Bananaman- Greenwich Market, London

Greenwich Market, Greenwich, SE10 9HY

http://www.shopgreenwich.co.uk/greenwich-market

Greenwich Market is home to dozens of interesting stalls...freshly-ground coffee, eco-friendly jewellery, vintage dresses, French crepes, hand-made cards, noodles & dim sum, silk scarves and wooden paintings to name but a few. One particularly worth a visit for a (very slightly) healthy treat is Bananaman, a stall serving bananas drizzled in white, milk and dark Belgian chocolate and topped with flaked almonds, marshmallows and crushed hazelnuts.  However aesthetically pleasing, it didn't last long...

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.

 

Workshop Coffee Co. - Clerkenwell, London

27 Clerkenwell Road, EC1M 5RN
 http://www.workshopcoffee.com/

Formally known as St. Ali, this lovely brunch spot epitomises what Saturday mornings should be all about…good food and delicious coffee in relaxed & stylish surroundings.

On the menu are the usual brunch suspects but with a twist; the corn fritters, baby spinach, grilled halloumi and kasundi (a spicy chutney) with poached eggs was delicious. On my next visit -which will be soon- I’ll be sampling the baked eggs, roast pepper, chorizo, saffron and feta dish. Fresh, home roasted coffee is a big emphasis here so remember to order your cappuccino or flat white.

Split over two floors, the exposed brick work and overhead piping give a rough edge to an overall very comfortable and homely space. The most unique element of the interior is the back wall on the ground floor covered from head to toe in lush greenery- this is a piece of art in itself.  

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.

Mildreds- Soho, London

 45 Lexington Street, London, W1F 9AN
http://www.mildreds.co.uk/

Lexington Street is home to a small strip of charming and cosy restaurants, Mildreds one of them. A few minutes from the hustle and bustle of Wardour street...Mildreds serves up tasty vegetarian food with a kick. This busy, chatter filled space with every table filled was likely the result of such reasonable prices and speedy service. Chinese dumplings, the veggie burrito, sweet potato fries and stir fried Asisn veg were all polished off easily!

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.

Spice Market- Leicester Square, London

10 Wardour Street, London, W1D 6QF
http://www.spicemarketlondon.co.uk/index.php

Slightly hidden under the modern W Hotel near Leicester Square, ensure you don't miss out on this vibrant and plush south-east Asia themed restaurant.  With rows of colourful spices lining the wall, hundreds of low hanging wok lights, gold mesh screens, a fiery red, orange and brown colour palette…the décor makes a big impact as soon as you walk through the door. An extensive cocktail list including delicious lychee raspberry bellinis and a wide selection of dishes- the spiced chicken samosas, crab dumplings and the Vietnamese chicken curry to name but a few- make Spice Market a must.

José- Bermondsey, London

104 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3UB
http://www.josepizarro.com/restaurants/jose/

In the heart of Bermondsey Street sits José, a tiny tapas bar always teeming with life. This is the creation of acclaimed chef José Pizarro. Whether it be Sunday brunch or a week-day evening, the place is full of people casually enjoying fine wine and sampling on delicious dishes such as croquetas, allioli hake, chorizo lentils and jamón ibérico. Sit by the ceramic tiled bar, the stools by the window or stand by one of the barrel-style tables in the centre.

Santore- Exmouth Market, London

59-61 Exmouth Market Islington, England

http://www.toptable.com/venue/?id=13252 

Situated in the middle of charming Exmouth market, Santore is an ideal choice for any pizza or pasta lover. Though minimalist in décor, there is nothing understated about the food. We went in a group of 20+ people, and were soon presented with around 6 metres of delicious pizza on elevated boards that spanned the entire length of the table. Parma ham, buffalo mozzarella, artichoke, salami and sautéed aubergines were just some of the toppings I managed to dive into. Try the deep fried calamari and courgette to start and for pasta fans, the buttery king prawn filled pasta is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Dark wood and a plethora of olive oil bottles add a rustic touch to this space.