Flesh and Buns- Covent Garden, London

41 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LX
http://www.fleshandbuns.com/

Flesh & Buns is an energetic, modern Japanese restaurant located in a basement in London's charming Seven Dials. It's named as such as the concept is to order from the section of high quality meat and fish dishes and pair with their signature steamed buns.

Diners can sit in one of the large booths, small individual tables or the long communal table that runs the entire length of the restaurant. The low ceiling creates a an intimate atmosphere and the simple interior provides an informal feel. 

Dishes on offer include mixed sashimi, ceviche, sushi rolls, fried lime squid, grilled sweet potato, Wagyu rump steak and salmon teriyaki. For something sweet try the black sugar custard donuts, passionfruit s'mores or a lychee & pomegranate martini. Every Sunday they offer an unlimited brunch too; a cocktail on arrival, chips, dips and edamame, unlimited hot and cold dishes, steamed buns, a dessert for the table and unlimited prosecco, white or red wine...result!

Palomar- Soho, London

34 Rupert Street, W1D 60N
http://thepalomar.co.uk/

This place is perfect if you're dining in a two; sit at the bar to eat and watch the chefs prepare and serve right in front of you...the atmosphere is great. You won't be able to book in advance but if it's busy you can put your name down and go for a drink nearby- the Ham Yard Hotel bar is particularly lovely. There is however a separate restaurant for those who too feel nervous turning up without a booking!

I wasn't quite sure what 'modern day Jerusalem' cuisine entailed but the dishes were super. We enjoyed some delicious Jewish 'Challah bread' to start, followed by the cornfed chicken cooked in buttermilk & Jerusalem mixed spices and the pork belly tagine with ras el hanout, dried apricots and Israeli cous cous. Our 'Malabi' dessert was divine; a rose scented pudding with raspberry coulis, coconut meringue pistachio crunch, fresh raspberries and 'kataifi'. 

Aribica Bar & Kitchen- Borough Market, London

3 Rochester Walk, Borough Market, SE1 9AF
http://www.arabicabarandkitchen.com/

Recently opened restaurant and bar Arabica is located in the heart of Borough Market and was teeming with life when we visited one recent Thursday evening.

High ceilings, brick walls and exposed piping create a dramatic interior that soft/layered lighting bring warmth and welcome to.
                    
Arabica promises an 'epicurean exploration of the beguiling flavours of the Levant'. In other words; the menu has delicious Eastern Mediterranean inspired dishes ideal for sharing. Expect to choose from options such as smoked almonds, appetizing dips, stuffed vine leaves, falafel, aubergine croquettes, sugar cured king prawns, lentil and bulgar pilaf, spicy lamb kofta etc etc. The wild mushroom, truffle and halloumi flat bread (delicious) is a must. 
                                            
Bottom line; great atmosphere and food...worth a visit!

Pacata- Covent Garden, London

4 New Row, WC2N 4LH
http://www.pacata.co.uk/

On one of Covent Garden's quieter streets sits Pacata, a small, friendly restaurant where very attentive staff serve reasonably priced Asian fusion comfort food.

 Appetisers range from salty edamame to moreish popcorn chicken. For main; crispy soft-shell crab or beef burgers come with sweet potato fries or you can opt for a more traditional Asian dish like pan seared sea bass or grilled chicken with spicy sauce and jasmine rice. 'Pacata Pasta' includes squid ink tagliatelle, a nice take on your usual Pad Thai. On the dessert menu; cheesecake and brownies come with an Asian twist: green tea ice cream.

Inside, colourful lanterns and a wall covered in mini polaroid photos are some of the pleasing design touches throughout.

Una, St. Pancras Clock Tower- Kings Cross, London

St Pancras Clock Tower, N1C
http://grubclub.com/una

Una allows you the chance to experience a truly unique and memorable evening in the iconic St Pancras Clock Tower. Developed by chef Martin Milesi; Latin American is the cuisine focus for this private dinner and the creative, multi-course menu explores both traditional and contemporary dishes paired with delicious Argentinian wine. Dining in an intimate apartment setting with eleven others; you will receive an excellent standard of service and get the chance to meet a group of new people.

 Grub Club offer other private dinners in the Clock Tower so keep an eye out for these if you miss out on a ticket for Una!

Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea- Sanderson Hotel, London

Sanderson Hotel, 50 Berners Street, W1T 3NG
Website

This is such a fun and creative afternoon tea! Situated in the light and bright courtyard garden of the Sanderson Hotel, the whole theme is based around Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter's tea party which is woven into your experience in different ways.

At first glance, the black and white crockery has clock and time illustrations; reminiscent of the White Rabbit's stopwatch. The teapot arrives wearing a black crown and the unique section of teas are served in little glass bottles wrapped with bows.

The rolled sandwich selection includes Cumbrian ham on sun-dried tomato bread and egg mayonnaise with smoked sea salt on lemon bread. You're given a delicious mini quiche of the day and the scones come in both savoury and sweet form; our warm spinach scones with chive butter were absolutely delicious and the traditional versions with jam and clotted cream hit the spot too. Probably the most impressive part however, was the wonderful selection of little desserts and cakes. Carrot meringues, Victoria Sponge, mango cheesecake, white chocolate mousse served in a colourful chocolate cup and a creamy passion fruit 'Drink Me' potion are all things to look forward to.

The afternoon tea is priced at £38, with a glass of champagne it's £48 per person. Be aware the 15% service charge and pricey cocktails if you want to keep drinking.

City Social- The City, London

Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, EC2N 1HQ
http://citysociallondon.com/

Another string to Michelin Star Jason Atherton's bow of successful London 'Social' restaurants (Pollen Street Social, The Little Social, Social Eating House), City Social located high up in Tower 42 serves dinner and drinks in a sleek interior with jaw-dropping panoramic views of London.

The restaurant menu is divided into five sections with something for everyone; cooked starters, uncooked starters, pasta and rice, mains and grill. Veggies might like the heirloom tomato and burrata salad or the basil tagliatelle with colourful sprouting broccoli and parmesan veloute.  The mains on offer include a good selection of fish and meats, all accompanied with flavoursome sides. From the grill, all beef is cooked over charcoal and served with duck fat chips. For dessert, pick from dishes such as the apple tarte tatin with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, the strawberry soufflé with yoghurt sorbet or the white chocolate mousse with caramel hazelnuts and salted caramel ice cream (wow).

If you're not keen on dinner, the City Social bar serves prohibition inspired cocktails with tasty snacks such as goats cheese churros and Cornish chilli squid...where you can still enjoy the same stunning backdrop of the iconic Gherkin building that looks so close you could touch it.

Maltby Street Market- Bermondsey, London

Ropewalk, 41 Maltby Street, London, SE1 3PA
http://www.maltby.st/

A true SE1 gem, Maltby Street Market is a treat for any foodie. Located along a secluded lane draped with bunting, this small space comes alive each weekend. Stalls selling pastrami sandwiches, avocado dips, Scottish smoked salmon rye breads, Tartiflette, Brazilian wraps, giant burgers, Greek oils and preserves, freshly brewed coffee and tasty brownies are just some of the delights on offer. Arches of the adjacent railway have been transformed to sit-in spaces; try the Little Bird Gin bar where cocktails are served in jam jars or Spanish bar Tozino serving cured meats, cheeses and fine wines. Antique shop LASSCO also has seating space to eat and drink and is know to facilitate swing dancing with a live band.

Chotto Matte- Soho, London

11- 13 Frith Street, W1D 4RB
http://www.chotto-matte.com/

Chotto Matte fuses Japanese and Peruvian cuisine in a large, artistic space based in the heart of bustling Soho. Spread across two floors encompassing a cocktail lounge, open Robata grill, sushi bar and outdoor seating; it aims to bring modern day Tokyo to London. Graffiti artists based in both capitals have created colouful art installations for each floor that are inspired by Tokyo's contemporary urban culture and evoke an underground feel.

From the cuisine fusion- also known as 'Nikkei'- you can expect options like Padron peppers, spicy lamb chops, grilled octopus, fresh sushi, prawn tempura, chicken miso with yellow chilli salsa and purple whipped potato. The dessert menu isn't bad at all; the salted caramel chocolate fondant was amazing and the peanut parfait with Frangelico or the passion fruit brulee looked yummy. Tasting menus start from £41 ahead or you can go à la carte.

This is a perfect choice for a large group of people and had a great atmosphere when we visited one recent Friday night.

Coppa Bar & BBQ- Hackney, London

Hothouse Rooftop, Martello Street, E8 3QW
http://www.coppalondon.co.uk/

This summer pop-up is perfect for warm days; a fun rooftop space with colourful huts, chequered table cloths, deck chairs and lemon garlands strung all around. The view over London Fields is pretty nice too.

Reservations can be made for 6+ people and the menu is set. Expect bread, nuts, olives, a meat antipasti selection and huge portions of soft mozzarella to start. During our visit this was followed by roast chicken from the open BBQ served with fries and mixed salads. Dessert was a palette pleasing lemon sorbet.

Holborn Dining Room- Holborn, London

252 High Holborn, WC1V 7EN
http://www.holborndiningroom.com/

The Holborn Dining Room is a grand dining salon located in the Rosewood Hotel. Conveniently, the cosy Scarfes Bar is in close proximity for a specially curated cocktail pre or post dinner. Inside the Dining Room, red leather seats, antique mirrors, marble pillars and a copper-topped bar bring a real sense of elegance to this brasserie.

The seasonal British menu has variety; dishes range from green spelt risotto or the shrimp burger to the lamb rump with violet artichokes or Angus beef & stilton pie. The hot and cold counter menus are great for small dishes to share. Espresso Martinis and a delicious raspberry & rose Eton Mess finished our lovely dinner off nicely.

I took note of the breakfast options too- tasty looking pastries, toasted avocado muffin, fresh fruit, buttermilk pancakes, Eggs Benedict and a caviar omelette (if you feel awfully flush)  were some of the options- as it would be an equally lovely brunch venue.

A pretty courtyard with tables also let's you enjoy drinks & food al fresco.

Goodman- The City, London

11 Old Jewry, EC2R 8DY
http://www.goodmanrestaurants.com/

Hand on heart, the best steak I've had in London was at Goodman. Meat is dry-aged on site; a unique treatment ensuring a very full and intense flavour. Book an early(ish) table to get a pick of the limited special cuts they have on offer; we ordered a hefty 900g Chateaubriand between four which came cooked to a perfect medium rare. Spoilt for choice with delicious sides, we decided on mac and cheese with truffle sauce, sea salt truffle fries (you can never have too much truffle), chilli garlic spinach and buttered green beans. With just enough space left to share a couple of desserts, the baked New York cheesecake with cherry compote and the choc chip brownie ice cream sundae were polished off in a flash. Goodman has restaurants in the City, Canary Wharf and Mayfair, so there's hopefully one location accessible for most. The Mayfair branch is currently running a Sunday roast beef menu on handful of dates- delicious goosey roast potatoes and live music!

Oblix- The Shard, London Bridge

Level 32, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
http://www.oblixrestaurant.com/

We visited Oblix on a whim one Tuesday evening and were delighted to hear there were some spots left at the counter tables. This didn't bother us at all; as we faced a stunning, sun-setting London skyline and enjoyed a delicious glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The food was quite delicious; we ordered buttery black cod with an indulgent side of creamy macaroni cheese. The roasted cauliflower with almonds and pomegranate was a creative and tasty mix of flavours. The entrance is grand; a low lit stone corridor opens out into the bright, light restaurant with stunning views of the city. An open kitchen lets you watch the talented chefs busy at work while live jazz can be enjoyed from the lounge.

Vanilla Black- Holborn, London

17- 18 Tooks Court, EC4A 1LB
http://www.vanillablack.co.uk

Michelin recommended Vanilla Black is a must not only for veggies, but for anyone with an appreciation of flavour creativity and beautiful presentation when they dine out.

Amongst our starters were the yellow pea soup with marmite dumplings and the whipped jacket potato with crispy shallots; a delicious bowl of Wensleydale mash. Quite unusually, ice cream featured with the starters too- of the brie variety!- with quinoa, spring onion and blackberries.

The wonderful choice of dishes carried on to mains, and our decisions didn't disappoint. The goats cheese and toasted cauliflower mille feuille with golden raisin and cashew nut potato tasted amazing. Big thumbs up also went to the mushroom mousse and rosemary sauce and the double baked ribblesdale (cheese) pudding with smoked croquette.

Dessert was truly the grande finale, a favourite the scrumptious chocolate and walnut oil pate with avocado ice cream, lime meringue, dark chocolate and bee pollen. Also highly recommended -the smoked paprika fudge, malt loaf, crispy pear and builders tea ice cream.

The fixed price menu is £29.75 for two courses and £39.50, in my opinion good value for the standard of food that is served with every dish.

Casse Croûte - Bermondsey. London

109 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3XB
http://www.cassecroute.co.uk/

This cute French restaurant that opened recently on Bermondsey Street looks like something straight out of Provence with its red and white chequed table cloths, red leather seats and open wooden bar. Authentic dishes of the day are written in white chalk on blackboards- you might need the waitress to translate- and with only a few options to choose from the focus is quality over quantity. Passing by it always looks busy and inviting; happy diners chatting over carafes of red wine and tasty plates in a cosy environment.