I’m retired now, but my badge number was nearly 50,000 before yours. 29302 issued June 19th 1981. The licence was free in those days as licensing cabbies was deemed to be in the interest of the public, not to pay telephone number salaries to incompetent oafs at TfL Palestra - Met Police at 15 Penton Street in those days. All we had to pay was 15 pence for the badge. Watching your videos brings back happy memories as I loved every day of the 37 years I ‘Pushed the droshky’ Also notice that Mauncel street, beside the Astral cafe, is one of the last, probably the very last, residential street in London to be exclusively lit by gas lamps.

@HowDidIGet3700Subs

Жыл бұрын

How do you get a pension & survive?

@alcatrazgh7593

Жыл бұрын

thats crazy. just looked on street view and there are 4 lamp posts on that road. how on earth do you remeber that infomation?

Best London food review I’ve ever seen, exactly the sort of no nonsense places I’ve been looking for

I was in front of sapori last night, charging my car at the electric charging point. The whole road was full of parked up black taxis. I looked inside the restaurant and it was packed with what seemed like middle aged black taxi drivers. I have never seen the restaurant so packed before. Looks like your video has made them popular with a huge surge in business. Sapori needs to say thank you for this !

I'm not a cab driver but I still appreciate that some of those places offer cab drivers a discount.

@oracleoftruth

Жыл бұрын

Why?

@Mr.M1STER

Жыл бұрын

@@oracleoftruth Why not? Cab drivers work hard and their income might be worse some days than others so a little discount on their meals helps.

@oracleoftruth

Жыл бұрын

@@Mr.M1STER Thats the same for lots of people. Why not do it for everyone who needs a little help?

@Mr.M1STER

Жыл бұрын

@@oracleoftruth Maybe ask them, they might do you a discount lol

@grantosgroover6556

Жыл бұрын

I'd say cabbies would be ideal to give a discount to. Who better is likely to return AND almost certainly mention/recommend the establishment to other cabbies, customers and YT viewers. Word of mouth goes a long way...that can't be measured. When I first moved to Brighton from London it was through talking to a black cab driver I found out the best Chinese restaurant in the area.

Top tip. Beigel Bake : when you get a salt beef Beigel get a plain Beigel too. There’s so much meat in one you can make two !

@TomtheTaxiDriver

Жыл бұрын

Now that is a pro tip right there, thank you sir!

Love that you're expanding your content Tom!

Nice to see a fresh outlook from a young taxi driver with outstanding content and presented in an easy flowing format.🚕🚖

I love how your channel has grown over the past 2 years 💪 keep it up matey 😎

Good afternoon Tom. My usual subscriptions are for cycling or walking around London. I gave your site a punt and was really impressed with the content and delivery. Your insights into many aspects of being a London cabbie are really interesting and informative. Looking forward more of your work. Cheers, Paul.

@JakeMay

Жыл бұрын

Cycling around London you say?

@paulvbennett

Жыл бұрын

Only on a Sunday morning. Train + bike from Fareham (Hants) to Waterloo. 0% chance on any other day as it's not safe.

My grandad used to supply The Seashell with their greengrocery orders as he had a shop around the corner. Loved having food from there.

I live in Liverpool only ever been to London twice and yet you’re still one of my favourite channels I just love the passion I guess keep it up mate!

Yes. I can vouch for Jonny Schnitzel. Amazing!!😋

Excellent recommendation with Jonny Schnitzel. I’d never heard of it but I took the opportunity of a long lunch break from jury service at the Old Bailey to wander up for lunch. It was excellent and I did finish it all in one go. I’ve also been up to Beigel Bake a couple times when I get a long enough break. Although I have been here before. I even brought my parents once when they visited.

When I was at Uni I lived in Balham and there was a very small Pakistani curry takeaway place that didn’t even have tables that was all home-cooked and run by a beautiful family. It is still the best food I’ve tasted in London, you could get everything , it was half the price of most Indian/Sylhet places and never disappointed me, until they closed down.

@nopy99

Жыл бұрын

Are you talking about Punjab House? An original 1970s authentic family place but sadly it closed over covid

@briansymmes7917

Жыл бұрын

@@nopy99 I don’t think so, it closed down a long time ago. It was next to Du Cane Court but they redeveloped the whole block. It was such a gem, for £5 you could get more food than you could eat, and it was heaven.

@MotorStorm66

Жыл бұрын

Wow, it's kind of surprising to find someone who's heard of Sylhet

@briansymmes7917

Жыл бұрын

@@MotorStorm66 yes, I don’t think that a lot of people in the UK area aware of what part of the world their food comes from. Kerala has some great food, as does the Punjab, Goa, Kashmir and Rajasthan, but the Sylhetti people who came to Britain changed our culinary landscape in the best way, we owe them a huge thank you. ( Obviously they didn’t only bring wonderful food with them, I don’t mean to suggest that it is their only contribution! ) I’m going back to Rajasthan not month, can’t wait for my first veg Thali and my favourite dish called Labori ( not sure of the spelling! ).

@hxcadillac

Жыл бұрын

Always sad when we lose a place like that, sounds like it was brilliant. Head a bit further south on the A24 / Balham High Road into Tooting Broadway and there's no shortage of great curry joints that will load you up with good food for a decent price (nothing like the £5 bargain you mentioned, but less than £10 and you're set). Lahore Karahi's my go-to, but plenty of others worth a stop.

Do you remember Fuzzy Grubs? We had one on Fleet Street and it was a Sunday roast but in a very large bread roll, yes even with gravy. If you timed it well and arrived just before they closed you ended up with extra meat. LOVED IT!

@gavinchauhan6320

Жыл бұрын

This comment made my day, I miss Fuzzy's so much

@seanjamescameron

Жыл бұрын

@@gavinchauhan6320 Glad to know I didn't dream it because none of my friends worked in The City/Fleet Street so don't remember it.

I love your videos, mate! keep up the good work and upload more taxi driving videos!

This is an awesome format for you Tom! more of this!!

Highly recommend Dibs on Red Lion Street (the lunch deal with a fold is out of this world), Brunel sandwich shop on Fleet Street, Dilieto’s also on Fleet Street, the Smithfield 24hr cafe, John Charlick on Gray’s Inn Rd (recommend the sausage sandwich) and the best of all is the Falafel stand at the Warwick Way market (best Falafel in London!).

@kieran7409

Жыл бұрын

Why are so many decent cafs on red lion st? Is it a cabby spot?

As soon as I saw the title and that it was made by a taxi driver - Brick Lane Beigel was the first thing that came to my mind. You did not disappoint me Sir.

@grantosgroover6556

Жыл бұрын

Same here hahaha. I had money on it. Legendary London landmark.

I’m ‘in town’ a couple of times a month from here in Devon and have got bored of visiting Subway! This is really useful local knowledge, will definitely be checking some of them out, thanks Tom. 👍

I have just started watching these videos, this one is awesome, Job well done. With food at a fantastic price. Absolutely ace.

Hi Tom, this upload goes to the top of my list of London restaurant reviews. Thankyou very much indeed.

Great way to start the morning! Keep up the great content!

Thanks Tom, plenty of notes taken. Look forward to the next 5.

This is a brilliant idea! sharing your knowledge and making content on London in general I could see be great for this channel!

@barrysouthern8493

Жыл бұрын

Enjoyed watching your video about the cabdrivers eating places .although I retired from the trade I still have great memories of those places ,especially the characters who ran them. One place especially was Guido's in Kingsway .keep up the good work .Be lucky!!

@barrysouthern8493

Жыл бұрын

Best shelter was Kensington Park Road ,especially Friday for great fish and chips

When working in the area, I always used to love the ‘A Roma Cafe’ on St John St in Clerkenwell. Huge take away boxes of really tasty pasta, speedy service too. Also, great shout on Chipotle, I used to live on that stuff!

THANK YOU! going to ldn in february, so excited!

This was awesome content.. definitely do more of these 💙

I love Johnny Schnitzel, went for the first time a few weeks ago

Thanks for this Tom - cabbies know all the good spots! My recommendation is Chequers Sandwich Bar, Bedford Street just off the Strand. Open from 7AM till 2ish. It's like the first place in your video but take away only

That was brilliant - I am going to certainly check some of these out. I am ready for your next five please!!!!

Thanks for recommendations of great places to get quick food, nice

Great tips here, thanks Tom!

Doorstep on Blandford street is always a good shout for a sandwich very well priced. Or the Bosporus on old Brompton road best Kebbab in London for me hands down 👍🏼

Been watching london food videos and never heard of all these great places! Thanks for sharing

Great video and some really tasty looking food - this should be a ongoing series of videos.

Love watching your videos my go to place is Gino’s cafe bar Great central St Marylebone station I always pop in for breakfast and coffee when I visit London it’s always busy specially breakfast time plus I pop in on the way back from London to pick up a sandwich to eat on the train back to the West Midlands

Thanks for sharing that’s a great video with great places to visit 👍 for well priced and affordable food

Tim has a camera-person...living the dream right there 👍

@jasonlansdown2758

Жыл бұрын

Even Tom has one too

@TomtheTaxiDriver

Жыл бұрын

His name is Logan, he also edits these videos 🙌🏻. It ensures I can hopefully get a video out every week 🙌🏻

@CallieMasters5000

Жыл бұрын

He gets paid in food.

@LoganSpooner

Жыл бұрын

@@CallieMasters5000Oh yes I do 😂😂 (Joking obviously 😂)

@itsmephil2255

Жыл бұрын

@@CallieMasters5000 only the best I hope

Some great places to eat. Thanks for sharing. I really liked the video.

Great I’m always on the look out for new haunts so nice one👍

We’re coming to London this Summer and plan to try as many of your recommendations as possible! Thank you! Subscribed.

Thanks, Tom, you've given me some ideas 💡

nice video thanks for the heads up on the restaurants enjoy going out and trying new places cheers mate

@Louisfps

Жыл бұрын

@TomtheTaxiDriver. scammer get a life

That was excellent, proper places serving proper food. Kennedys what you showed at the end is great, go in there a fair bit, and just down the road from there on the corner of St John st off clerkwnwell road, Anfa Cafe, lovely chicken salads, super filling, and some friendly abuse from the owner Omah, top bloke, top cafe. Cheers, love the London cabbies.

I work all over London and there’s a couple there I’ll definitely be trying out Tom,normally for me it’s a stop at the Regency cafe if I’m Westminster/Chelsea way ,great post mate 👍🏻

so real mate love the content ❤

So glad the green huts are still doing their job. ❤

I worked in central London for the express for 25 years and never heard of Johnny's. Great knowledge mate!

nice variant... good idea... will check out a couple of them

Cant believe you were at Regency Street and didnt mention the regency cafe. One of the best fry ups in london!

I really loved this video and would love to see more like this, really shows more of London and options for cabbies out there. Thanks Tom! Also if you ever get a chance are we able to see inside the mysterious green shelters?

@TomtheTaxiDriver

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Carl! My colleague Mark Monroe is having a look inside, his video will be up in the coming weeks!

astral for me is spot on. get in there 6.30 ish then poodle about between 8 and 10. great vids tom keep em coming

Cracking video tom, enjoyed it 👍

I can recommend Fernandos, opposite that Chipotle on St Martin’s Lane. Definitely get value for money with portion size.

For something a bit like Astral Cafe, there's a great cafe in Seven Dials called Franx Sandwich Bar that I can wholeheartedly recommend. It's my go-to for lunch when I'm in town.

How about Pellicci's in Bethnal Green. Delicious breakfast and fantastic pasta meals.

Next march, I will finally visit London, that’s one of my dreams, so this is really useful for me. 🇯🇵

Love sapori the foods amazing and portions huge and there is a great cafe 2 doors down

Seashell of Lisson Grove is an absolute percy! I live just up the road in St John's Wood, but it's always number one on my list for fish & chips.

Great content man. Nice job.

So glad I got recommended your channel = really interesting content - Thank you

I used to work in Alie Street and once a week I would walk to Beigel Bake for a salt beef sandwich. After moving to Thailand 20 years ago there's not a lot I miss about the UK but places like this and authentic pie-and-mash shops are something I do miss. Thanks for the memories!

@nickjames5366

Жыл бұрын

You must have worked in NatWest Goldman’s Fields in Alie Street. I regularly went to Brick Lane.

@expatlivinginthailand

Жыл бұрын

@@nickjames5366 Exactly! That huge red building has gone now. Unbelievable. Replaced with apartments.

@nickjames5366

Жыл бұрын

@@expatlivinginthailand I know, I did a walk around in December after living in the Middle East since 2000. There were 2 people that I worked with in Goodmans Fields are now in Bahrain.

@expatlivinginthailand

Жыл бұрын

@Dominic Eagling Since leaving for Thailand in 2003, I've only been back to the UK once very briefly and didn't get a chance to go into London. However, I've used Google Maps to take a look around and the changes are dramatic. I only really keep in touch with one person from my time there and he's now in Western Canada.

@shahesfelazi8549

Жыл бұрын

@@expatlivinginthailand heya!

I’ve cycled past the Schnitzel place so many but never stopped, now I will! Check out Le Péché Mignon at the bottom of Ronalds Road, N5. Best coffee and pastries in London, all made fresh daily. Also Devotion on the corner of Cross St and Essex Road.

Masters at 109 Blackfriars Road. Great Cafe for breakfast and lunch eat in or take away, always delish.

I love your videos❤, thanks for sharing 🇲🇾❤❤

The bagel shop you went in opened second to the original one further up , loved then both

Hi Tom, subscribed for a long time, my first time commenting. Really liked this idea for a video! Keep up the great content

Love ur vids mate :} started watching few week ago. thank you for being a top lad with ear plugs and tattoos :D hope business has been good over the holidays ^^

That pasta looks so good.

glad you mentioned the bagel shop in brick lane don't think it ever shuts and always packed always a few cab drivers there

Perfect content! Excellent video

Good stuff have look forward to trying a few.

Camisa & Son on Old Compton St is one of the best sandwiches you can get in London. Choose your bread and delicious fresh fillings and they make it up for you. Plus you can also grab bits to cook for dinner later on (meats, pasta's etc)

When I used to drive a cab I loved a chicken kebab. Warwick way, top of laddbroke Grove and best Turkish in Stoke Newington were all nice. Loved the pasta in sappori aswell.

Sapori! Yes!!! My personal favourite. Respecttttttt. I've actually never seen it that quiet 🤣 Just whilst I'm here I feel like I need to shout out Pimlico Fresh as well. 😋

Great vid mate keep it up

This looks so interesting 👍🏼💕!

It's been a while since I was in London with the university I was attending. I always enjoyed going to Toffs in Muswell Hill.

Looks like you just revealed the five best places in London to get a taxi!

@gibbodub247

Жыл бұрын

😂 didn’t even think about it like that!!

It’s a popular one but I love borough market at London Bridge. Either there or camden market. Both have so many good stalls with some of the best street food in london.

@kiradotee

Жыл бұрын

Maria's Market Cafe. Perfect breakfast at lunch time. 👌

Bernies cafe on goswell Road used to be absolutely amazing. I lived right near it and could smell the bacon every morning at 5:30. It was like an alarm for me. There was always loads of cabbies there all throughout the day.

I like to go to My Old Dutch in Holborn for a pancake. Really nice pancake restaurant, sweet and savoury toppings, gorgeous!

Found you from the Running Channel challenge. My favorite memory of New York City was hopping into a cab to take me to a trade show, and having him be all professional. (I was in a sharp suit. ) As soon as I started hanging my head out the window asking about the sites, he became super causal, the Indian music came on, the AC went off and all the windows came down, and he took me the long way, telling me the history of places. (He even stopped the meter short.) 😆

You have charisma… 👏👏 excellent articulate reviews … keep it up

Loved this!

Looking forward to part 5/5

I love Schnitzel ... i'm german/austrian. I have to go to Jonny Schnitzel!

I live on Vincent Square just next to Astral Cafe, and I can say that the place is hugely popular with cab drivers. The prices look astounding for central, I think I will pop in tomorrow and give it a go.

@trinihammer

Жыл бұрын

its only popular because its opposite public toilets.

Like a few others here I was surprised the Regency Cafe didn't get in - just up the road from the Astral (which is indeed very good too).

I live in China Tom...we got cheap and delicious food here, but I ain't been back to UK in nearly 5 years...your video makes me want to come back and smash some of that grub love your channel btw....even my Chinese wife loves it 👍👍👍

Superbious offerings Tam, I'll give them a go when I get the opportunity. 😋😋😋

There is (/was) a proper old-fashioned Greasy Spoon cafe on one of the pedestrian streets around Covent Garden market that I went into a good few years ago. Whenever you go into that sort of establishment, and everyone is wearing Hi-Vis, or Emergency Services Uniform you know you're in the right place.... Edit: Might have been 'Franx' on Shaftesbury Avenue, but my recollection was it was a pedestrian/quiet side street...

Polo Bar on Bishopsgate was where we all went when we were doing an all nighter when working in banking

wow excellent video.. loved it...

Come and try us Tom!

Great contact Excellent videos coming to london dis year keep up the great work love from dublin🇮🇪

@shanemoran8260

Жыл бұрын

How long tom is a taxi from heathrow to london city centre cheers

Sushidog is basically chipotle for sushi rolls (you can customise it however you want) would recommend for fast good food

Great video, more like this one please.

Good reviews. Pleased to see you gave Kennedy's and Fish Central mention, my two favourite fish and chips restaurants.