Last week's issue of London's Time Out magazine included a feature titled 'CHEAP EATS – The Thrifty Fifty', which starts off with the implausible ("good news: you live in the best city for food in the world") and continues with the unrealistic (suggesting that £20 a head for a meal counts as thrifty). Time Out staff obviously get paid very well – perhaps by the PR agencies that get them to add places like Carluccio's to their list?
The truth is that in London there are literally hundreds of restaurants in the same price bracket as those listed, many of which are better.
West End
Abeno 
0871 3326038 
Holborn/Tottenham Court Rd
47 Museum Street, Bloomsbury, WC1A 1LY [Map]
Abeno Too 020 7376 1160 Leicester Sq
15-18 Great Newport Street, WC2H 7JE [Map]
Not cheap, but decent. Staffed by student, so service is slow. Be warned: they cook at your table, so you'll come out smelling of food.
Adonis 020 7637 7687 Goodge St
56 Goodge Street, W1T 4NB [Map]
This Lebanese is not any different from any other in Edgware Road or anywhere else in London for that matter – same menu, same grumpy service. I suspect it is in the list simply because the Time Out offices are just up the road. There is a cheaper Lebanese, just as good, not too far, upstairs at the Plaza Shopping centre.
Carluccio's 020 7240 1487 Covent Garden
28A Neal Street, WC2H 9QT [Map]
Carluccio's 020 7636 2228 Oxford Street
8 Market Place, W1W 8AG [Map]
Carluccio's 020 7935 5927 Fax Bond Street
St. Christopher’s Place, W1U 1AY [Map]
I can't believe Carluccio's made it into a 'cheap London eats' list. What next, Zafferano??? The food is good enough, if a bit soulless, but cheap it ain't. Nor do they care for the environment, judging by the amount of needless plastic they wrap everything in.
Food For Thought 020 7836 9072 Covent Garden
31 Neal Street, WC2H 9PR [Map]
Despite being a vegetarian, I am not a fan of this place at all. As I haven't eaten there for quite some time, I should really give it another chance though.
Imli 020 7287 4243 Leicester Sq/Tottenham Court Rd
167-169 Wardour St W1F 8WR [Map]
Cheap for a posh Indian (they achieve that by limiting the choice on the menu) but not in the budget category. The quality is very good, as you'd expect from the offshot of a Michelen starred restaurant, and they also do very tasty fresh fruit juices.
no name Lebanese @ Plaza Oxford St/Tottenham Court Rd
120 Oxford St, W1D 1LT [Map]
Ghastly surroundings (top floor of a shopping mall!!!), but cheaper than Adonis and just as good.
North
S&M 020 7359 5361 Angel
4-6 Essex Rd, N1 8LN [Map]
A nice looking greasy spoon, a bit overpriced for what it is. Gets extremely busy.
Small and Beautiful 020 7328 2637 Kilburn
351-353 Kilburn High Rd, NW6 2QJ [Map]
Now, this is cheap, but that's because it's not very good. However, if you are in Kilburn, I guess you can't be too fussy.
