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hand picked restaurants

As London continues to embrace world cuisine, it's not surprising to notice Eritrean fare making inroads onto British palates and Mosob Restaurant has pioneered the way forward in the Westbourne Park area. For homesick Eritreans there is hardly a better place to congregate as this family-run place captures the warmth and zest of this East African culture.

Injera, a thin, soft pancake like bread, acts as a communal platter to share, accompanied by seafood, meat and vegetables that are both fresh and flavoursome, while the lentil rolls stuffed with herbs pack in plenty of punch. A special Mosob salad could grab the attention of light eaters, and robust main courses of awaze qulwa, cubes of lean beef, fried with onion, green chillies and pepper, and okra and lamb, simmered with tomatoes, onions and spices make for a full throttle dining experience.

Desserts are equally memorable with torta della nonna, layers of short crust pastry filled with lemon flavoured patisserie cream and decorated with pine nuts, dusted with icing sugar.

Centonove is the favoured hotspot for classical and fresh Italian cuisine on Westbourne Park Road, where the glitzy décor is warm and welcoming, while still scoring numerous points for glamour. The art adorning the walls is chic and adds immense visual appeal in this split level restaurant with friendly service and a relaxed ambience. The food is prepared using only the freshest and finest ingredients sourced from Italian suppliers and the specialities such as homemade egg tagliatelle with tuscan sausage ragout and peas have become well-loved favourites amongst their eclectic clientele.

Delicious starters include pan fried calamari with chilli and garlic served with rocket and cherry tomatoes followed by pasta dishes such as flat spaghetti served with half lobster cooked in olive oil and white wine. Sweet endings include the homemade ricotta cheese and white chocolate cake and the wine list offers a wide range of whites, reds and champagnes from Italy.

See Cafe's location in the Paddington Basin neighbourhood may be off the beaten track, but those who managed to find it will vouch for the fact that this little retreat on Praed Street makes for a cosy, pleasant spot to dine in. Inside the atmosphere is peaceful with well-spaced tables and plenty of eye-soothing greenery.

Settle down and start with perhaps a trio seaweed salad with an Asian dressing, mixed seafood sashimi in ponzu sauce, or pork and vegetable fried dumplings with light vinegar dipping sauce. The menu has a special section devoted to donburi dishes, here grilled eel with an exotic sauce or fried chicken in breadcrumbs with egg are served atop a bed of rice and accompanied by miso soup. Familiar main plates include beef, tuna or salmon teriyaki, and pan-fried aubergine with sesame oil.

There are also a selection of speciality Asian salads, soups and curries.

Situated on Clifton Road in the heart of Maida Vale, Raoul's Café has slowly established itself as a trendy and stylish venue to dine and nothing says it better than their mixed clientele who throng its doors everyday, whether it's for full English in the morning, Greek lentil soup for lunch or a seafood dinner.

Even the salads are treated with the same respect and with ingredients like couscous, chickpeas and cinnamon, and green beans, asparagus and artichokes, the choices are notable. The menu changes daily and the kitchen does a particularly impressive job with main courses like chicken tarragon casserole, organic beef lasagne, sausage rolls and arancini.

Raoul's Deli is well-stocked with a wide range of quality items that include barbecued dishes, salads, dips, sauces, breads, cheese, cakes and desserts.

The legendary Chepstow Road drinking den The Prince Bonaparte, an eclectic mix of classic London boozer and Regency finery, is bound to draw everyone, from Notting Hill's ladies-who-lunch to the more arty down-to-earth crowd. In keeping with the traditional design of the pub, the horse-shoe shaped wood-panelled bar, plus wooden tables, chairs and floors, lends a homely feel while the striped Regency-style sofas and upholstered armchairs are almost palatial.

The kitchen brings some serious modern British food to its diners; take brisket hash cake with poached egg, smoked mackerel pâté and ham hock terrine for starters. Main courses are a bit more ambitious with a 28 day hung Scottish rib-eye and barramundi with mango, pepper and tomatoes.

The Prince Bonaparte boasts an extensive range of cask ales and specialist beers to rival that of any pub the local area. The wine list offers many New and Old World specialities by the glass, and the cocktail menu is not to be missed either.