A Showcase of Local Restaurants by King’s Cross Station in London
Anyone visiting London who travels either domestically by train to King’s Cross Station or from continental Europe to nearby St. Pancras Station will immediately see that there are literally dozens of food options available to greet them. Whether people want to go for a chain restaurant meal after a long train ride or instead try out one of the many local restaurants to choose from, there’s no doubt that the full range of what’s on the menu is truly staggering.
When I decided to stay overnight near King’s Cross for a brief stopover in March 2024 before travelling elsewhere, I did a Google search beforehand to figure out what would give me the best range of choices that were conveniently situated near my hotel. I knew upon arrival that I would need to find a place for supper, followed by breakfast and lunch the next day before I had to leave for Heathrow for a flight to Italy the following morning. As it turned out, I found that all of the restaurants I decided upon during my stay near King’s Cross were within walking distance from one another and situated on Grays Inn Road. This is a major street in central London with centuries’ worth of history that terminates at King’s Cross, making it an ideal location to find an abundance of local restaurants to whet the appetites of Londoners and visitors alike.
Taj Mahal Indian Cuisine
For my evening meal near King’s Cross, I decided to go for some Indian food at Taj Mahal Indian Cuisine, located at 339 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8PX (https://tajmahalkingcross.co.uk/) and very close to the train station. I was fairly hungry when I finally arrived, so I decided to order some onion bhaji for my starter, which consists of shredded onion and potato mixed in with a flavouring of crushed red chillies, curry leaves, and mustard seeds to form palm-sized bundles that are then deep fried and served with a drizzle of tamarind sauce and a modest side salad with lemon. They had a light and crunchy texture that were properly seasoned and paired well with the mint sauce that came with the appetizer.
As for the main course, I ordered the relatively mild and very popular butter chicken, consisting of bite-sized chicken breast cooked in a rich sauce of butter and fresh cream. I also ordered a side serving of saffron rice and a plate of freshly baked garlic naan bread to soak up all of the delicious butter chicken sauce.
While I took the opportunity to reserve my table prior to my flight to London, I also observed people spontaneously coming over from King’s Cross Station and elsewhere to take in some great Indian cuisine at a friendly and inviting local restaurant that’s open every night from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am. As for myself, it was well-worth the small effort to make a reservation and experience Taj Mahal Indian Cuisine for the first time and likely for more times to come.
Cappadocia Café and Bistro
As for breakfast the next morning, I found a charming restaurant further south of King’s Cross called Cappadocia Café and Bistro on 293 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8QF (http://www.cappadociacafelondon.com/) that specializes in Italian cuisine and is open daily from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Despite having a large meal last night, I found myself compelled to try both a savoury and sweet breakfast option from this restaurant’s menu list. For the savoury experience, I went for the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs served on a bed of toasted sourdough bread spread with some crushed avocado, and served with a small salad of arugula and tomatoes. For the sweet option, I ordered an impressive stack of homemade pancakes slathered with chocolate hazelnut spread, and topped with red berries and whipped cream.
Both menu options were incredibly good to eat and kept me well-satisfied for the rest of the morning while was busy with activities to do in central London before lunch. The smoked salmon was flavourful and its combination with the scrambled eggs, avocado, and sourdough bread provided a well-balanced texture when eaten together. The pancakes were light and fluffy to eat, while the chocolate topping with whipped cream and berries provided an enjoyably sweet accent that remains memorable. Given just how good the breakfast was for me, I came away now very curious to know more about Cappadocia Café and Bistro’s lunch menu, fully expecting for it to be at least as good as what I had just experienced. This is definitely something for me to strongly consider pursuing on future visits to London.
The Lucas Arms
During his lunch break from work in central London, my historian friend Dan met up with me at a traditional British pub called The Lucas Arms, located at 245A Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8QY (https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/lucas-arms/) and is part of a restaurant chain called Greene King, featuring a wide selection of both typical pub fare and popular international cuisine to choose from. It is open on weekdays from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, while on weekends it’s open for brunch at 10:00 am with a closing time of 11:00 pm on Saturday and 10:30 pm for Sunday.
While Dan opted for a steak sandwich and I chose to go for some fish and chips with a side of mushy peas, The Lucas Arms also has a combination of small plate options, sharable meals and salads available, along with both meat and plant-based burgers that come with a side of french fries. Our meals as presented are simple, straightforward, and unpretentious in form that’s typical of pub food to be found at restaurants like this one. At least based on my first-time experience at The Lucas Arms, the food quality comes across as very satisfying to eat while in the company of friends and associates during a typical London day.
Besides the weekday menu options to present to the public, for Sundays The Lucas Arms also showcases a traditional “Sunday Roast” menu consisting of beef sirloin, roasted half-chicken with stuffing, and a vegetarian dish called nut roast wellington, along with traditional side dishes to complement the three course offerings. A list of children’s friendly meal options during the week are also offered for family dining.
On the Historical Significance of Grays Inn Road
Fortunately for Dan and me, the weather was co-operative enough for us to have our lunch outside on the patio, after which Dan gave me a brief history lesson about Grays Inn Road having a long lineage as an ancient thoroughfare that slopes upwards towards King’s Cross Station, most likely in use by the Romans about 2000 years ago when the United Kingdom was then known as Britannia. I learned more recently that the street name is derived from its proximity to The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, a longstanding professional association for lawyers and judges who practise law in London. The society has been in existence since at least 1381 based on known historical records and still functions today. Grays Inn Road was originally known as Grays Inn Lane or Graysynlane in 1468 before it was finally given its current name in the mid-19th century.
Grays Inn Road is also scientifically recognized for being the location where a prehistoric flint hand axe was first discovered by archeologist John Conyers in 1649, which dates to the Lower Paleolithic period. The axe is estimated to be 350,000 years old. Known today as the Gray’s Inn Lane Hand Axe, it’s on public display in the British Museum, and in walking distance from where it was originally found.
Author’s Note: This article was first written in May 2024 and submitted to Luxe Beat magazine for future publication.
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