Hutong- The Shard, London

31 St. Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
http://www.aquahutong.co.uk

If you happen to have a wad of spare cash itching to be spent or can wangle a free client dinner at this place (I found myself the lucky latter last month)...then go! An explosion of flavours from their contemporary northern Chinese menu and twinkling skyscraper views of London make the whole experience rather dreamy.  The numerous eating spaces and private dining rooms that span the panoramic 33rd floor are finished beautifully; a seductive landscape of hand carved dark wood, glowing red lanterns, floor to ceiling glass windows and a single wishing tree all evoke a feeling of luxury and serenity.

Starting with cocktails, the 'Chinese Lantern' was a delicious concoction of fresh mandarin, passion fruit, St. Germaine, plum bitters and champagne. The tasting menu brought us plates of joy in the form of dover and coriander soup, roasted peking duck with classic pancakes, Kung-Po style fried prawns, grouper fillet with black bean sauce, stir-fried shredded duck, crispy lamb ribs, spicy minced pork with string beans and Hutong's fried rice. We finished with cooling guava sorbet after our spicy savouries. I can't wait to go back...although it might only be for a cocktail.

Brasserie Zédel- Picadilly, London

20 Sherwood Street, W1F 7ED
http://www.brasseriezedel.com

A stone's throw from Piccadilly Circus, Brasserie Zédel is an opulent French restaurant housed in a grand ballroom that once belonged to the Regent Palace Hotel. The stunning Art Deco interior features mahogany wall panels, clothed tables adorned with small period lamps and marble pillars that stretch high up to a gilded ceiling.

The great value menu includes classic mains like Beef Bourguignon (£9.95) and steak haché with pepper sauce and frites (£8.75). Other traditional dishes like the onion soup and Creme Brûlée are both priced at a very reasonable £4.50. There's also the option of the fixed price menu- 2 courses for £8.95 and 3 for £11.75.

Extend your evening with cocktails in Bar Américane or visiting cabaret and jazz bar, 'The Crazy Coqs', both adjacent to Zédel. 

Sake No Hana- Mayfair, London

23 Saint James's Street, SW1A 1HA
http://sakenohana.com/london/

Owned by the Hakkasan group, Sake No Hana serves modern Japanese cuisine in a slick Mayfair environment. Black leather seats, atmospheric drop lighting and an intricate wooden ceiling create a striking interior while the open sushi bar lets you to watch the chefs hard at work.

The 'Taste of Sake No Hana' set menu is priced at £29 ahead for 4 courses, allowing you to sample a range of what's on offer without breaking the bank. We opted for the red miso soup with yam croquette to start, followed by tofu and mushrooms and tender beef hobayaki. Of the sushi dishes available, the spicy chirashi maki and crunchy yasai maki were perfectly prepared and tasted great. The dessert of the day was an unusual and refreshing selection of sorbet bites encased in exotic fruit pockets. Also included is a peach Bellini served in a tall, frosted glass.

The Wolesley- St James, London

160 Piccadily, W1J 9EB
http://www.thewolseley.com/

The Wolesley lets you experience Mayfair luxury at affordable prices. This London establishment originated as a prestigious car showroom and the interior remains as grand today- towering pillars, arches, stairways and chandeliers create a big impact as soon as you walk through the door. After being greeted by three separate staff before we were seated, we knew we would be looked after well.

The menu includes starters like beetroot and goats cheese salad or croustade of quails eggs and hollandaise. The duck confit with lentils was a delicious mains and the fish stew and coq au vin looked good too. Classic desserts feature such as creme brulee, apple & raspberry crumble and black forest gateau.

Renowned for breakfast, start the day with choices such as caramelised pink grapefruit, potato rosti with avocado, tomato and egg or pancakes with bacon and berries.

Bunga Bunga- Battersea, London

37 Battersea Bridge Road, SW11 3BA
http://www.bungabunga-london.com/

As one of London's top boozy brunch venues, two hours in Italian pizzeria Bunga Bunga ensure anyone leaves in a jovial and less that sober state. The staff are attentive and provide a steady, unlimited flow of prosecco and bellinis.

Also included in the thirty pound brunch menu are homemade bread and jams, fresh fruit salad, a selection of cured meats and large boards of different pizza - ample lining for whatever shenanigans follow. Expect dancing on tables and karaoke when things begin to get rowdy post- 3pm...
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Dabbous- Goodge Street, London

39 Whitfield Street, WIT 2SF
http://dabbous.co.uk/

A string of excellent reviews from top critics and a small capacity shot the wait for Dabbous up to a massive 10 months last year. Thankfully the waiting time has now been capped at 6 months! Dishes on the menu display innovation with a proficient understanding of flavours and ingredient combinations. Fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables, juices and infusions and wild foods are the focus to ensure lighter cooking in line with a growing desire to eat healthily.

We went all out with the tasting menu; favourites being muscat grapes with lovage & almond milk, lard on toast with black truffle and hot cashew nut butter with ginger beer and lime.

The bar downstairs boasts an extensive and creative cocktail list for a pre-dinner drink.

The Flying Pig- Dulwich, london

58-60 East Dulwich Road, SE22 9AX

http://www.theflyingpiglondon.com

Make a visit to The Flying Pig in Dulwich for big portions of tasty southern comfort food. Feeling fragile on a Sunday, the pulled pork signature sandwich, meaty rack of ribs and side of mac n' cheese were our saviour. For any vegetarians or pescatarians, the menu also includes lighter options like 'The Tree Hugger' bean and lentil burger or the soft shell crab taco. This craft beer pub has 12 kegs and 6 casks on offer, ensuring loads of hops variety at any time. Big comfy leather seats near the front of the pub provide the perfect spot to laze around, content and full from a large lunch.

Beagle- Hoxton, London

397- 400 Geffrye Street, E2 H8Z
http://www.beaglelondon.co.uk/

Beagle sits adjacent to Hoxton overground station and occupies the space of two large railway arches. With the restaurant in the left arch and a bar in the right, the exposed brick, open kitchen, and large low hanging pendant lights create a striking interior that fills up quickly.

The chef's focus on using seasonal produce is reflected in a regularly changing menu with a limited number of high quality dishes. We opted for a very autumnal main; roast partridge with pumpkin, smoked bacon and kale. The veggie option was a creamy polenta dish with squash and wild mushrooms. An ox cheek & pickled walnut pie with buttered black cabbage also passed us on the way to another table and looked amazing...

A repeat visit is definite, even just to make use of the very trendy bar :)

The Summer House- Warwick Avenue, London

60 Blomfield Road, W9 2PA
http://www.thesummerhouse.co/

With a prime spot on Regent's Canal, The Summer House is a charming venue for lunch or dinner. Now open all year round due to popular demand, it can be enjoyed as a cosy spot during the winter or for alfresco dining when the roof is pulled back in the summer. Fish and seafood dishes prevail (their fish and chips is a big favourite), however sharing platters, salads and char-grilled steak also feature.

The seafood platter is impressive; a healthy portion of popcorn shrimp, salt & pepper calamari, grilled sardines and Mediterranean king prawns accompanied with sweet chili and tartare dips. The Summer House salad makes healthy eating easy- a colourful plate of chicken, bacon, avocado, egg, Roquefort blue cheese, chives and tomatoes served with a light vinaigrette. Dessert was a creamy cup of Eton Mess- a lovely sweet treat to finish with.

Its canal location influences the nautical interior; white bricks, splashes of duck egg blue, classic stripes and an abundance of shell and boat decorations are on show. Each table is adorned with a bright sunflower and the plants placed throughout bring more nature into the space.

London Restaurant Festival Tapas Tour

Copita
Fernandez and Wells
Barrica
El Pirata Detapas
Ametsa
El Pirata

http://www.londonrestaurantfestival.com/events/tapas-tour/

Each year, London Restaurant Festival sparks the creation of numerous food events and we were quick to snap up tickets for the tapas tour.

There can't be many better ways to spend a Saturday afternoon than traveling from one London spot to the next, exploring new areas and venues and being greeted with a drink and plate of delicious food in each.                                
 
Both Copita and Fernandez & Wells are small, rustic bars based in Soho which served some  lovely dishes we would happily have had second helpings of;  truffled goats cheese with piquillo pepper and almonds, duck & pear risotto followed by toasted sourdough with 36 month cured jamon iberico.

The staff in Goodge Street's Barrica were particularly friendly and brought us delicious plates of oak grilled butternut squash with blue cheese & almonds.

Next was El Pirata Detapas in Notting Hill where thankfully we got our ham croquetas fix and tried an interesting dish- endive leaves dipped in a valderon foam with walnuts.

Ametsa is located in a hotel next to Hyde Park Corner and was our seafood stop; scorpion fish cake with green olive oil and black ink squid.

We ended in lively El Pirata, a short walk from Green Park with hearty meatballs and risotto & cheese stuffed peppers.                      

One of the best bits was leaving each restaurant with no fuss or bill to pay. It (almost) felt like we ate for free....

Dine Mile High- Notting Hill, London

http://www.dinemilehigh.com/index.html

Dine Mile High is a fun pop up dining experience themed around your flight to an inspiring or exotic destination. For us it was Mozambique, and in addition to the 4 air hostesses and jovial captain who greeted us, an African lady in bright, traditional dress played the role of a nervous passenger when she struck up conversation with us following check in.

Great value for money, our ticket included drinks and canapes in the lounge style bar- huge plates of roast plantain, chicken wings and white bait were passed around as people sipped on prosecco martinis, mint juleps, wine and beers. Called to board our flight, we were then seated at long tables in a separate space and brought four generous courses, also included in the ticket price. 

Prawns marinated in coconut, chilli, peanuts and lime followed by grilled sardines with sweet spicy salsa were light and flavourful dishes ahead of our heavier main; tender spatchcock  poussin with green chilli, cucumber and delicious coriander pilaf.  The macerated pineapple, coconut, mango and passion fruit granita with salted cashew nuts was creamy, sweet and salty all at once but made a scrumptious combination.

Following a chatty and plentiful dinner, when we 'landed at our destination', the bar opened again revealing live music that played for the rest of the night.. The variety of food, interesting transformation of an unused space (our evening was located in an old post office) and enthusiasm from our cabin crew made Dine Mile High a very enjoyable start to the weekend.

Roast- Borough Market, London

The Floral Hall, Stoney Street, SE1 1TL
http://www.roast-restaurant.com

Found the heart of Borough Market, Roast is perfect for a delicious weekend lunch in a polished and friendly setting. Two floors up and with large glass windows, this restaurant is the perfect vantage point to see the adjacent railway lines, beautiful surrounding architecture and the hustle and bustle of the market below. The family friendly nature and regular live piano make it a very relaxed and pleasant place to be.

The menu focuses on high quality, seasonal British produce. On Saturday, choose from one of the many appetising a la carte mains including beer battered whiting with chips and mushy pees, classic Shepherd's pie, tandoori-spiced partridge, the 8oz Borough burger or pan-fried fillet of Cornish lemon sole.

The Sunday set menu is centered around a hearty roast. Accompanied with beef-dripping roasties and seasonal vegetables, our roast chicken and slow roasted lamb choices came in mammoth portions that  left us full and happy customers very much in need of a nap. Our tasty desserts included Bramley apple and blackberry crumble with custard, lemon posset with kentish raspberry jelly and an indulgent chocolate and vanilla ice cream sundae.

Ceviche- Soho, London

17 Frith Street, W1D 4RG

http://cevicheuk.com/index.php

‘Ceviche’ is a popular dish along the Central and South American coasts and is typically made from marinating raw seafood in citrus juices and spicing it with aji or chilli peppers. Named after, and having varieties of this dish on the menu, Peruvian restaurant Ceviche is worth a visit to try something new. The ‘Don Ceviche’ with fresh seabass was both healthy and tasted great; the chilli tiger’s milk and limo chilli packed quite a punch. If that doesn't sound up your street- the ‘Lomo Saltado’ a flame cooked beef fillet with chunky chips was tender and full of flavour. Adding to that-I’d return in a second for the marinated & braised octopus and chorizo skewers on a bed of black quinoa…absolutely delicious. The restaurant is small- busy tables sit within blue-washed walls hung with colourful, framed prints. An overhead fan evokes the feel of a café somewhere hot.

Social Eating House- Soho, London

58 Poland Street, W1F 7NR

http://www.socialeatinghouse.com/

Following successful restaurants Pollen Street Social and Little Social, Social Eating House is the newest opening from Jason Atherton and sits within Soho’s matrix of narrow and buzzing streets. The restaurant is smart- mirrored ceilings, brick walls and restored furniture make the interior. An energetic atmosphere, attentive staff and a stylish upstairs cocktail bar (The Blind Pig) are just some of the reasons to try it, food aside. Creative meat and fish dishes are prevalent on the starter and main menus; personally I can vouch for two delicious mains. The roast Cornish cod came in a delicious cream sauce with baby gem, cockles, mousseron mushrooms and kombu- a type of seaweed. Beautifully cooked, the confit Cotswold lamb neck fillet was accompanied by roasted onions, aubergine, artichoke, tomato and a tangy tapenade. Dessert was a B52 sundae...Khalua and chocolate brownie, Gran Marnier sorbet, Bailey’s ice cream and espresso syrup gave it quite a kick.

Beard to Tail- Hoxton, London

77 Curtain Road, EC2A 3BS
http://www.beardtotail.co.uk/

Whiskey and steak lovers...this one's for you. While the focus of the restaurant is high quality, locally sourced meats and a variety of rare whiskies and ryes, there is something for everyone on the menu.

The superior starter choice was a delicious dish of Devonshire crab with avocado, lime, cannellini beans, chilli flakes and melba toast.  Deep fried baby squid with almonds and crispy curry leaves followed closely after. With rich glasses of red, we enjoyed succulent braised pig’s cheeks with cloves & honey and the butcher’s cut steak with celeriac & horseradish slaw. Giant sweet potato chips on the side were a good choice too. The dessert menu looks divine- treat yourself to a banana tart with peanut butter ice cream,  a baked lemon tart with vanilla mascarpone or go all out and order the sharing sundae- marshmallow, ice cream, Oreo cookies, chocolate brownies & Jack Daniel’s syrup- served in a whisky bottle.

 A design incorporating wooden tables, mosaic flooring, light grey tiles, exposed pipes and a large focal chandelier gives the interior a casual but stylish feel.