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.

 

The Garrison- Bermondsey, London

99-101 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3XB 

http://www.thegarrison.co.uk/

Getting  a clear vote (in my opinion) as the best restaurant on Bermondsey Street…The Garrison Public House is an absolute must. It’s the continuous variety that gives this gastropub such charm and appeal. From candles…to free hanging light-bulbs…to a chandelier of light-expelling tea cups…to low hanging vintage lampshades…the lighting is a theme in itself. Team this with an eclectic mismatch of tables and chairs, white-washed wooden walls and ornate points of interest in every corner, and you begin to get an idea of just how quirky and beautiful this interior is.
 
Variety continues with how this space is broken up- a row of elevated booths sit to the back of the restaurant, while a scatter of tables sit in the middle. There are a small number of stools to perch on beside the bar and high tables and chairs line the window sill at the front of the restaurant.
 
Enough ranting about the design, the food is worth a big mention too. Daily specials compliment an already very appealing menu. Expect rich, hearty meals like caremelised onion and gruyere tart,  smoked haddock kedgeree, Aberdeen lamb chops or confit duck leg. The mixed berries Eton mess and lemon meringue pie are reliable choices from the dessert menu.     

Also on offer here are lovely breakfast and afternoon tea menus and more unusually, a small cinema showing weekly screenings every Sunday.

 

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.

The Modern Pantry- Clerkenwell, London

47- 48 St. John's Square, London, EC1V
http://www.themodernpantry.co.uk/

I went to the Modern Pantry for lunch to celebrate a special occasion. Exceeding all expectations, it was the perfect choice.  The upstairs restaurant is a bright and elegant room…black framed pictures against very light pistachio walls, crisp white table cloths, jars of lilac blooms and pots of fuschia-coloured flowers lining the outside window-sills. Our monkfish and beetroot salad mains were exceptional…even the olives and bread selection to start were a cut above the rest.  A glimpse of the downstairs pantry on my way out confirmed I will be back for afternoon tea or brunch. This ground-floor space is more relaxed and yet the white washed brick walls, low hanging copper lights and enormous floor to ceiling window make it an equally impressive interior.