Food for Thought (restaurant)

Food for Thought was a vegetarian restaurant in the Seven Dials district of London's Covent Garden.[3] Founded in 1971 in a former banana warehouse, it later closed in 2015.

Food For Thought
Location within Central London
Restaurant information
Established1971[1]
Owner(s)Vanessa Garrett[1]
Previous owner(s)Margot Boyce-White[1]
Food typevegetarian
Street address31 Neal Street
CityLondon
Postal/ZIP CodeWC2H 9PR
Coordinates51.5142473°N 0.1255163°W / 51.5142473; -0.1255163
Seating capacity40[2]
Websitewww.foodforthought-london.co.uk

History

The restaurant was founded by Margot Boyce-White in 1971 when the relocation of London's fruit and vegetable market to New Covent Garden caused the area to be redeveloped. The premises in Neal Street had formerly been used as a banana warehouse. The business changed hands in 1977 and was owned by Vanessa Garrett, daughter of the couple John and Jane Damant, who bought it. Rising rents caused the restaurant to close on 21 June 2015.[1]

The counter-culture activist Sue Miles worked at Food for Thought, so starting a career as a restaurateur.[4]

The restaurant was patronised by workers in the nearby businesses of the Covent Garden district, which included the numerous theatres. Acts which ate there included the Red Hot Chili Peppers.[5]

Cuisine

The food at the restaurant was vegetarian and some of it was vegan. Fresh vegetables were used but, to keep the cost down, these were not normally organic, The preparation avoided peeling to preserve the nutrients in the skin of the vegetables.[6]

Reception

Russell Rose, reviewing the place for Veggie & Organic London, rated it five stars for vegetarian choice and three stars for taste.[2]

This is a remarkable bargain basement vegetarian eaterie on one of Covent Garden's busiest thoroughfares. ... Food For Thought is a bit rushed but for a really cheap bite, in the middle of London's theatreland, it's tough to beat.

  • The restaurant's counter and tables were in the basement.
  • A lunch dish of soup and salad served on stoneware
  • Patrons would commonly queue up the stairs ...
  • ... and squeeze into the cubbyhole
  • Vanessa Garrett (right) on the last day

See also

References
  1. Peter Watts (30 March 2015), "Food for Thought: the last vegetarian gasp of alternative Covent Garden", The Guardian
  2. Russell Rose (2009), "Food For Thought", Veggie & Organic London, Metro, p. 24, ISBN 978-1-902910-32-1
  3. Sonya Barber (25 March 2015), "Food for Thought in Covent Garden to close after 40 years", Time Out
  4. Jonathan Green (13 October 2010), "Sue Miles obituary", The Guardian
  5. Alexandra Rucki (30 March 2015), "Favourite among vegetarians, Food For Thought in Covent Garden, 'forced to close due to rent hike'", Evening Standard
  6. Jane Noraika (2002), "Introduction", New Food for Thought, Andre Deutsch, ISBN 978-0233050713
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