Cork and Bottle
44-46 Cranbourn Street
Leicester Square
London
WC2H 7AN
020 7734 7807

I must confess up front that I am highly biased in favour of the cork and bottle; it's the epitome of all I would want. A cosy atmosphere yet slap bang in the middle of town, great wine list, excellent food, good value and the opportunity to book a table at relatively short notice.

The wines are chosen by Don Hewitson the owner, and he does a top job sourcing interesting and very well priced wines from all over the world. I recommend the ham and cheese pie a few glasses of a full bodied red and a spare evening as one of the best combo's in the west end.

-Marc

Rotisserie Jules
6-8 Bute Street
South Kensington
London
SW7
020 7584 0600

Rotisserie Jules is the place to go if you like meat. No offence to veggies - but this is not for you. The deal is you order a superbly roasted chicken and perhaps some potato dauphinoise and get stuck in. You can bring your own wine which makes the whole thing an absolute bargain, and if you're prepared enough, (at least 24 hours in advance) order a leg of lamb or a roasted duck cooked as you like.

The thought of the crispy skin on the duck makes me dribble as I write!

-Marc

Fish in a Tie
105 Falcon Road
London
SW11 2PS
020 7924 1913

There can't be many restaurants in London where you can eat a good quality 3 course meal with wine and still have change from a £20 note but, Fish in the Tie is one. Tucked away down Falcon Road, just around the corner from Clapham Junction station, this is an ideal place to meet up for some bargain tucker before a night out. Having visited several times I would advise that booking is essential if you are planning a meal at peak times, but early on you can just turn up.

The food is a mixture of styles, mainly French, is good quality and fairly well presented. Admittedly this is not a glowing review of quality, however with starters averaging £3-4, mains £5-7 and puddings around £3 you can't really go wrong. The wine list is brief, but cheap and good enough and the service is effective if a little brisk.

Try it out as a venue for groups or on the way back from Sandown races.

-Marc

Quality Chop House
94 Farringdon Road
London
EC1R 3EA
020 7837 5093

A converted working man's canteen, the Quality Chop House is a real oddity. The furnishings consist of basic wooden benches and every table has brown and red sauce as standard, yet you can order Champagne and caviar for a starter if you wish and the staff are very smart and highly attentive. The menu mainly consists of classic 70's style comfort food, corn beef hash, steak and chips and potted shrimps, all of which are extremely well done.

There is an excellent wine list to fit all pockets and the mark ups are reasonable. The promise of 'progressive working-class' cuisine is intriguing if a little stretched given the caviar option, the atmosphere is intimate and the place is always busy. Take someone with you who was working class, but has now 'progressed' and see what they make of it.

-Marc

Le Gavroche
43 Upper Brook street
London
W1K 7QR
020 7408 0881
www.le-gavroche.co.uk

This is a classic eating experience and one of the best I have ever had. It is however important to quantify this experience, is it better to have one glorious night-out a month or 6-8 good ones? I'm not sure, but I know that if I ever come into serious cash then a fair proportion of that would be spent here. Pre-conceptions of stuffy serious dining, heavy on the cream, couldn't have been further from the truth. The staff were great, attentive and knowledgable but not intrusive. Every course comes served under a silver dome, all of which are removed simaltaneously in a great show of theatre and every time some-one goes to the loo they fold up your knapkin for you.

Most importantly of all the food actually lives up to it's super star status, fabulous presentation, innovative flavour combinations and superb quality ingredients, one of my favourite dishes of the night (we had the tasting menu £85, I honestly can't remember how many courses) was served as an appetiser and consisted of steak tartare burgers. The wine list is about the same size as 'Lord of the Rings' and ranged from £15-£13,000, but there was plenty of good quality wines in £20-£40 bracket.

This was a good friends Birthday and I would need to find another 'special occassion' to came back here but it was definitely worth it and the saving has begun already.

-Marc

Caravaggio
107-112 Leadenhall Street
London
EC3A 4DP
020 7626 6206

Caravaggio is a fancy Italian restaurant. Apparently opened by Luciano Pavarotti in 1996, this converted bank is now a popular lunching option for the insurance 'boys' from Lloyds across the road.

The food is excellent and wines are good, although all Italian and neither come cheap. They do, however, offer a set lunch option of 2 courses for £19.50.

The decor is rather 1980's with a lot of brass and marble, but the overall impression is posh. The view from the mezzanine level is good and the only questionable aspect of my dining experience was the service, which was not as 'on the ball' as you might expect from a restaurant of this standard.

Overall a good lunch venue, especially if someone else is paying!

-Nicola

L'Escargot
48 Greek Street
London
W1D 3RS
020 7439 7474

A fantastic experience. This Marco Pierre White restaurant in the heart of Soho has the balance just right - fantastic food, buzzy atmosphere, friendly and knowledgable staff as well as great decor (picasso hanging in private dining room upstairs, others by Hockney and Matisse).

L'escargot has two main dining areas - an extensive and elegant dining room at the rear and an equally attractive dining area at the front overlooking the hustle and bustle of busy soho. Sandwiched between these two rooms is an extensive, well stocked bar - what more could you want for a special evening out?

Although this restaurant is at the higher end of the price scale, it's well worth it without being pretentious and 'up itself'...pure class!!!

-Katy

The Grain Store
30 Victoria St (1st Floor)
Edinburgh
EH1 2JW
0131 225 7635

One of the best Scottish restaurants in the City, the Grain Store is right in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town on the striking slope of Victoria Street. The atmosphere is laid back and cosy with an overriding feeling of effortless quality.

You get the feeling that you're getting special treatment here, with all dishes individually cooked to order and sauces prepared to match. Scottish beef and lamb, fresh fish and seafood, venison, game birds, forest pickled wild mushrooms and fresh seasonal fruit are all regularly on the menu.

The frequently changing, impressive, wine list gives a choice of around 60, including a house selection, sparkling varieties, a 'prestige' collection (currently including such delights as Riesling Kabinett, 2001, Schloss Johannisberger) and dessert varieties.

Make room, as this is no snack bar.

-Gary

Black Bo's
57-61 Blackfriars Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1NB
0131 557 6138
www.blackbos.co.uk

An unusual example of a great vegetarian restaurant that also caters for the carnivore.

A quick look at the original and inventive menu is enough to excite the most experienced of diners; asparagus and pistachio balls stuffed with feta cheese; bananas stuffed with chick-pea chilli; monk-fish with lime, rosemary and butterbean.

A decent wine list, laid back environment, a bar, live music and very reasonable prices make this a jewel in Edinburgh's luscious crown.

-Gary

Maison Bleue
36-38 Victoria Street
Edinburgh
EH1 2JW
0131 226 1900

This is a great, sociable dining experience. Spend half an hour in the dimly lit, tastefully trendy bar and move through to one of the dining areas split over 3 levels of a beautiful old Edinburgh tenement.

Music is fairly loud, but adds nicely to the buzz of the place. It's a bit of a hybrid, with French food off a tapas style menu, but it tastes great and won't break the bank. Lovely!

-Gary

The Chef's Table at Petrus
The Berkeley Hotel
Knightsbridge
London
SW1X 7RL
020 7235 1200
www.the-berkeley.co.uk

The five of us arrived at the Berkeley Hotel shortly after noon. Miles was waiting for us in the bar, passing the time with a Montgomery, which seemed to make sense. At the suggestion of the maitre d', a bottle of vintage Dom Perignon was opened while we waited for the last of our number to arrive. We had booked the chef's table, which is situated inside the kitchen, but while we waited on sofas in the main restaurant area we were served with the first of the afternoon's many treats - deep fried tiger prawns, succulent and meaty, washed down nicely by the champagne. In due course we were led backstage, away from the reverential hush of the restaurant to our table in the kitchen, set on a raised dais with huge cushions and a director's view of the chefs. We felt like kings.

Our sommelier had been instructed to keep the wines priced at around £40, but was given free rein within his budget. We were not disappointed. After a couple of bottles of Viognier "for thirst", we drank our way around the globe - France (a delightful Saussignac with the fois gras course), Italy, South Africa, Australia, and a fantastic, feisty cabernet sauvignon from Israel with the main course.

The food - as you might expect from a Michelin-starred establishment - was breathtaking. I lost count of the number of courses, but they included curried frogs legs, gazpacho containing tiny slivers of pineapple, scallops, fois gras three ways, langoustines, pork belly, cheeses, a "pre-dessert" of tarte tatin and cinnamon ice-cream, and a selection of about a dozen desserts. All prepared right in front of us.

An incidental bonus of eating at the chef's table is that the constraints on behaviour that you find in any smart restaurant's main dining room simply do not apply. With the clatter of the pans and the shouting of orders in the background, we were free to be as boisterous as we wanted. And over digestifs, while the kitchen was preparing for the evening service, we even got to spend ten minutes or so with Marcus Wareing, the head chef. He chatted about food critics, Gordon Ramsay and his favourite restaurants - we compared notes on a few of them. You can't fake this level of service.

And so to the bill. Including a generous but richly merited tip, we paid £200 each. Now, that's a lot of money. But you could spend that money on four pretty average meals quite easily (two if you are paying for a partner!). We had partaken of maybe ten courses of the best food in the capital, in an atmosphere that would be hard to better. We had been introduced to some fantastic new wines, and been treated like royalty all afternoon. We left Petrus at around seven in the evening and went our separate ways. All anyone could talk about was next year's meal.

-Dominic

Haz
9 Cutler Street
LONDON
E1 7DJ
020 7929 7923
www.hazrestaurant.com

I am not generally a huge fan of Turkish restaurants. I sometimes find Turkish food a bit repetitive - perhaps because I'm not a big fan of lamb. Although Haz serves the old favourites the Haz experience is somehow a cut above average.

This place is bright and airy with modern decor. There is a good choice on the menu and the food is very tasty. There is a fair range of wines - we had a very zippy South African sauvignon blanc for £13.50. The service is also excellent. Best of all Haz is very reasonably priced for a city lunchtime dining venue - our bill including 2 courses, wine, coffee and service was £25 per head.

A Short walk from Liverpool Street and Aldgate stations, just off Houndsditch.

Well worth a visit.

-Nicola

Randall & Aubin
14-16 Brewer St
London
W1F 0SG
020 7287 4447

Slap bang in the middle of the Soho's sleazy under belly Randall & Aubin offers an excellent array of fresh seafood and rotisserie meats in a small restaurant that was once a butchers and later a deli. The highlight for me was getting a window seat, actually quite a hard bar stool, and observing the street life passing by. Directly opposite is an 'Adult' bookshop with a giant red arrow pointing downstairs to the 'Adult' section and the evasive looks on the punters faces as the were about to descend was worth good money alone.

The seafood is fresh and simple and the menu is fairly varied for the non-fishy, however prices are quite high and everyone sits around on the aforementioned hard stools at granite work tops which are not the most comfortable. I have only ever been here for lunch, but reputedly in the evening the place gets a disco feel and music is conversation hinderingly loud.

Get there early, get a window seat for lunch, try a couple of glasses of the lovely sauvignon blanc, some fresh prawns and watch the world go by.

-Marc

The White Star Tavern & Dining Rooms
28 Oxford Street
Southampton
SO14 3DJ
02380 821990
www.whitestartavern.co.uk

Anyone who supports a football team in the Championship should take note now. As the Saints face relegation from the Premiership, away day followers of Plymouth Argyle and Burnley will be safe in the knowledge that at least Southampton has a top division restaurant.

An old seafarer's hotel, the White Star has a comfy, old world yet smart bar area with comfy sofas and an open fire for when the Solent Breeze picks up. After a few sharpeners you can move over to the restaurant where the surrounds are just as pleasant.

This whole feeling of well-being came through on the food too. We went for lunch, and as you might expect on the coast the seafood was particularly good; with the fish cakes and scallops getting a special mention. Nothing was overly flash, just quality ingredients (locally sourced where possible), turned into well-made classic modern British food.

The wine list is varied and well thought out too - we had a cracking cool climate Aussie Chardonnay from Stonier Estate on the Mornington Pennisula just outside Melbourne. All in all, a fine way to spend an afternoon – and a damn sight more enjoyable than watching the fare served up at St Mary's!!!

-Matt

The Spotted Dog
Smarts Hill
Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent
TN11 8EP
01892 870253

Reputedly one of Ian Hislop's local haunts, The Spotted Dog came highly recommended not only for the food but also the fantastic view of the Kent Countryside from the back terrace.

Unfortunately the local residents, in a very "disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" type manner, have decided to plant fast growing, view blocking trees at the end of their gardens thus defeating half the reason for going there.

Still, the grub was supposed to be top notch so we sat out front in the sunshine and waited with anticipation for our Sunday roast. And waited. And then waited some more.

Oh, and got to see and hear not one but two full blown arguments between customers and waitresses – one of whom bore a striking resemblance to the woman in The Life and Loves of a She Devil!

When we finally got our food (which in fairness they said would take some time) the wait was worthwhile. The local Hildenborough Pork Loin was succulent and flavoursome and the crackling was first rate – as were the Yorkshire pud's, which you could add for 50p a time. The deserts were all top notch as well – between our group we had a sticky toffee pudding, cheesecake with rhubarb compote and home made ice creams – the gingerbread flavour being worth the wait on it's own.

The bar staff could mix a mean jug of pimms and the floor show was hilarious so all in all a great day was had by all, with or without the view.

-Matt

Pane Vino
323 Kentish Town Road
London
NW5 2TJ
020 7267 3879

Conveniently located opposite Kentish Town tube is this little family run Italian restaurant, specialising in Sardinian cuisine. Easy to miss from the outside it has an easy going homely fell on the inside as well, on the Monday night I visited it was nearly full with a mix of customers from 4 years old to 60+.

The food is excellent, all fairly simply done and traditional in style, but with very fresh, high quality ingredients. This is the type of place you would bring someone who really cared about good food, no pretence, no stuffiness just eating for pleasure. The wine list is well chosen and matches well with the dishes on offer, prices are not cheap, but you are paying for the quality of the ingredients rather than the decor and location.

I will certainly go back and can think of a number of friends who would really enjoy this place, being on the Northern Line there's no excuse for you South Londoners not to give it a try.

-Marc

Quo Vadis
26-29 Dean Street
Soho, London
W1D 3LL
020 7437 9585

Quo Vadis is a Marco Pierre White restaurant in Soho. We went for the tasting menu promotion, starting with a free glass of champagne whilst perusing the menu of eight courses, which arrived at a lovely pace over the next couple of hours.

The mouth sized morsels all tasted exquisite. An artichoke soup served in a shot glass was the pre starter. Japanese Enoki mushrooms set off the Chicken Tortelloni in a broth of chicken. The Smoked Aubergine Cannellone stuffed with Tuna and Onion confit (which had a much fancier Italian name) was a work of art.

I only hope the dish washer was mechanical and kept up, as every course was individually presented with its tiny jugs of sauce or broth or in one case liquid cream of potato that came with the pan fried John Dory and a tiny dish of foaming Parmesan. The care that went into the tiny baby Pitta was much admired and appreciated.

The wines were delicious too and the sommelier was very enthusiastic. The waiters were attentive but not excessively so. The general ambience of the restaurant was well balanced – chic but not pretentious. All in all a truly amazing multi course miracle dining experience!

-Lorna

Brokers
9 Leadenhall Market
London
EC3 V1LR
020 7283 5656

The view of Leadenhall Market out of the window was the best thing about this restaurant! We all had to return our starters because they were uncooked and/or unripe. Unacceptable, especially at £7ish a go. The waitress didn't seem particularly surprised either - not a good sign.

I believe this place has changed ownership only recently - maybe they will get their act together, but I wont be booking again.
- Nicola


Having read the review of Brokers, Leadenhall Market by Nicola I was not completely thrilled by the prospect of heading there with mates from work. However, her comment about the new management has clearly come into effect, although not having visited prior to the revamp I think it is fair to say that there have been nothing but improvements.

Excellent attentive service throughout, without I might add, the eager pushiness that one is so often subjected to - especially in the City. Good food, some adventurous, but my bangers and mash was top notch, generous portions and excellent wines. Moderately priced and relatively timid selections comprise most of the wine list however there were one or two rather more exciting options, again very reasonably priced.

What has remainied the same as before is the view which more thank makes up for the slightly crowded and pokey atmosphere although, this I'm sure you will be willing to overlook.

-David

Luc's
17-22 Leadenhall Market
London
EC3V 1LR
020 7621 0663

A good place for lunch. A great location in the heart of Leadenhall market with hearty French food which wont break the bank. I had asparagus followed by monkfish cassoulet, washed down with some tasty French vino. The steaks were huge and looked very tempting - maybe next time.

The waiters are very friendly and efficient and there is a busy bustling atmosphere. Not the most glamorous décor in town but I would definitely go back.

-Nicola

Thornbury Castle
Thornbury, Nr. Bristol,
South Gloucs, BS35 1HH
01454 281 182
info@thornburycastle.co.uk

Billed as "Voted the Best Hotel In Europe" Thornbury Castle does have the most magnificent setting. A pre-tudor house and Castle that boasts Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn as visitors was used also by Mary Tudor as a residence at some point. Many of the fixtures and fittings are now reproduction, but the air of history and royalty is everywhere. However, the castle has a very homely feel and the service and friendliness of the staff is excellent.

The restaurant is divided into 3 intimate small rooms, so you never feel as if you are crowded or in a busy dining room. There are open fires at all times and quiet, gentle, classical music completes the mood. The menu is not extensive with a choice of 6 or so items for each course but every one we had was just about perfect. Ingredients are locally sourced where possible, eggs are organic and the castle gardener grows fresh herbs in the grounds.

Unfortunately the best wine was out of stock, so at a price of £2900 a bottle they must have had a run on it! The wine list was as long as any I have seen, and we had a rather lovely Chardonnay that the wine waiter didn't really want us to try; having been drinking Gin and Tonic first to spoil the taste, but a few sips of water later we were allowed to test our wine!

I would recommend the Castle to anyone wanting a romantic meal or night away, but not the sort of place to go if you you are working to a tight budget!

-Sue

MJU
Millennium Hotel
17-25 Sloane Street
Knightsbridge
London
SW1X 9NU
020 7201 6330
mju@mill-cop.com

I went to a fantastic Mediterranean wine tasting last night at Mju in Knightsbridge. The Head chef had matched a tasting menu of 5 courses to compliment each of the wines. Highlights for me were the Nuhar Nero d'Avola, Rapitala, perfectly matched by the New Season Lamb. And delightful Bisol Prosecco with cold Melon Soup and Watermelon Sorbet.

They have sent me details of future Wine Tasting Events, so I have listed them below. If you enjoy tasting evenings, this is the best I have been to in a long while;

August 5th - Ladies Rosé Lunch A four-course lunch with rosé wines form around the world. £35 per person.
August 31th - Loire Valley A five-course menu featuring astonishing Loire wines. £65 per person.
September 21st - Bordeaux A five-course French menu accompanied by a selection of fine Bordeaux wines, the dinner includes a 'blind' taste comparison. £75 per person.
October 5th - Cigar Dinner. £70 per person.

-Josie

Davy's at Plantation Place
Unit 8, Plantation Place
Mincing Lane
EC3R 5AT
Nearest stations: Fenchurch Street/Bank
020 7621 9878
www.davy.co.uk

Wine bar/restaurant next to Minster Court on Mincing Lane in the City. The interior is modern and simple. The main restaurant/bar area is quite large and it's light and airy. There are also 4 private dining rooms.

The standard wine list has a reasonable selection and the prices are very affordable. They also have an additional list of fine wines from the Cellar. The menu has the standard classics: smoked salmon; steak and chips; and bangers and mash etc etc. Not Michelin star stuff but good honest grub.

This is a good place to meet for lunch and your boss shouldn't raise an eyebrow at the bill when he signs off your expenses!

-Nicola

The Fat Duck
High Street
Bray, Berkshire
SL6 2AQ
01628 580 333
www.thefatduck.co.uk

3 Michelin stars, egg and bacon ice cream, Heston Blumenthal and liquid nitrogen.

After hearing so much about this restaurant it was a real surprise that it sits barely noticed in the village of Bray on the main road. The restaurant is relatively small, roughly 10 tables or so and occupies two houses, that have been knocked through. Inside is stylish, but very simple, with the emphasis on the food.

We went for lunch and had the 3 course menu costing £37.65, before we got to our choices we were served onion ice cream with a cabbage jus, very refreshing and unexpectedly good, an oyster with pomegranite and a couple of other amuse bouches that slip my mind. Amongst the dishes we had for lunch, the Lamb was excellent and the fish moist and supremely fresh, but the most standout were the oddest sounding, which I suppose is human nature. Strawberries with a puree of leather and egg and bacon ice cream proceeded by parsnip cornflakes, there was nothing odd about the flavour though, which is what makes eating here so special.

All the dishes were very well done, as you would expect from a 3 star restaurant, but there was a real feeling of interest and excitement in the restaurant that I have not felt before. People were sniffing and poking the food, chatting about the combinations and staring around the room at other dishes being served, it all makes for a memorable lunch and if you can get in for dinner (bookings taken 2 months in advance, but they were fully booked for dinner within 30 minutes, when we tried) the tasting menu looked incredible.

This genuinely felt like something new, not gimmicky, but done because it tastes good. However Mr Blumenthal comes up with these ideas I wish him the best of luck and hope to be back for dinner in the not to distant future to sample the latest creations.

Lunch for 2 with wine £100.00 Check the website for other menu prices.

-Marc

Le Café du Jardin
28 Wellington Street
Covent Garden
London WC2E 7BD
020 7836 8769
www.lecafedujardin.com

Right in the middle of theatreland and just up from the Strand, Café du Jardin is an enticing looking restaurant with large glass windows. It looks relatively small, but we were sat downstairs in a large cream and mirrored room that we hadn't known existed before. We had booked through top table and were having 3 courses plus a glass of champagne for £25.

Unlike some restaurants, the staff didn't seem to hold our budget choice against us and were charming and attentive all evening. The food was excellent and the wine list interesting and well priced. After a starter of Jabugo ham and olives, very good, the belly of pork with mashed potato was succulent and not too fatty. After a few more glasses of wine our enthusiasm for the sweets encouraged the waiter to bring out the chef and convince him to give us the recipe for the chocolate pudding.

I would certainly go back and although we blew our budget intentions, with some excellent wine, the original deal was an absolute steal. Dinner for 5 with wine £220.00

-Marc

Sabor
108 Essex Road
London, N1 8LX
020 7226 5551
www.sabor.co.uk

Sabor is a mix of latin American food and drink and smart modern design. The restaurant looks fairly small, from it's glass fronted entrance, but is long and thin with the kitchen at the back, of particular interest are the carved and painted wooden animal heads on the wall.

As soon as we arrived we were well greeted and the service was excellent throughout the evening. The food is a mix of styles and tastes and we had and enjoyed the monkfish cervice, the prawn and baby octopus, lamb chop, vegetable fritters and chicken with lentils. All these dishes were presented in a contemporary way, but the portions were wholesome and the flavours excellent, with the monkfish cervice the highlight.

We kicked off with a couple of cocktails, both featuring Pisco, a Chilean muscat brandy and both clean, fresh and good. The wine list was also surprisingly good, with a number of interesting whites, some excellent Argentinian reds and a fantastic sweet gewurtztraminer, which was superb with our chocolate pudding.

Prices were fair, for Islington, I would certainly recommend it to friends and will be back again. Dinner for 8, with wine, £338.00.

-Marc

The Old Passage Inn
Restaurant & Hotel Arlingham
Gloucestershire
GL2 7JR
01452 740547
www.fishattheoldpassageinn.co.uk

Situated on the banks of the River Severn this is about the least likely place to find a stylish Bistro you can imagine. You reach it by driving down single track roads, through the Gloucestershire countryside.

They call it a Restuarant with rooms (three I think) and the whole dining area is small but light and airy, a mixture of modern lighting and roman-style columns.

Fish is the speciality with Oysters always available as a starter or pre-starter. The whole range of shellfish is available with the lobsters having greeted you from the tank by the front door!

The menu ranges from delicate Lemon Sole to Traditional Cod in batter but all with a stylish twist. For non-fish lovers there are always options of steak or other meat or vegetarian dishes. What we love is the huge range of choice for extra vegetables, spinach, purple sprouting, three different types of salad and many more.

Service is friendly and informal but always efficient. The wine list is extensive and the list of coffees and liquers rivals the best of any in-town restuarant.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to escape from the hustle and bustle but expects the best in a dining experience.

-Sue

Morgan M
489 Liverpool Rd
London
N7 8NS
020 76093560
www.morganm.com

At the other end of Liverpool road, you wouldn't stumble across Morgan M by mistake, but it is well worth the effort.

We visited on a Tuesday night, having booked a table that afternoon, but the small'ish dining room was only a table or two short of full. Apparently Friday and Saturday nights need to be booked up to 3 weeks in advance. The restaurant is decorated in a clean and modern style, but the size allows for a more intimate feel, you practically crash into the reception upon opening the door.

We both opted for the 6 course tasting menu at £39 per head and I went for the accompanying wines by the glass at a very reasonable £23 (£29 if you include a desert wine). Unusually the tasting menu was set out as a course, then a choice of two through the menu, so having opted for one of each where possible, we actually ended up trying 9 dishes.

The food was certainly French in style, but definitely modern in appearance and flavour combinations. The first starter of fried frogs legs in a watercress soup was unexpectedly good and fresh, this was followed by Foie gras terrine, sea bass, duck, and two lovely puddings the best of which included an excellent pineapple sorbet.

The service was attentive and all dishes were well described after serving, which led us to believe they cared about the food. Having been to a few top restaurants and tried the tasting menus, Morgan M's was not quite so extravagant, but was well thought out and tasty and to be fair at £39 a lot cheaper than most.

A little bit of luxury for a Tuesday night and we would definitely come back again. Meal for 2 with wine and service £140.00

-Marc

Pied a Terre
34 Charlotte Street
London
W1T 2NH
020 7636 1178
www.pied-a-terre.co.uk
2 Star Michelin

This place is the business.

For a special celebration my wife and I went on a Saturday night and had the a la carte menu.

After some Kir Royale we ordered the Crayfish tortellini (wife) and the scallops with pork belly (me). The portions are not huge but the detail and the sheer effort put into each course makes sure you will remember each part... everything fresh and everything prepared to perfection.

For mains my wife had the lamb while I had the venison. We told the sommelier that he a budget for the wine (a generous £50 per bottle we thought) and we gave him free reign. He chose perfectly and we washed it all down with glee. (Sorry but can't remember what we had). Apart from the aperitifs, we drank a 1/2 bottle of white with the starters, a full bottle of red with main course and I had a glass of Muscat at the end.

In all we ended up having the about 5 courses as they kept on bringing out canapés and little tasters. The canapés were a real work of art I (we got 5 each which included fois gras, salmon). We finished up with a choc tart (light and yummy) and also received more canapés (of the sweet variety this time).

I can tell you if you are hungry you may start to get worried about the size of the portions but by the time you leave you will be satisfied so just sit back and enjoy ...take your time.

The atmosphere is cosy; the room dimly lit but just right and the service was excellent and easily justified the tip.

Total damage tip included was £280 for two, so not every week but certainly again and very soon.

P.S. on the bill; just over half was booze by the way so you can easily reduce that if you limit your wine budget.

Dish of the night... scallops with pork belly

-Brian