu is more of a big sharer than a tasting menu per se, but we’re including it anyway as it’s a barnstorming deal that everyone should know about. All three Bubala sites are outstanding value already, but the £46 per person menu dishes up all the best stuff on the menu - labneh with confit garlic, oyster mushroom skewers with tamari and grilled halloumi with chamomile and fennel honey. Bubala is great at accommodating dietaries too, making it a great all-rounder (and always busy as a result).
How much: £46 per person
Where: 15 Poland Street, W1F 8PR; 65 Commercial Street, E1 6BD; Unit 1 Cadence Court, 4 Tapper Walk, N1C 4ED
Book now: Bubala Soho; Bubala Spitalfields; Bubala King's Cross

There are other ways to save some money when it comes to eating out. We're also regularly updating our round-up of the best value set menus in London, as well as all the great pre- and post-theatre dinner deals in London. Treat yourself!