Tanner & Co- Bermondsey, London

50 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UD
http://tannerandco.co.uk

With anticipation I booked into the newest restaurant and bar on Bermondsey Street, Tanner & Co. As restaurants along this charming street tend to book up every night, the need for more tables was definite and this uniquely designed, huge space- provides just that. Inspired by an old gymnasium, the decor has interesting focal points throughout; vintage radios, glass cased ship models and old typewriters are on display while an old fashioned blackboard indicates the direction to the toilets. Hanging rope is used to decorate various areas and a row of booths are divided by real horse pommels. Leather aprons worn by staff and the name symbolise Bermondsey's past as the home to many leather tanneries. 

The menu is described as a 'contemporary take on comfort food' and we started our meal with two delicious dishes; a perfectly cooked gourmet scotch egg and flavourful plate pork rillettes. Poached hake with leeks and baked aubergine with ratatouille and cous cous fritters were main courses polished off quickly. Also gracing the menu are braised oxtail and mushroom spring rolls and liver bubble and squeak croquettes. Regrettably, there was no room for dessert otherwise the butterscotch tart with whippy cream or iced neapolitan parfait with praline wafer would have been winners. We ordered and enjoyed two different champagne cocktails from a large and creative cocktail menu which will serve the accompanying bar well.

Morito- Exmouth Market, London

32 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R
http://www.morito.co.uk/index.php

Morito...a teeny tapas restaurant in Exmouth Market selling little plates of heavenly Spanish food. Of the ten or so dishes our table tried, the beetroot, feta & walnut dip and chorizo & scallop salad were delicious. More unusual choices that also went down particularly well were the roasted aubergine with mint yoghurt, walnuts & pomegranate and the deep fried artichokes. Inside is cute; a rustic interior with splashes of colour from an orange bar, red flowers, a large fuchsia print and bowls of olives and limes.

The Clove Club- Shoreditch, London

Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LT
http://thecloveclub.com

The Clove Club is one of East London's newest restaurants and one which prides itself on a regularly changing, British menu inspired by seasonal produce. While this set menu serves nine dishes of food...the price tag is quite steep at £47 ahead. In fairness the plates were impressive; interesting combinations, very artistically presented, served by extremely attentive staff. Highlight starter was buttermilk fried chicken...best main was chilled courgette soup with smoked fish, creme fraiche and Indian spices…winning dessert was prune ice cream, kernel & rosemary sorbet and walnut cake crumbs.

The interior is simple and let's the food do the talking, however the period features of this old town hall are still prevalent. The bathrooms house Edwardian pull chain toilets and Bentwood chairs feature in the dining room. Should you fancy popping in for a more informal visit, a separate bar area serves drinks and small dishes.

Little Social- Mayfair, London

5 Pollen Street, London, W1S 1NE
http://www.littlesocial.co.uk

This Mayfair bistro serves exquisite French cuisine in a polished setting at pleasantly affordable prices. Inside is just what you would expect from a traditional Parisian restaurant; burgundy leather booths, dark wooden tables, black framed prints cover the walls and cosy light comes from candles and a variety of lamps. Every table was taken when we arrived and given the food we soon tried it's no surprise why.

The menu is varied yet uncluttered. Though very tempted to order the slow-cooked egg, parmesan and squash soup with mushrooms and croutons to start, I went straight for the roasted halibut 'BLT' with sauce bois boudrain...a beautifully cooked main dish which I savoured every mouthful of. 'Poutine'...a Quebec dish of fries, cheese and gravy was an indulgent and delicious side. The hot chocolate moelleux with sea salt and almond ice cream for dessert was the perfect contrast of sweet and salty. Little Social deserves an all round big thumbs up.

Shrimpy's- King's Cross, London

The King's Cross Filling Station, Goods Way, N1C 4UR
http://shrimpys.co.uk/

Five minutes from Kings Cross, Shrimpy's is a stylish and welcoming pop-up restaurant discreetly housed in a renovated petrol station beside Regent's Canal. 

The menu is American themed with Mexican and Peruvian influences. We were brought a dish of complimentary deep fried corn on arrival and the Bloody Marys that followed packed quite a punch. The menu appeals to meat and fish lovers; roasted calamari & black olive tapenade, prawn fritters with green chilli & lime, 'pork pozole', chimichurri skirt steak, fried chicken with red peppers... to name just a few plates on offer. The salt cod croquettes that jumped out on the menu were a little underwhelming but quickly compensated by spicy and succulent soft shell crab burgers with chilli and avocado.

A small venue, Shrimpy's is ideal for groups of 2-4 and the decor is both elegant and fun...taupe walls and white table cloths provide a soft canvas for colourful illustrations and large pineapple lamps . A return visit to sample some of the brunch options ('Hangtown fry' or beef shin hash with poached egg) is certain.