The Toast the City Awards are here to celebrate the very best in hospitality of placemaking in the Square Mile. On the eve of the big night, we are highlighting each of the 138 finalists who have beaten off competition from more than 2,000 entrants.
Next up is the Best Casual Dining category, a hotly contested prize that celebrates the very best dining options in the City of London. To find out who has won check the Toast the City website tomorrow.
14 Hills
Perched above Fenchurch Street, 14 Hills offers garden-like interiors and incredible views of the City. It works for easy lunches and celebratory dinners. A Best Casual Dining contender for people who want atmosphere, a central postcode and a booking they know will impress.
The Jugged Hare
This Barbican stalwart treats the gastropub brief seriously, with a dining room built for proper conversation and plates that suit long tables. It has become a dependable City meeting point for colleagues and friends who prefer substance to noise. A worthy shortlist pick for casual dining with backbone.
Banh Mi Keu Deli City
A daytime workhorse the Square Mile leans on, Kêu turns out quick Vietnamese staples with a pace that suits the lunch rush. Counter service keeps things moving, seating fits both five-minute refuels and longer catch-ups. Recognition for Best Casual Dining reflects its role as a reliable, good-value stop between meetings.
Barbie Green
Part of the Aussie-leaning Daisy Green family, Barbie Green brings light, bright café energy to the City’s edge near Liverpool Street. All-day hours make it a useful anchor for breakfasts that blur into lunch and after-work meet-ups. Shortlisted because it delivers comfort, colour and convenience in equal measure.
BAO City
BAO’s City outpost refines a cult formula for a business-district crowd – counter seating, clean design, a menu that travels fast. It suits solo bites and compact groups, with a pace that respects diaries. A sound nomination for casual dining that feels modern without fuss.
Paternoster Chophouse
A long-running City dining room with St Paul’s in its story, Paternoster Chophouse remains a go-to for straightforward plates and steady service. It handles power lunches as comfortably as midweek dates. Best Casual Dining recognition fits a venue that has stayed useful as the neighbourhood shifted.
Love Dumplings Legend
No-frills and to the point, this dumpling specialist has earned a following by keeping the focus on value, speed and a menu that everyone understands. Ideal for quick lunches, late snacks and informal meet-ups. A deserving nominee for giving the City a simple, consistent option that people return to.
Xian BiangBiang Noodles
Thick hand-pulled ribbons, big bowls and a canteen rhythm make this an easy City habit. The set-up is relaxed, prices are friendly, and the turnover keeps things lively. On the Best Casual Dining slate for proving that a stripped-back, flavour-first approach still wins in the Square Mile.