Traditional English Food for the Hungry Traveler

Though the bane of many distinguished palates, fast food restaurants in London serve the same purpose there as here; Burger King, McDonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC are simply fast, convenient and inexpensive.

And this allows for splurging on more mouthwatering meals. The restaurants in London are as diverse as the people who use the tube, the city's underground train that whisks Londoners to and fro, not to mention visitors lucky enough to have a native of London to guide them, or tourists brave enough to do it on their own.

Italian Food or Polish Sausages: Which is Your Cup of Tea?

An Italian restaurant near Harrods Department Store serves up scrumptious lasagna that melts in your mouth, triggering remorse for even the smallest portion left on the plate, if only because too much wine was consumed the night before.

Order tea and it arrives hot, complete with charming teapots, cups, sugar and milk. Don't expect iced tea; if ice is a must, order a soft drink or ask for a glass of water, which will probably be served with ice and lemon.

If pasta and hot tea is not, well, your cup of tea, go for French, Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Indian, and even Tex-Mex (yes, it's called Billy Joe's), serving up steaks, ribs and burgers.

At a dim Polish bar, the folks were friendly and fun-loving. A waitress mistook me for Polish (guess I didn't have American written all over my face)! I couldn't read the Polish menu, newspapers and magazines stacked on the bar, but the sausage and onions said it all - they were darn good.

Good Traditional English Food for the Weary Traveler

Dig into some traditional English food, such as Fish and Chips, (that's fries, not potato chips, which are called crisps) whether they're from a 400-year-old pub, or a non-descript hole-in-the-wall eatery. They're the ultimate comfort food, good and hot, at the end of the day.

Even better, try a steak and kidney pie, served with peas and chips and a liberal serving of gravy. Kidney tastes a little like liver, but is not overwhelming. The crust of the pie and the gravy are the stars, with the crust shaped high and round, like a small upside down bucket, perfect for building sandcastles.

The Parson's Pig, a pub in Crawley, serves up a country breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, and surprisingly, baked beans, which I've learned is typical breakfast fare. After an evening of drinking ale and watching football (that's soccer to us) at the pub, the hearty breakfast ensures a good start to the day.

Down Home Cooking

There are friendly faces no matter where you choose to eat, but as with any nation, the best food can be found in the homes of citizens, so if you're invited for a home-cooked meal, don't turn it down. On the Isle of Wight, a friendly couple, Margaret and Terry Shurwood, cooked roast beef, bread, cauliflower casserole and potatoes, which were served up with a side of hospitality and warmth, leaving a lasting, positive impression of England.