Burger & Lobster- Soho, London

36 Dean Street, Soho, London, W1D 4PS
http://burgerandlobster.com/

The opening of a second Burger & Lobster, this branch in Soho, has created enough of a buzz to make waiting 2 hours for a table with only 3 options on the menu seem completely normal. Priced at £20 each, the burger, lobster and lobster roll- all served with fries and a side salad- make up the entirety of the menu. To be fair, it is completely worth it; the quality and quantity of the food is excellent. Banish any fears of being served a teeny portion of the shell fish- a whole lobster accompanied with lemon garlic butter and a pair of crackers, make the £20 price tag exceptional value. 

Red leather booths, exposed brick and copper conduit, wooden panelled walls and a lengthy bar lined with low-hanging black lights create a relaxed interior to compliment such an energetic and busy atmosphere. One complaint only; the service being a little too speedy...most likely an effort to accommodate the growing queue of customers hopefully putting their names down at the door.

Kettner’s Restaurant and Champagne Bar- Soho, London

29 Romilly Street, Soho, London, W1D 5HP
http://www.kettners.com/

Originally a Georgian townhouse and first opened as a restaurant in 1867, Kettner’s is an ideal choice for affordable elegance.  Taupe coloured walls lined with ornate mirrors envelop a lively dining area-  where velvet seating, a marble bar and a large sparkling chandelier add to this glamorous interior. A beautiful white piano plays live music from Tuesday to Saturday, further complimenting the ambient 1930s theme.

Located in the hustle and bustle of busy Soho, there are a number of well-priced set menus (including the pre and post theatre menus) while the brasserie menu is diverse in its choice and cost. The sweet potato and mushroom wellington is a lovely veggie dish.

Novikov- Mayfair, London

50a Berkeley Street, Mayfair, London, WIJ 8HA
http://www.novikovrestaurant.co.uk/asian.html

For a special occasion or one where you won’t mind your wallet taking a bit of a hammering…try Novikov, an exceptionally trendy west-London restaurant serving exquisite Asian cuisine.

Every dish we ordered was a little taste of heaven and beautifully presented. Our edamame with sea salt, fried dim sum, and tuna tartar starter dishes were delicious. The warm crispy duck salad with green apple & pecking dressing turned out to be my favourite of the evening and the yuzo scented black cod just melts in your mouth. Our dessert platter (here I will mention I was dining with 3 others) came out on a board from which a carpet of dry ice smoke was descending…talk about effort.

A huge floral centerpiece is a main focal point within this natural interior- made up of stone, wood and leather. The kitchen is completely visible through glass walls, in front of which sit a colourful array of fresh vegetables and chilled seafood where customers have the option to pick what they want and how they want it cooked.

The increasing chatter of diners as the night goes on against a constant of ambient tunes provides a fantastic atmosphere you’ll want to return to.

 

Elysée Roof Garden- Fitzrovia- London

13 Percy Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T IDP

http://www.elyseerestaurant.com/

Nestled among the beautiful terrace buildings of Fitzrovia is Greek Restaurant & Roof Garden, Elysée- perfect if you’re stuck in central London on a hot day and need somewhere secluded to relax and enjoy the sun. This charming, leafy, 700 square ft roof terrace has heaters and a retractable roof so that alfresco drinking and dining can always be enjoyed in London’s unpredictable weather. The drinks are reasonably priced and the terrace menu hosts a varied selection of small dishes such as deep fried calamari or spinach & feta filo pastries should you get peckish.

With its live jazz and 3.30am license six days a week, the restaurant is known to turn into a full blown party, table dancing and all…I must make a note to return for dinner ;)

La Bodega Negra- Soho, London

9 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 5NH
http://labodeganegra.com/#Home

It’s hard to believe that a neon-lit ‘Peep Show’ entrance off Old Compton Street leads to a buzzing underground world with top notch Mexican food, fantastic music and killer margaritas. The dishes are small and ideal for sharing- make guacamole a must to start and save enough room for the chocolate fondant to finish. The candle-lit, cellar-like interior is atmospheric and full of character.

Owner Serge Becker is the brains behind La Bodega Negra, also renowned for his NYC creation, La Esquina. La Esquina involves a similar concept where the basement restaurant is reached through an unsuspicious door within a retro SoHo diner.

La Bodega Negra’s ground level café and bar off Moor Street is ideal for a relaxed drink or bite to eat but head to the restaurant for a more frivolous evening. Book now-reservations get snatched up quickly.

The Bloomsbury Street Bar and Restaurant- Holborn, London

9-13 Bloomsbury Street, London, WC1B 3QD

Website

White and beige striped awning wrap the exterior of Bloomsbury Street Bar and Restaurant... an intimate, stylish and refined venue for lunch, dinner or drinks. The dark colour palette, red touches and chandelier lighting add to its elegance.  Relax in one of the large black leather chairs and begin the difficult decision of which options from the 3 course set- menu to go for. The standard and quantity of food make the £25 price tag for this menu completely reasonable. To start I opted for the duck liver parfait with fig chutney and toasted brioche, followed by the organic salmon fillet with crushed potatoes and mango and tomato salsa. Painfully, I only managed half of my delicious pear and chocolate tart for dessert. All were delicious. The staff made an extra effort to ensure we were always looked after and the complimentary appertiser in between courses was a nice touch.

Del'Aziz- Bermondsey, London

11 Bermondsey Square, London, SE1 3UN

http://www.delaziz.co.uk/ 

It’s the unique layout, tasteful interior and great menu that make Del’Aziz Bermondsey the ideal place for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks.  You are initially greeted with a relaxed and homely café…on one side a delicious assortment of cakes and pastries is on display while the wall opposite is stocked with colourful jars, bottles and packets of high quality ingredients for purchase. 

Further through is the raised cocktail bar…a Moroccan themed, cushioned space filled with rich colours, velvet textures and copper touches. Round from this is the main restaurant area where you’ll find a live jazz band playing every Wednesday. The collection of outdoor tables facing onto Bermondsey Square also make this a perfect choice for sunny days and warm evenings.

The brunch menu is extensive and reasonably priced…try the ‘Frying Pan’ or any of the poached eggs dishes as they will not disappoint. Furthermore the three course set dinner menu for £22.00 per person provides a range of Mediterranean delights including hummus, taboleh, falafel with mint yoghurt, lamb boreck,  saffron chicken shish and roasted stuffed peppers. Del’Aziz also has branches in Fulham, Clapham, Swiss Cottage, Westfield and near the Southbank.