Boulevard Brasserie

There are few restaurants better placed to offer first class refreshment at all reasonable times of the day in the heart of London's theatreland than Boulevard Brasserie. On the go now since 1991, this centre of excellence effectively has it all, offering great food and drinks at a reasonable price in an informal atmosphere with pleasant smiling service.

On the first floor is the dining area with French windows overlooking Wellington Street but in warm weather the ground floor is inviting with all the windows open and seats flowing out on to the sidewalk. This makes lunchtime on a sunny day a thoroughly jolly, friendly experience.

Theatre suppers are available from noon to 7.30 pm, and 10 pm to midnight if you want to eat afterwards. In the evening the whole area comes into its own as the theatres get ready for showtime, and one of the greatest cities in the world switches its attention from business to pleasure.

Down come the lights, the Bistro Bar in the cellar opens for cocktails, people come in to relax over a few drinks before either heading for home or perhaps joining the early diners for a meal.

Choose from the à la carte with starters of moules marinières, baby spinach salad, or tartines with a choice of topping such as rare roast beef with horseradish, or shredded duck confit with pickled ginger, cucumber and plum sauce. Moving on to the main attractions, pork belly comes with mashed potatoes, black pudding and apple sauce, or there's beef bourguignon and half char-grilled chicken with fries and aioli.

For the veggies a tomato and aubergine gratin and roasted pepper stuffed with couscous makes a good option, and for dessert the petit pot au chocolate never fails to please.

In a sense this could also be a fitting judgement on Boulevard Brasserie in general, as it goes from strength to strength.