15 places to grab lunch on a clinics day
Not that we don't love AMT and the Atrium, but perhaps it's time to venture out of the hospital walls (I know, changing out of your tunic is an effort, it's worth it!), break the monotony of the clinics timetable and liven up your lunch! With Borough Market just a skip and a hop away and the high street littered with gastronomic gems, we thought we'd share our favourites where you can give your tastebuds a midday treat and still get back up to clinics with time to spare.
1. Wasabi
The newest addition to the lunchtime Borough High St scene, this has quickly gained favour with the locals and gets appropriately packed come midday. A personal favourite is the spicy mini chirashi, which suits the student pocket at just £1.99 and is small but chockablock full of deconstructed sushi so will keep you full for the afternoon!
2. Pret
Now it may be difficult to find one of these nearby as there are simply not enough Prets along the High Street, but when you do manage to track it down, you'll find a wealth of goodies. There's a good selection of vegetarian options, a variety of salads if you're trying to be healthy, and a range of desserts if you're not.
3. Veggie Table
Meat lovers don't scorn!! This stall in Borough Market produces the most incredible burgers, based on halloumi or sweet potato, with a ton of healthy grains and veg. This plus salad and hummus comes to a fiver, and it'll leave you satisfied and also guilt-free!
4. Scotchtails
SWEET POTATO FRIES. That is all.
5. Pieminister
They do a grand selection of pies, with seasonal specials as well. It's a delicious meal wrapped in warm, crispy pastry. Perfection.
6. Bangkok kitchen
This is the reason your parents teach you not to judge a book by its cover. It's a tiny metal food truck parked next to the post office that you wouldn't want to lean against in a pale-coloured coat. And yet it makes really tasty food (pad thai, thai green curry, red beef curry...); my only complaint is that there's no physical menu, so you just have to hope that the person in front of you in the queue isn't indecisive.
7. Applebees
You'll be able to recognise Applebee's by the extensive queue outside. People can't seem to get enough of their wraps! I'd go so far as to say that the garlic prawns in their £5 garlic prawn wrap are more garlicky and more prawny than any other.
8. Wrap It Up
Yes this is a chain (I'm not hipster enough to boycott anything with professional plastic signs) but the food is proper, good food! No fuss, no frills, just a piping hot foil-wrapped wrap filled with an assortment of flavours.
9. Bread Ahead
In the main part of Borough Market, this place sells a medley of baked goods. The main reason I find myself gravitating towards them on multiple occasions is because of their doughnuts. £2.50 gets you a gigantic doughnut-shaped piece of heaven which comes in a variety of flavours: start off with the classic vanilla, try chocolate on a friday, and then work your way through them all!
10. Khanom Krok
This delightful stall in Borough Market does authentic Thai street food, with its special being quail eggs, coconut puddings, and of course pad thai. The food paints a colourful picture on your palate, so you can head back to clinics revitalised with a East-Asian zing.
11. Roast Hog
Also on the row of lunch stalls in Borough Market, this place gives you a delicious roast hog stuffed into a ciabatta roll, complete with homemade apple sauce, rocket, and (the best bit) crispy crackling! *Salivates*
12. Papaya
The infamous Paps - it does good food at good prices. What more could you ask for?
13. Shrigleys
A couple of steps onwards past Paps you'll find Shrigleys, which makes up what lacks in charm with the generosity and taste of its food.
14. My Tea Shop
This adorable little nook next to London Bridge station might look unimpressive, but their all-day breakfast is exactly what you need after a tiring morning - for an hour you can kid yourself that you're having a relaxed Sunday brunch!
15. Slug & Lettuce
If you're lucky enough to get a long lunch on a Monday, Slug & Lettuce (aka Sluttice) is the place to be. Half price on all food means you can get a 10oz ribeye steak for less than £8! (Although you may collapse into a food coma on clinics afterwards).
Happy lunching!!!
