Lesson59 Restaurants in London

British restaurants are not, unfortunately, famous for their good food. Too often, they offer only sausages and chips,       1     — chips with everything in fact, but there are some wonderful surprises in British cooking; especially the many delicious cakes and desserts. The British certainly enjoy their food. There's a fantastic variety of restaurants of all nationalities in London.

Most British families only go to restaurants on       2    , like birthdays, or wedding anniversaries. The restaurants" best customers are businessmen, who meet in them to talk business in a relaxed atmosphere away from the telephone. They can eat what they like, because the company pays the bill! When a boy and girl want to get to know each other better, they often       3     to a restaurant together.

After all, it"s easier to talk in a quiet atmosphere, with soft music, wine and good food.
For visitors to London, eating out can be fun. You can have the chance to go to places where the traditional menu and décor are just like they were in Queen Victoria"s day, a hundred years ago. Or you can take a walk down the King"s road in Chelsea where there are dozens of small restaurants.

If you want that special London feeling, go to the Ritz in Piccadilly for tea any afternoon at about half past four. Too       4     ? Then try England's favourite food — fish and chips.

Take it away and eat it where you like — in the park, on the bus, or while you       5    . That's what Londoners do