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hand picked restaurants

Established in 1957 by Mr and Mrs Costa, Costa's Grill was one of the first Greek restaurants to open in London. The venue started with one room, and quickly became a popular spot for locals and residents and eventually expanded to include two additional rooms and a garden restaurant. The restaurant continues to serve authentic Greek cuisine to its guests in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Some of the traditional offerings on the menu include tzatziki - yogurt, cucumber, olive oil and mint dip, with pita bread, avocado with prawns or taramosalata, and deep fried squid rings. Moussaka - layers of sliced potatoes, aubergines, tomatoes and minced lamb topped with a béchamel sauce, fried meatballs with herbs and spices, and chicken pilaf, with fried onions, mushrooms and rice are some enticing options that feature frequently on the bill of fare. Baklava - filo pastry, with nuts and syrup and banana fritter with jam offers a luxurious eating experience.

One way of towering over others, literally and figuratively, is by spending an evening at the Nightclub at Kensington Roof Gardens. Spread over one and a half acres of lush greenery, you will be transported to an ethereal world a hundred feet above Kensington High Street. The silver damask finish of the walls blends well with the wrought iron furniture, while the natural stone finish, live flamingos and ducks complete the picture.

You could sip a cocktail or dine under the stars, and, in fine weather, take in the spectacular view of the London skyline. The three themed gardens, Tudor, Spanish and English are each beautiful in their own way and form a part of Richard Branson's dream of an urban oasis. The restaurant offers barbecue nights as early as in May.

The clubhouse is an attractive dance venue and plays a perfect mix of funky house, soul and dance tunes with some good old club classics. On Fridays and Saturday, the pulse quickens as they remain open until 3 am, making them a very popular weekend destination. By limiting entry only to members and their guests, this unique restaurant has kept its exclusivity; while it is also renowned as a glamorous venue for private parties and corporate events.

The Ida Restaurant located on the corner of Fifth Avenue, towards Kensal Green is an authentic family-owned Italian restaurant that offers good homemade food at reasonable rates. Named after the owner's mother, the restaurant is set in a picturesque Grade II Listed house featuring a simple, stylish decor, an open kitchen and numerous pictures and posters adorning the walls. The simple, rustic menu is full of Italian regional dishes passed down through generations and prepared using natural and fresh ingredients.

The menu has both well-known and less familiar dishes and features a selection of fare from different regions of Italy every month. It includes dishes such as molinata con bruschetta, a Puglian dish of brad beans with fresh chard and spinach accompanied by garlic bruschetta; risotto zucca e gorgonzola and seafood risotto. Other dishes include veal escalope cooked with vodka, oregano and olives or the four cheese golden lasagne made with fresh, hand-rolled pasta and seasonal vegetables.

A well-priced wine list of Italian classics forms a good accompaniment to the delectable meal.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen was the brainchild of three New Zealanders, who craved after the way that food tasted back home. The chain was instrumental in changing the perception of many people who saw the traditional burger purely as a fast food option; instead they are now seen as more sophisticated products, made using fresh, good quality ingredients.

Their first outlet opened in Battersea and today there are forty-one serving scrumptious burgers. Chef Peter Gordon believes in using innovative combinations, with good quality English chicken and Aberdeen Angus Scotch beef among the ingredients, to make nutritious and convenient to eat fare. They offer chorizo and sweet potato, lamb and minted relish, or the vegetarian portabella mushroom among others. GBK sauces and accompaniments add to their taste.

The menu has nearly thirty different choices and if you feel like biting into pure beef, do try their classic burger with salad and relish - available with or without cheese, this is served with sauces like smoked mayo, spicy satay, fresh chilli and Thai red curry, lending the meal varying degrees of spice.

Some, like the Kiwi, are made using unusual raw materials such as beetroot, fried egg and pineapple, while for fans of chicken, the grilled breast with streaky bacon, salad and avocado is a delicious combination. There are a surprising number of burgers suitable for vegetarians with versions made from puy lentils, potato, green curry or aubergine served with goats' cheese and sun blushed tomatoes. Fresh fruit juices, soft drinks and milkshakes are alcohol free options.

A welcome list of wines and beers complete the picture of a relaxed and modern environment as Gourmet Burger King excels in making the humble burger taste so good.

Pizza Express remains a hugely popular bedrock of casual eating. Its popularity is testimony to the fact that across the country, they have restaurants where you will always be guaranteed a good nosh, with children's tastes being well catered for.

Pizza Express has gone even more Roman, and following the success of that particular example of listening to their public have introduced Romana pizzas, including the scorching Etna and the hearty Siciliana.

These pizzas are now thinner, bigger and crispier, and if that sounds like a marketing line, it is. However, unlike many such lines, this one is true, and their quality is always consistent, though cleverly they have still managed to retain a homemade feel to their pizzas.

As an alternative to pizza, try their pollo pesto - cavatappi pasta with torn chicken breast, mushrooms, red onions and mozzarella in a creamy gruyere, parmesan and pesto sauce and finished with grana padano - or the niçoise salad with mixed leaves, yellowfin tuna, free range egg, green beans, potatoes and tomatoes with olives, anchovies, capers and house dressing.

Many of the big chains have come a long way, and Pizza Express is certainly amongst them. One of the first to be quoted on the Stock Exchange - in 1993 - Pizza Express is not a franchise operation and retains tight control through its own staff.

Their wine list - though short - contains some surprisingly good offerings, especially their intense Australian Chardonnay, and a big, full-bodied Merlot from Cusumano, Sicilia.