Browns Bar & Brasserie - Old Jewry

Located in the heart of the square mile and only 100 yards from Bank tube station, Browns Old Jewry is one of the City's hidden treasures. Even though the restaurant has only been open since 1999, for many of its regular guests it seems impossible to think of a time when Browns in the City didn't exist.

Located just off Cheapside, Browns offers excellent wines, cocktails and delicious food all served by one of the friendliest and slickest front of house teams in London.

The large 350 seater restaurant is located on two different floors with a mezzanine level catering perfectly for private parties and events. Browns Old Jewry has developed its fantastic reputation by making every guest feel welcomed and special which is no mean feat when you see how busy it gets, particularly at lunchtime.

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 marinières, 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.

Evenings are a more relaxed affair as people enjoy a leisurely meal after work or before visiting one of the Barbican's theatres. The bar gets particularly busy early in the evening as office workers enjoy a beer, a glass of wine or a bottle of Champagne from London's best value for money list.

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.

Private parties are especially well catered for with packages ranging from a full sit down dinner to a canapé and drinks event. Browns Old Jewry provides the perfect balance between the energy of London's West End and the refined style of the City.

For their full menu and details on private party bookings, do visit their Website.

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