Med Kitchen - Cambridge Circus

Med Kitchen in London's Cambridge Circus, at the heart of the West End and Theatreland, is a relaxed, all-day brasserie where you can drop in for breakfast, a quick drink or coffee, a leisurely dinner or pretty much anything you want. Contemporary décor, muted colours and tempting Mediterranean-style cooking make this a pleasant choice of venue.

It's an early bird sort of place and breakfast is served starting with a freshly baked croissant, butter and preserves, warm pain au chocolate and a bowl of whipped hot chocolate, the wonderful full English breakfast with freshly squeezed orange juice, eggs royale or benedict, and if there is something that is not on their menu my guess is they would have a jolly good try as a matter of honour.

Their main menu sustains Med throughout the day and its 'soup, starters and little dishes' musters some fifteen choices with traditional French onion soup, chargrilled fresh calamari, lamb kofta with okra stew, and warm antipasti for two with salami, olives, grissini, coppa, chargrilled vegetables and warm crusty Italian bread. In our multicultural society, indeed well before we knew anything about it, pasta made a welcome dish and spaghetti carbonara with smoked bacon, parmesan, egg and cream makes a tasty dish at any time of day.

A chargilled salmon Caesar salad makes a pleasant change from the ever popular salad Niçoise, but it's the range of main courses that sets the appetite coursing. Grilled swordfish with mango chilli and lime salsa, or a tuna steak with rocket and cherry tomatoes, or chargrilled sea bass fillets served with wilted spinach and roasted cherry tomatoes.

Until quite recently burgers were regarded with deep suspicion, but nowadays the race is on to produce the tastiest version of this convenient snack or small meal constituent. At Med they have the naked lamb burger, presumably something Jamie ran up on a bad day at that supermarket he works for, or there is the prime Scottish chopped steak burger on an onion bun with tomato, red onion and fresh cut fries. I don't know about you but I would not need to be too hungry to tackle either of those, particularly when I am assured that the beef has been hung for 31 days and comes from cattle naturally reared on traditional farms.

Every day, Monday to Friday, a set lunch is offered from 12pm to 5pm, at £11.95 for two courses, £13.95 for three. Good choices, let's start with French onion soup toped with matted Gruyere, followed by a three egg omelette with ham, cheese, tomato and fresh herbs, plus any dessert from the full dessert menu. Now that's what I call value, and let me assure you they don't stint on the portion control.

A wine list that would do credit to a menu such as Med's has plenty of easy drinking, no daunting prices, a good range by the glass, and trawls its way round the world in an exemplary fashion. For those who like their kicks in condensed form there is a range of cocktails that covers most situations, and after a few who cares anyway?

Med is great, authentic fun; no wonder people acquire the Med habit.

For more details take a click on their Website.