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There are very few Chinese restaurants that get into the pages of the famed Good Food Guide, but all four branches of Royal China are listed, and with an excellent rating as well.

They have been long renowned for the freshest and best dim sum in London, displaying a delicacy of touch and flavour that sets them apart from those offered elsewhere, however, inconveniently, they are only served at lunchtime.

They both also provide incomparably fine Chinese food at all times, varying from quite normal, mild dishes, to the firiest of Szechuan cooking. Their customers describe them as 'making other Chinese restaurants pale into insignificance', and as quite the most genuine outside of Hong Kong.

You must try to disregard the extremely garish décor, as the whole experience will prove to be surprisingly reasonable on the pocket as well.

It is an especially good place to go with a party of friends, as the Royal China offers a choice of Set Price Menus. Ranging from their House or Vegetarian, up to the Seafood Gourmet at £32, which may sound a lot, but it includes lobster and fantastic imperial seafood hors d'oeuvres. Plus there is no way that you will feel hungry afterwards!

They are also extremely unusual in offering a Vegetarian set meal with delights like Szechuan tofu, and asparagus "Peking style".

12.5 per cent service charge is added to the bills, but you must make sure that the credit card slip is filled in, as they have an infuriating habit of leaving it open.

Richard Bradford

Please note that the E-Mail contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

While many restaurants in London seem to favour one manner of dining, Salt comes as something of a breather by introducing the concept of lounge style whisky and champagne cocktail bar with a trendy private dining area upstairs. It looks strikingly sleek and blends in contemporary design elements like Wengi and warm black walnut hardwoods with dark natural slate cladding. The bespoke leather and wooden furniture and frosted glass lit bar put down markers of good taste and judgement.

Menus are in tune with the seasons and change regularly, but if you're itching to drink there's plenty of choice available here. Salt stocks over 200 whiskies and bourbons in addition to champagne cocktails, bellinis, coffees, smoothies and fresh and infused juices.

Salt also hosts various tasting events performed by their staff and representatives from leading distilleries where whisky enthusiasts spend many happy hours tasting and talking about whisky.

Deep in the water-crossed depths of Paddington Basin lies Pearl Liang, a splendid pearl in Sheldon Square and conveniently close to the station. Outward appearances persist within doors with an overall décor of mauve and pink that is quite breathtaking.

The lunch box menu is well supported by the surrounding office workers. It is often said that a dim sum carte is best judged by its dumplings, in which case Pearl Liang's passes with flying colours. Worthy of attention at any time, but particularly when celebration or morale boosting is in the air, is the Buddha Jumps Over The Wall soup.

The cold hors d' euvres have some of the best dishes on offer, with drunken chicken, jellyfish, beef shin, Arctic clams, and pork trotters amongst them. Their set menus include the Jade, with a multitude of dishes spread over 3 courses, and very good value. Those for whom money is no object may gyrate towards the Diamond set menu, with a wealth of flavours that leave the senses replete and smiley.

A cosy relaxed restaurant and bar in Chepstow Place, The Chesterfield offers its trendy clientele a creative pan Asian menu put together by chef Ricky Pang. Friendly service and comfortable seating allows them to enjoy a leisurely meal after work or over a lazy weekend in traditional British interiors with wooden flooring, claret-coloured leather armchairs and a mahogany bar.

Guests dining here can try out Thai fishcakes, steamed edamame with sea salt, pi pa duck and flower buns with cucumber, lettuce and hoisin, mini Wagyu burgers or salt and pepper squid, for a start. They can then proceed with main course options of beef Szechwan hotpot, baked black cod with soft shell crab tempura, aromatic duck and honey teriyaki beef striploin. Dessert of honey lime posset with fresh assorted berries or pistachio and vanilla crème brûlée brings the meal to a fitting end. Experienced bartenders stir up your cocktails which include butterscotch and rhubarb and lemon verbena martinis.

Curry Place brings together all your favourites under one opulent roof and their reasonable rates and delicious food makes them a popular dining destination if you have a craving for curry. The décor is typically Indian and an outside smoking area offers you the chance to experiment with shisha, that latest fad amongst youngsters in Eastern countries, although it's been around what seems like forever.

The list of starters has options such as fish tikka, boneless pieces marinated in yoghurt, ginger, garlic and fresh spices and finished in the oven followed by main course of saag gosht, lamb grilled and served with spinach sauce. Naans and parathas, plain or stuffed are just perfect accompaniments while well loved curry specials such as butter chicken, jalfrezi, korahi, dopiaza and rogan josh are present and are calculated to leave you feeling blissfully satisfied.