Elliot's- Borough, London

12 Stoney Street, Borough, SE1 9AD
http://elliotscafe.com/

On the charming cobbled road adjacent to Borough Market you'll find Elliot's, a cosy restaurant with a delicious, monthly-changing and seasonal menu. Wines are drawn on to chalk boards that hang on exposed brick walls and the mix of tables and bar stools creates a welcoming environment for a longer sit down meal or a quick bite.

The menu reflects the best of the produce available in Borough Market at that time. We drank red wine, ordered hearty meat dishes and shared a selection of divine sides; fried maris pipers, creamy cauliflower cheese and calvonero, chesnuts & squash. Perfect for a winters night!

Pret a Diner- St James's, London

http://www.pretadiner.com

Michelin star chefs, sushi masters, top mixologists, DJs creating ambient background music in both a grand yet edgy environment…Pret a Diner's Burlington Social Club surpassed all expectations.

This unique dining experience moves from city to city, each location bringing with it a new concept that lasts for a limited time only. The registration process to book is brief and adds a level of exclusivity without the usual pretention.

Most recently, The Burlington Social Club was situated in The Royal Academy of Arts and aimed to create a 'modern medieval laboratory' . The main restaurant, an ornate and high-ceilinged Edwardian room, was stripped back and replaced with angular scaffolding from which delicate chandeliers hung. Guests sat on high tables around this structure, observing chefs and mixologists working away in the open bar and kitchen housed within it.

The fixed-price menu included 3 dishes out of roughly 10, each choice teamed with a complementing and creative cocktail. From glass tables we sampled chicken and popcorn stew accompanied by a malt bourbon, grapefruit syrup, chili and caramel concoction. The teriyaki ox cheeks and creamed parsnips were served with a 'Truffle Smoked Fashion'…bourbon, truffle oil, thyme, bitters, sugar and smoke. Both desserts were delicious but the beautifully presented lemon tart came out on top. The winning desert cocktail was made up of vodka, homemade limoncello, apple, citrus and maple syrup.

Whether you make a trip to Berlin for the next experience…or wait for its return to London, such a unique fusion of food and art make Pret a Diner a one off experience.

Vinoteca- Soho, London

53- 55 Beak Street, London W1F 9SH
http://www.vinoteca.co.uk/soho/

Vinoteca is a wine bar & dining room with locations in Soho, Farringdon and Marylebone. Over two floors, the Soho branch is inviting and full of life. What is unique about Vinoteca is the enormous selection of high-quality wines available by the glass; the modern British menu has a suggested glass of wine for each plate. The rich and indulgent menu changes daily but dishes like confit of duck, Cornish hake with spiced lentils or English rose veal might feature.

Simply Indian- Borough, London

25 Tabard Street, SE1 4LA
http://www.simplyindian.co.uk/

Bring your own bottle and head to Simply Indian to sample delicious, authentic Indian food in a cosy and intimate setting. Located a few minutes away from Borough Tube Station, this restaurant offers curries we hadn’t seen before and were intrigued to try. In all our main dishes, the meat was of the highest quality and cooked to perfection; working in harmony with aromatic sauces to create a wonderful culinary partnership.  Try Mama Ishtu (£5.80); a coconut based lamb stew or the Goan Chicken Curry (£5.90); a cashew, green chili, cumin and tamarind delight. The sag aloo was the best I’d tried.

 

Haozhan- Chinatown, London

8 Gerrard Street, London, W1D 5PJ

http://www.haozhan.co.uk/ 

This is quite simply, the best Chinese food I have had in London. This post should make choosing from the multitude of restaurants on Gerrard Street a little easier! The small, clean , modern interior of Haozhan lets the food do the talking. We devoured delicious grilled pork dumplings, satay vegetarian chicken and crispy vegetable rolls with seaweed for appetisers. Following that our exquisite main courses surpassed the starters; lemon chicken, spicy prawns in a green curry & lemongrass sauce and traditional roast hoisin duck. The winner was a lip smacking rib-eye beef dish presented in an ornate noodle cave. It’s reasonably priced and available on the Taste Card.