If you are looking for consistent, reasonably priced food, a really lively atmosphere, combined with outstanding wines at shop prices, and interesting and different dishes, then it is easy to be heavy on the superlatives for this enduring and endearing choice of many Chelsea residents.

But then it is easy to be complimentary, because Brinkley's has been a long-term favourite of our family's, and we have introduced a variety of friends to it over the years, most of whom have been very taken by its excellent overall product.

Their menu is always tempting and wanders around old favourites like their highly original salads, their superb Thai curries, more authentic than most, as main course, and pan-fried calf's liver that shows up many more expensive places.

Their blissful, fruity New Zealand style Pouilly Fumé from Guy Saget is worth the visit alone, but all of their wines are amazing value as they only charge the regular retail prices rather than the normal mark-up that restaurants usually look for.

Try to avoid nights though when there is a big football match being shown on the TV by the entrance, as it does get a little noisy the bar as a result; though the covered-over garden of the restaurant is less affected, so ask to be put there, as we usually do anyway.

Richard Bradford