Browns Bar & Brasserie - Butlers Wharf

If you haven't discovered London's newest riverside area yet, you really have missed out. In the last 10 years Butler's Wharf has grown as the formerly derelict warehouses have been converted into luxury flats, boutique shops and designer restaurants and bars.

Located in the shadow of Tower Bridge, Browns occupies the area's premier site with a stunning restaurant overlooking the Thames and the magnificent architecture of riverside London. Al fresco dining is always popular in the warmer months as the area's workers and residents enjoy the capital's impressive external decks.

The whole area is thriving during the weekend as families and friends enjoy the relaxing feel to Shad Thames and the wonderful food and drink that Browns offers.

Browns is a classic English restaurant with a menu that evolves rather than changes. It offers a genuine value for money experience for guests wishing to spend less than £10 a head but also can cater for large parties with a more expansive budget.

A plate of appetisers to share comes in either vegetarian or seafood antipasti form, or there are thin and crisp flatbreads topped with such delights as smoked salmon, cream cheese and asparagus. Starters cleverly re-invent some of the classic brasserie dishes; expect to find crab and avocado salad, Belgium endive, moules mariniéres, and a fine selection of freshly made soups depending on the day.

Fish and pasta dishes include Angel pasta, or a walnut and cheese stuffed version, served with lemon and nut butter and asparagus spears. A real value seafood platter will have king prawns, poached salmon, crab, anchovies, smoked mackerel and trout assembled together, whilst hungry chaps may well opt for the chargrilled swordfish with a green and red salad.

Browns's own steak, mushroom and Guinness pie is a real puller, with the lamb cutlets not too far behind. Apple pie and custard and sticky toffee pudding combine traditional with new classic, but the fact is that after years of experience in the field of what might be termed comfortable eating, Browns have it pretty well tied up.

On Sundays Browns opens from 11.00 for a relaxed Sunday brunch with newspapers, simple food and a well constructed Bloody Mary. And what a brunch it is! Browns own sweet cured bacon sandwich, eggs Florentine, Royal or Benedict, the full English, champagne by the glass or smoothies, it's all there.

Their afternoon tea is a real treat at any time, and two people can get into a friendly huddle over their Most Unusual version that introduces even more indulgence into the equation, including two large G & Ts.

There is a full wine, cocktail and Champagne list with the Champagnes being particularly notable for their sensible pricing (Veuve Clicquot £40, Dom Perignon £85).

Adjacent to the stunning design museum, Browns has become an ideal neighbourhood restaurant and bar to those fortunate to live in the area, but also a perfect destination to those visiting this magnificent addition to London's amenities.

Browns' private dining room is the ideal venue for corporate entertaining especially for those who want to offer their guests something a little bit different and special.

More information, including details on their full menu and private rooms, can be viewed on their Website.

"Where everybody goes and quite rightly so" - The Guardian