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Simply Lebanese is just that; simple and unfussy with a natural devotion to seasonality and a fondness for that wonderful condiment called olive oil. Chef Ina'am Atalla reveals an enthusiasm for fresh herbs and subtle spices associated with Lebanese cuisine and the menu is a creative mix of dishes, each deserving a pair of culinary exclamation marks.

Mouhamara, a salad of walnuts, pine nuts, cashews and almonds in a special chilli dressing and Lebanese fried spicy sausages shine in the starter section. Simple Lebanese wisely restrains itself from following the fusion route and for a main course there are some traditional dishes to be savoured such as king prawns fried and cooked in a tomato, coriander and garlic sauce, and boneless baby chicken tossed with onions, sumac and pine nuts wrapped in a special bread and baked. A welcome dose of sweetness comes in the form of muhallabiyeh, a milk pudding, or a selection of Lebanese pastries.

This restaurant is a carnivore's paradise as it offers classic Argentine cuisine of the highest standard in a stylish and contemporary setting. Featuring adaptations of bourgeois and rustic dishes with the international flavours that have tinged the history of the country, the Gaucho Grill menu represents the best of the country's varied culinary culture. Their outlets have proved popular over the last ten years with seven in London and one in Manchester.

Steak is king out there - all the meat comes from the lush expanse of the Pampas where animals roam freely in the grasslands. After being aged for six weeks, the result is incredibly tender beef, which has become renowned as the best in the world. Steaks are cut to order, rubbed with salt and chimichurri oil then flash grilled, turned only once - so it retains its flavour better.

The ceviche is a form of citrus marinated seafood salad - choices at Gaucho include a delectable mix of lobster and shrimp cured in a lime, coconut, citrus sauce and coriander, rightly called fire and ice. The Argentinean loganiza chicken sausages with crispy onion hay, pickled jalapeño and cherry mojo are delicious too.

Specialities include zarzuela de mariscos - halibut, monkfish, king scallops, shrimp, squid and green lip mussels in a saffron broth with asparagus, potato and toasted poilane bread, mushroom tian made of baked Portobello mushrooms with tomato vinaigrette, mozzarella and goat's cheese, as well as empanadas - savoury pastries typically served on the streets of Buenos Aires.

There are traditional Latin American pastries, cheese as well as flans with mixed berries, seasoned with tarragon, basil and lemon as well.

The menu is complemented by a wine list - the largest outside Argentina. The aim at Gaucho is to represent all of the major grape varieties in their country with Terruño, their very own label. Although Argentina is not well known for its sweet wines, the Torrontes Licoroso, from a monastery high in the mountains of Catamarca serves as a fine end to a meal.

A Chelsea veteran of over twenty five years standing, Foxtrot Oscar was updated by Gordon Ramsay into a modern British restaurant. Whether the transformation has worked or not remains a matter of subjective opinion, but there has been an improvement on the food front at Foxtrot Oscar - not too difficult a task under the circumstances.

However, much of the ethos of its previous life has been retained, with dishes like hot and cold smoked salmon with horseradish cream and toast, and beer-battered hake, chips, marrowfat peas and tartare sauce. Most offerings are distinctly more posh than before with duck terrine and apple chutney among the starters, followed by mains of beer-braised ox cheeks with carrot purée and char-grilled Dedham Vale onglet steak with marrow butter and roasted mushroom, and apple and cranberry charlotte with crème anglaise to finish.

Named after its location on Lots Road, this pub and dining room is a lively place to step into when nobody is in the mood for extravagance and black tie dining. Here the atmosphere is relaxed, so expect the excitement of a full house, lots of food, fun and laughter. Subtle lighting and rich dark wooden furniture make for a cosy interior in which to lounge at your leisure.

On the menu you'll find a varied array of tempting dishes from the classic free range Cumberland sausage and mash with onion gravy, to more exotic fare such as honey glazed duck salad with pickled celeriac, French beans and prunes. From the dessert list the sticky toffee pudding and honey pot ice cream is a highly popular choice. Being a pub the choice of beers, cocktails and wines come well up to scratch. But don't expect a quiet romantic meal for two - this is not a place for the faint-hearted.

If you are looking for consistent, reasonably priced food, a really lively atmosphere, combined with outstanding wines at shop prices, and interesting and different dishes, then it is easy to be heavy on the superlatives for this enduring and endearing choice of many Chelsea residents.

But then it is easy to be complimentary, because Brinkley's has been a long-term favourite of our family's, and we have introduced a variety of friends to it over the years, most of whom have been very taken by its excellent overall product.

Their menu is always tempting and wanders around old favourites like their highly original salads, their superb Thai curries, more authentic than most, as main course, and pan-fried calf's liver that shows up many more expensive places.

Their blissful, fruity New Zealand style Pouilly Fumé from Guy Saget is worth the visit alone, but all of their wines are amazing value as they only charge the regular retail prices rather than the normal mark-up that restaurants usually look for.

Try to avoid nights though when there is a big football match being shown on the TV by the entrance, as it does get a little noisy the bar as a result; though the covered-over garden of the restaurant is less affected, so ask to be put there, as we usually do anyway.

Richard Bradford

Zia Teresa must be amongst the high-hitters in the history of Italian restaurants in London having been in the ownership of the same family for over fifty years. It also won The Independent's Best Neighbourhood Restaurant Award for 'serving hit-the-spot, reliable Italian food'. Located on Hans Road across from Harrods, it provides a restful setting for those who'd like to put up their weary feet after shopping.

Expats with a lingering fondness for home cooked food are sure to be pleased, so begin with Parma ham with deep fried focaccia and soft mozzarella or fried calamari with tartare sauce. Those who love their pizza and pasta might find it hard to resist a pennette amatriciana with tomato, bacon, onions and chilli, and a vesuvio calzone with mozzarella, mushrooms and ham. As for main courses you could expect a respectable choice of king prawns and scampi on a bed of pinzimonio with balsamic sauce, or grilled lamb cutlets.

The well-compiled wine list at Zia Teresa includes some notable producers like Antinori, La Montina and Maculan.

Tom Aikens is both chef and owner of the restaurant that proudly bears his name. It's a well-designed place from both the elegant interior design, all carefully blended neutrals down to the work of design guru, Anouska Hempel, to the obviously well considered menu.

The focus is on varied and seasonal, innovative modern French dishes. Exciting accompaniments makes the food sound and taste extraordinarily good, the mark of a talented chef indeed. Choices might include poached Loch Duart salmon, apple puree, lime, summer flowers and herbs; slow roast Ark chicken, toasted pine nuts, lemon confit, egg yolk and sorrel ravioli, and pistachio meringue, parfait, praline and pistachio cassonade

Appreciation has come in the form of awards such as a Rising Star from the Michelin Guide, five AA Rosettes and from delighted customers. Tom Aikens has also received a consistent rating of 8/10 since 2004 from The Good Food Guide.