I'm a legend at my lunchtime. During my working life, I've probably traveled on a lunch pace of £500 a month. And this is not tens, no, but hundreds of thousands of pounds spent over the years.
It shows how much I enjoy a business lunch. However, the days when I would frequent the Members Club to eat whatever was on the cart, browse the extensive wine list, and curl up in an armchair when it was almost time for me to return, are long gone.
I've always advocated for business lunches and getting workers out of their desks and into our great restaurants. It's not because I'm fat stuck in the golden days of work past. Nor because I want to go back to booze-fueled eating. I rarely drink at lunch unless I have something to celebrate. It's simply a great way to get to know people better, explore new ideas and win new business.
As a freelancer, decisions about where to go or how much to spend are governed by my WWA (my wallet and whether it's worth it, my waistline and my accountant. Will what I spend qualify as a justified expense?)
When I started, we were strongly encouraged to expand our network and do so at the company's expense. These days, companies are much more vigilant about spending. And I no longer have a company card to burn.
Recommended
The financial collapse, coupled with the pandemic's legacy of fewer days spent in the office, spelled the end of the '90s-style power lunch. Networking has often become something one does electronically or at conferences. Or through internal meetings that do not depend on inspiration, but on stuffed sandwiches that challenge taste and decency. What happened to the art of lunch? What are the new rules when it comes to spending or picking up the bill?
The easiest cost any company can cut is expenses. Eating lunch with your colleagues and sticking the bill on the company card is not the best use of company funds. Which explains why companies often offer in-house catering.
In the 1970s and 1980s, presidents were the beneficiaries. Partnerships, in particular, had a “partners” dining room, offering a full silver service lunch, with plenty of fine wine to go with whatever the chef was offering that day.
These days, lunch has been democratized: many major companies offer all employees an impressive array of food offerings. First, to entice them into the office, and second, to keep them there. Especially in the technology and financial services sectors.
If you're on a tight budget or have to foot the bill yourself, and you're having lunch with someone from a large company, ask to go to their in-house dining facilities. Not only is it the best way to ensure they get the bill, but some of these facilities are world-class.
I was recently invited to lunch at Apple's new headquarters in Battersea. Her offices are very cool, full of people using technology and looking important. Today, everyone is wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and a funky pair of sneakers. They do it very well. The lunch specials were amazing. Service stations offered all styles of food at subsidized prices. Why even bother going out? One assumes that is the point.
The sushi and sashimi were some of the best I've eaten, and the salad combinations were very creative. All served in modern dining facilities with the elegance of some of the world's best restaurants. Okay, it's not table service and there's no wine, but who cares?
If that's not an option, don't be drawn to the bar or trendy street food vendor just because you saw a great burger dripping on your Instagram feed. They are for your personal time. No chain. I would never do business with a person who invited me to “go to Nando's” because it fit their customers' entertainment budget.
I'm well aware that I'm focused on London, and so are my recommendations. The capital was the scene of many lavish lunches, including a celebration of the closing of a massive securitization transaction. Starting at noon with a Michelin-starred chef and ending several thousand pounds later in a stylish drinking space with Amex behind the bar.
Ask ChatGPT about your area and it will list suggestions. For me, The Ivy, Sushi Samba, Smith & Wollensky or The Ned came up. Well – those are options, but if you want to eat lunch properly – in my book and if I'm going to pay – you'll need to find somewhere more interesting.
You can never go wrong by choosing a restaurant in the Caprice Holdings group, but make sure you choose a 'one-off' venue in the group. If your wallet runs deeper than the Grand Canyon, there's “Sexy Fish” at Berkeley Square in Mayfair, or 34 Mayfair off Grosvenor Square. Finally, stick to the set menu – £28.50 for two dishes. Go for the a la carte menu and you'll be shocked – £52 for a Dover sole or £130 for a Wagyu steak. Don't choose these if you want to be invited back.
Another favorite is Arlington in St. James. The menu is insanely good and the service is on point. If you don't drink, you can get away for less than £50 per person, including service. It is ideal for doing business on a reasonable budget.
If I want style without the gilding, I'll choose a local or old-fashioned restaurant, like Da Paolo near Goodge Street – an authentic Italian restaurant, out of the way. Quiet, isolated meetings are ideal in a place like this.
Whatever you do, lunch should be an important part of building relationships. Always offer to pay, or if you want a second meeting, agree to hold the next one. And don't trust anyone who doesn't have time for lunch. If they're so busy that they can't step away from their work for an hour or two, they probably don't have much time for you either.
James Max is a television and radio broadcaster and real estate expert. The opinions expressed are personal. X, Instagram & Threads @thejamesmax
