Ritz London, The

If you want to experience grand dining in London at its most opulent level, then The Ritz is the only place for you. The ornate dining room overlooking Green Park is quite magnificent, as is the service from the well-trained staff who look after you, from raising the silver cloches from the plates, quite superbly, to flambéing your dessert.

The food is less dramatic than the setting but perfectly adequate and sometimes first-rate, whilst it is always spoiling.

Choose from Starters like a half lobster en gelée with Russian salad and mayonnaise; salad of seared scallops, aubergine caviar, citrus and saffron dressing; and pan fried goose foie gras with roasted figs and basil oil, to Mains of Dover sole, turbot, sea bass wild Scottish salmon served with Bearnaise, Nantaise or herb butter sauce; Chateaubriand souffle potatoes, gratin of French beans (2 covers) and grilled fillet of Angus beef with sauce Bearnaise.

Leave room for their Desserts though: exotic fruit basket with red berry sorbet and passion sauce; to lemon and basil delice with strawberry coulis; and iced blood orange parfait with citrus sorbet and orange sauce. This is truly sybaritic, comfort food at its best.

You could always take Afternoon Tea (not served in the Dining room), which is generally considered to be the finest on offer in London and is therefore, booked out weeks ahead.