It is rare that you come across somewhere that strikes you as an absolute gem, combining many fine qualities such as a fantastic position overlooking the Thames with a wonderful view of Wandsworth Bridge and excellent design with exemplary standards of food and reasonable prices.

I am amazed that few people have yet discovered The Fish Place, though it does take quite a feat of ingenuity to find it at the moment as it is rather hidden away on the south bank in Battersea near to the heliport, the new Hotel Verta and the Prices Candle shop, but persevere as the search will yield a most worthwhile result.

Both the manager Artan and the chef Gilles have impeccable pedigrees encompassing some years at the late lamented, but superb, Cafe du Jardin in the former's case and a spell at Le Caprice for the latter.

The shortish, but extremely tempting, menu produces beautifully presented and thoroughly delicious dishes, ranging from pan fried prawns with baby leaf, crispy bacon and puy lentil vinaigrette to Dorset crab tortellini with roasted cauliflower puree and basil to start, both proved to be perfect choices, though we liked the sound of grilled Devon scallops with truffle mashed potatoes, artichoke and chicken jus.

They bravely specialise in fish and seafood, though from slightly more distant waters than those outside the windows, and char grilled fillet of wild sea bass with saffron risotto, green beans, artichoke and fish sauce and pan fried fillet of haddock with baby leeks, herb mashed potato, brown shrimps and beurre blanc were a fresh as one could hope for, perfect pictures on a plate tasting as wonderful as they sounded.

We thought that desserts would be beyond us until we saw what they offered and all resistance melted away at the thought of Grand Marnier soufflé and chocolate fondant with hazelnut ice cream.

They offer an excellent value menu at lunchtime and I predict that if the critics can be dragged away from their cosy little niches in Central London then they will be as bowled over as we were.