Browns Bar & Brasserie - West India Quay

Adjacent and only 50 yards away from the ever growing Canary Wharf, Browns, West India Quay, has developed into the one of the Docklands most popular dining locations. Carrying on the tradition set by the company, Browns WIQ is located in a Grade II former rum warehouse and next to one of London's newest and most dramatic 5 star hotels (The Marriott), holding a truly unique position in this exhilarating part of London.

In the winter months the restaurant and downstairs bar offer a warming, familiar home for the workers and shoppers of Canary Wharf. The restaurant is also conveniently located next door to a multi-storey car park and a modern 12 screen cinema.

In the summer months Browns becomes The Wharf's largest outside restaurant with two stunning external patios with views of the quay-side and London's most dramatic modern architecture. Continually full of workers having lunch, friends meeting for dinner or the Docklands' residents enjoying a glass of wine, Browns West India Quay is the place to meet.

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. A separate private dining room and downstairs bar enables private events to be catered for in perfect surroundings for up to 250 people.

On Sundays Browns opens from 12.00 for a relaxed Sunday brunch with newspapers, simple food and a well constructed Bloody Mary. 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 and Ts.

There is a full wine, cocktail and Champagne list with the Champagnes being particularly well regarded for their sensible pricing (Veuve Clicquot £40, Dom Perignon £85). For further information, including their menu and details on private dining, do visit their Website.

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