Restaurants suited to bodybuilders

I had an idea for a thread which I'd like to post.

Are there any restaraunts or eating establishments near you which serve food fairly well suited to the bodybuilding diet? Im not talking fish cakes and tuna here! What i mean is a place that serves good portions of clean, healthy, tasty food.

Over the years ive noticed how much of a lottery it is when you choose somewhere to eat when you are on a diet regime, especially when travelling so this thread is for members to post places which suit the bodybuilding enthusiast.

I'll start

Harvester in Otterspool - South Liverpool

I know its a chain but I had never been in one before. I was so impressed when as we ordered we were given a bowl and told to help ourselves to as much as we liked from the salad bar. Good choice there and all fresh

For our mains I had fillet steak and my partner had sea bass. Both tasty and not overly greasy. Portion size was phenomenal and hard to finish.

Overall I'd definitely recommend it. Its not michelin star quality but the prices reflect that. Only downside is Tuc lives near there!

So go on, add yours

EDIT - Looking more for Proper restaraunts as opposed to convenience food

Nandos. Not sure how calorie dense the marinade is but whether bulking or cutting you can pick a decent meal.

Cut:
Half chicken with side of salad

Bulk:
Double breast chicken fillet pitta
2 x spicy rice

Eating out can be a bit of a nightmare if you're very strict with diet though unless they're fine with you asking for a modifed meal, which any decent restaurant should be.

Every restaurant I go to at lunch time with work or in the evening with the missus I have two main meals. Gets a little embarassing but everyone I know has sort of got used to it.

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Good topic - stickied.  The idea is for good quality resteraunts, not just where you like to go.  It's for people in your area to read and try, or visitors.  This could prove to be a good reference topic.

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Is this not true for anywhere you want to eat,,i have found that you can eat healthy not matter were you go, except McDonalds,,,,,my favorite has to be subway,,you'll find most supermarkets now do hot chicken, and they have a good salad bar, that you can fill a takeaway bowl to the brim with all different types of beans for about £3

Walrus and Carpenter - Bristol + Bath

http://www.walrusandcarpenter.com/Default.aspx

All our food is freshly cooked by our chefs on the premises. We pride ourselves on the quality and freshness of our ingredients. Our meat is either free-range or organic, and everything is sourced from local suppliers.

Our signature beef burgers, are made from 100% beef to a recipe that we have used for over 30 years. Our local butcher makes them up and delivers them to us daily! There are loads of toppings and you can choose between ¼ or ½ lbs. All our burgers can come with chips or salad or if you are really hungry you can have both!

For the vegetarians amongst you, we offer a wide selection of vegetarian food, such as spinach lasagne and our famous nutloaf with a creamy mushroom and watercress sauce. We also make a very tasty vegetarian burger.

Expensive, but good quality nosh. Some menu items below.

MAINS

Chilli con carne-homemade chilli made with locally farmed mince served with a walrus salad & pitta

Steak kebab-marinaded beef kebab served with a walrus salad & warm pitta bread

Walrus seafood bake- pieces of cod, haddock & whole prawns cooked in a parsley sauce, topped with potato & cheese served with a walrus salad & pitta

Beef strogonoff -succulent pieces of locally farmed fillet steak cooked in a brandy, cream & mushroom sauce served on a bed of rice with a mixed leaf salad & warm pitta

Chicken kebab- Grilled free range chicken & red pepper kebab with a homemade satay sauce. served with rice, mixed leaf salad & warm pitta 1

8 oz rump steak-locally farmed served ith chips & salad
8 oz sirloin steak-locally farmed served with chips & salad

Plain beefburger
Cheeseburger
Beefburger with sweet & sour pineapple
Beefburger with sour cream & chives
Beefburger with garlic mayonnaise
Beefburger with Mustard & apple
Beefburger with creamed horseradish
Beefburger with cheese & bacon

When I start earning in September, this place is going to be hit hard!

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Id second Nandos - got me through a cut.

Chicken salad.  With olives or nuts for the added fat content.

http://www.eattrainsleep.co.uk

I just about live in hotels, so interesting thread for me!

All I can say after years of this is it's very hit and miss, esp in Britan.  I've lost count of restraunts with good looking options on the menu and they come out as rather depressing meals.

Case in point, a salt beef salad I ordered a few nights ago was a plate of very sad lettice, 2 (yes,2) cherry tomatoes, some beef cold cuts dumped on top and 1/2 a gallon of mayo squirted on in a sprial.

My rules are:

1. Either ask for no sauce or get it on the side.
2. Quite often one of the starters will be the best option, don't be afraid to order it as a main.
3. Only ever eat out in Spain...tapas bars are heaven for a BB'er.

The Harvester.

Grill type resturant, but also currys and pastas etc.
 
Cutting? Lean grilled protein & UNLIMITED SALAD CART(Variety of lower fat toppings(Honey & Mustard, red devil, or the fatter mayo/thousandislands etc) plenty of lettuce/carrot/pineapple/sultanas/beans/beetroot.

Bulking? Go for the mixed greasy grill & carby salad cart options(Unlimited)
For those who need PWO carbs theres Potato salad, Pesto type pasta shells, Unlimited freshly baked white or wholemeal rolls.

Budget? Before 6.30 its "Early bird" a good few options(Spit roasts, etc) are around £4.99 or £5.99. They serve free tap water, but soda is reasonable.

Love it, cheap, i leave full up and depending on if im bothered by calories ill either go for the big grill type meals(Sausage, black puding, etc ec) orill go with lean chicken/gammon & jacket potato then pick the lower calorie salad options off the free cart to boost up the size of my meal.

Desert = Rocky horror fudge cake is awesome.

As mentioned a couple of times, I don't think you can go far wrong with Nandos for either cutting or bulking.

I'm cutting at present and have been eating there quite often as of late. Love the place!

http://www.rodiziorico.com/

Location:-
Wesbourne Park-London
Upper St islington-London
O2 Arena-London

£- roughly £30/head with 2 x drinks.

Food:-

this place is to bb'ing like a church is to christianity...

more suited to the bulkers amongst us although dieters will be able to enjoy this too...

The meal starts off by helping yourself to the salad bar from which you can choose everything from broccoli through to pasta and potato salad and boiled eggs.
once you are seated with whatever bits and pieces you have helped youreself to, waiters and waitresses will come round with various selections of BBQ'd prime meat cuts & poultry (protein)...

you can eat as much as you like, different meats are constantly brought for you to enjoy and you can go back to the salad bar as much as you like.

Highly recommended.

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Holy crap, that place is a dream. Only in London? Damn!

"I believe in taking care of myself" - Patrick Bateman
  
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Another vote for Nandos, all hail the free chicken loyalty card!!  I have a free whole chicken next time I nando!  Which will probs be tomorrow!! :D

anabolicjay


http://www.rodiziorico.com/

Location:-
Wesbourne Park-London
Upper St islington-London
O2 Arena-London

£- roughly £30/head with 2 x drinks.

Food:-

this place is to bb'ing like a church is to christianity...

more suited to the bulkers amongst us although dieters will be able to enjoy this too...

The meal starts off by helping yourself to the salad bar from which you can choose everything from broccoli through to pasta and potato salad and boiled eggs.
once you are seated with whatever bits and pieces you have helped youreself to, waiters and waitresses will come round with various selections of BBQ'd prime meat cuts & poultry (protein)...

you can eat as much as you like, different meats are constantly brought for you to enjoy and you can go back to the salad bar as much as you like.

Highly recommended.

Sounds like just the sort of place this thread is aiming at.

And please god no more Nandos!

i personally think nandos food is pretty crap

i like a good feast as much as the next man but eating ridiculous amounts of any type of food is only gunna add fat.. not that beneficial

would be kool if there was a restaurant serving al a carte / gourmet food with all the nutritonal info listed on the menu maybe

quality not quantity

Hungry Horse pubs

Massive 16oz steaks, can sub chips for spuds or salad

Most restaurants can cater for a clean diet, it's all a case of what you choose to eat when you go.

If you're dieting then I'd suggest not even looking at the menu if you're easily tempted.

I usually have grilled salmon and baked potato with veg or salad. Most will have some form of white fish, steak, or roast chicken, just ask for them to be served without sauce.

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Cosmo - Bristol/Swindon/Anywhere

All you can eat, selve service chinese, thai, japanese food etc. Plenty of everything you'd expect from a Chinese on tap plus, sushi, currys, dozens of king prawn dishes as well as a grill bar that does king prawns, pork and beef steaks on demand.

Personal best: 7 plates.

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rodiziorico id second, went to the one on upper street the selection of salads and meats is ideal!

If your parting with the cash, eat what your pallet will enjoy most.

Live a little, if you worrying what your eating all week, theres 1 night you can let yourself go. Obsession isnt good!

Nando's although the menu's boring is good food. What about Yo sushi? went there the other week small portions but loads of choice, healthy too.

http://www.themongolianbarbeque.co.uk/

this place is the best BB'er place to eat!! as much meat/seafood and veg as you want served with rice you choose what you want chef cooks it and its brought to your table!!!!   if there is one near you its a MUST!!

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http://www.themongolianbarbeque.co.uk/

this place is the best BB'er place to eat!! as much meat/seafood and veg as you want served with rice you choose what you want chef cooks it and its brought to your table!!!!   if there is one near you its a MUST!!

Looks pretty sweet that. Unfortunately there isn't one near me though! As good as it looks Im not sure I could justify a trip to London for it!

one in london is closed for refurbishment :(

I second the mongolian barbeque.  Been to the one in Dublin and it's a great place to eat, the food is fresh and the chefs really know what they're doing, very skilled guys

Always found Benihana to be good http://www.benihana.co.uk/
Wagama as well has plenty that's fine for bulks or cuts www.wagamama.com  - they do takeaway as well, a big plus if working in office or in rush (can phone ahead)

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Another vote for the wonder that is Nando's
I'm a bit of a pussy though & have to eat it totally plain otherwise it's all too spicy for me lol

Another bonus is that the missus works for the NHS so we get 20% discount as well ;)

Neil

I used to struggle with this type of thing until I started eating out more and determined to make good food choices. Now, I have it down to a science so long as I don't leave Leeds!

Personal favourites:

Anything Japanese or Thai
Any Argentine Steakhouse - give me a pound of beef with veg and I am happy!
Curry - You can laugh but if you get this right it will be low carb, low fat and high protein. Thermogenic to boot!

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I was on a course in the Barbican last week and I ate 4 times  at Smiths of Smithfield  (Address:    67-77 Charterhouse Street EC1M 6HJ
Tel:    020 7251 7950).

Food was gorgeous. I really liked it. Its on 4 floors, the top floor is a posher restaurant to take your missus but the second floor is also really nice.

Its not cheap, but its good value if that makes sense, servings are massive.

 Below is a cut and paste because I'm lazy, and it explains the place much better than me...

"Few venues are appreciated on as many levels as cavernous, clamorous & carnivorous Smiths of Smithfields, which offers dining options spread over four floors. Pride of place goes to the posh Top Floor restaurant, where well-aged, rare-breed steaks & grills rule the roost. Everyone praises the setting & the view either through the sliding glass doors or from the terrace. The industrial-chic ‘2nd-floor’ brasserie offers pleasantly unpretentious service. British bovines rule here, too, but the open kitchen is flexible & also excels at salt-cod fritters & Chinese five-spice duck. The buzzy ground-floor café/bar is famed for its breakfasts."

I would also recommend Gaucho grills/steakhouses, they are really nice, I have never had a bad steak from one of them...

I look forward to a horror story about them now...

found another one at Angel/upper street North London

Sen Nin Japanese Teppanyaki Restaurant, http://www.sen-nin.com/

lovely Fresh Salmon, Squid, Steaks, Chicken all cooked ona hot plate infront of you by the chef!

Recommended

Gauchos is bloody godly :)


As for leeds, i found the Olive Tree to be descent. Wide Selection of greek dishes, can be served with or without carbs and they have some nice meat / veg mixes.

Pitta bar in headingly is good, if a bit overpriced for what it is. Make sure you get double meat and ram it full of salad / olives / jalepenos.

Jinos Thai Cafe (headingly), get the Thai Prawn soup :)

grill night Tuesday at witherspoons is a good one in my book 10 oz rump baked potato and salad and a drink £6.10 bargain. But if im eating out usually its nandos or harvester

Skill over Will

I have to agree with Kitty i believe most places should be able to supply something healthy that will suit all dieting requirements, obvousily bulking is easier to cater for.  But for example yesterday i spent quite a bit of time in the pub so i while cutting i had a sirlion steak, baked potato and a plan salad.  It fitted my requirments and diet need perfectly.

Yeh, I agree with Kitty too, there is always something on the menu that you can have. Only problem for me though is finding a decent place that serves a good sized meal, I always come away hungry. Anyone know any good restaurants near Durham or Sunderland?

I went to Rodizio Rico this weekend, its a brasillian barbeque restaurant. They have an all you can eat buffet, its £22.50 a head but the meat is so succulent. If you could go for a massive workout and then go there a couple of hours later it would be amazing, you could just stuff yourself. I went to the one in Upper Street in Islington but there are 3 branches in London.

http://www.rodiziorico.com/

Another cut and paste below:

"At Rodizio Rico, our selection of meat is extensive and sure to tempt with delights including leg of lamb; beef in a variety of cuts from silverside to picanha, the heart of the rump; pork; chicken thighs and chicken wings as well as authentic specialities such as chicken hearts. You can also help yourself to the vast array of traditional Brazilian hot dishes and exotic salads available on our buffet, all freshly made to time-honoured recipes.

Everything at Rodizio Rico is expertly grilled to keep it succulent and full of flavour. If you have a preference for how your meat is cooked, just let one of our passadors know and they will offer you cuts from either the outside of the skewer so it’s well done, or from the centre if you prefer your meat rare.

No craving is too large at Rodizio Rico and our waiters will continue to serve you freshly grilled meats until you can eat no more. A pure carnivore’s delight – all you need is a hearty appetite!"

IMO alot of the big chain pub food places are quite good

i know the quality of meat may not be the highest but there is a Harvester type place near me

£7.95 for rack of ribs, chicken breast, 2 sausages, gammon steak , broccolli,peas and carrots and a jacket spud

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when i eat out i usually go for the steak with salad or large grilled salmon fillet with baked potato, never struggled with eating at restaurants personally.

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btw when i was in my kitchen last night i seen a copy of my dads mens health

guess what was on front cover

"50 of UKs Healthiest Restraunts"

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