Oh I say Angel just started the best thread ever... three cheers for Angel...
British: Little point in going into detail, great solid grub.
Italian: Getting hard to find a good Italian around here, best pudding was spag with a choccy sauce. Used to be a good 'un just off Tottenham Court Rd...
Spanish: Tapas are top when it comes to social eating, everyone trying everything, nothing too big so no one gets stuck with something nasty and can order more of anything which really grabs you.
West Indian: Nice and spicy, got two Windie places near me now and love just about everything on the menus, best with some old ska playing in the background.
Indian/Asian: Well who doesn't like a good curry? There was a great Indian off Hampstead High Road which was run by an orthodox Hindi family and did the best vegetarian Indian I've ever had. I'd like to find a decent Malay place, there used to be a cracking one called Desaru in Old Compton St, only restaurant I've ever been in which had a bridge in it. Sadly I'm reduced to only having Malay when I visit my aunt.
Chinese: Spoilt for choice as well as having the world's best just around the corner from me, eat there once a month.
Thai: Again got a stunning one just up the road, despite trying can't match the wonderful cooking involved, again eat there once a month.
Japanese: Not got one around here any more and rarely see an independent, the family adore Yo Sushi but I found it too pricey to be filling.
Greek or Turkish: Well it's all Greek for me, three great local places all with full mezz, one a Greek social club tucked out of the way so it's more of an experience and the prices are friendlier. There's a great Greek B&B on Hagley Road where if you ask for the menu they give you a big menu of Brit grub, when you ask for Greek food they give you a seperate tiny menu, but suddenly you're one of the family and the portions are mahoosive.
Middle eastern: Well only two contenders really, Kosher and Lebanese. Kosher is really hard to find around here, but we've a Lebanese which is okay. Great one in Queensway between the MacDonalds* and the Egyptian restaurant, it even has the obligatory TV tuned to CNN.
I'm really bloody fussy about eating out, I expect a lot and not just from the food, they have to be genuinely welcoming, family friendly, not hover at your table but notice when you want something and I like to turn up as a punter but leave as a friend. If a restaurant can't manage all that I'll not go back no matter how good the food might be.
*For the purposes of this thread and general day to day living this is not to be mistaken for a source of food.