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The Contented Vine is a gastro pub that is almost guaranteed to leave you feeling very contented indeed. Situated on Sussex Street in SW1, this friendly pub has chef Alberto Landgraf looking after its food. On the menu you'll find dishes such as goat's cheese salad, spit roasted chicken, excellent fishcakes, as well as good old-fashioned battered fish and chips, or a tender and tasty steak cooked to your liking. Sunday is the day for a traditional roast dinner at The Contented Vine and you'll always find plenty of interesting wines on offer, many of which are available by either the bottle or the glass.

Reviewed by Linda Buttle

Richard Shepherd, of Langan's Brasserie and Odin's fame, is so proud of this restaurant that he gave his name to it. He was well justified in my view, as personally I much prefer it to the larger and far less cosy Langan's, and find the quality of the food vastly better, whilst you are more likely to bump into Members of Parliament or Belted Earls than Essex Motor Dealers!

I might explain that Marsham Street is quite close to the Houses of Parliament, and is also full of large blocks of flats where many of the Members of Parliament or Lords live. In fact MPs make up so much of their clientele that Shepherd's has installed a division bell; this means that when a vote is called, they have ten minutes to get back. A sure way to get heartburn and spoil a delicious dinner!

The walls are adorned with a combination of fine art, posters and several of the many hilarious 'JAK' cartoons (Evening Standard), concerning some of the previous exploits of the late Peter Langan, Sir Michael Caine and Richard Shepherd, CBE.

Shepherd's is a terrific advertisement for how varied, inventive and tasty real English cooking can be, far removed from the tasteless stodge of legend.

The many culinary highlights include their crab and brandy soup, wonderful salmon and prawn fishcakes, superb grouse (in season only), and marvellous renditions of famous, but sometimes strange sounding, English puddings like 'Eton mess' and 'Burnt Cambridge creams' - if you don't know what they are, why not ask?

For that party where privacy is a must, Shepherd's has its own 'Private Dining Room' which can seat up to 24 people on one long table or 32 people on four tables of eight, they will also cater for a less formal buffet or presentation event. For Parties of over 12 persons taking advantage of their special inclusive, 'Private Dining Menus' that include three courses, coffee & service from £35 per person, there is no additional room hire charge.

They are also extremely straightforward over their charging policy, either two courses and filter coffee for £29, or three for a mere four pounds extra.

Richard Bradford

Alan Yau, creator of some high profile restaurants like Hakkasan and Yauatcha, now brings the characteristic communal style dining to London a la Wagamama. The first Busaba Eathai opened in Soho and two more outlets followed, and the interior of dark wood and decorative lanterns notch up the style factor, making it more than just an average café-style dining experience.

Eating here is mostly a one course affair and on a cold winter evening try the tom yam talay, prawn, squid and baby clams with vermicelli noodle in a spicy sour soup, and for the light eaters it could be a wing bean salad with toasted coconut, shallot and lime leaf. If the crowds are anything to go by, it means that Busaba Eathai must be doing several things right and curries must be one of them, like the aromatic geng gari gai with chicken, new potato and cucumber relish. A steaming hot cup of ginger and honey tea helps you finish the meal on a satisfying note.

Situated in Kinnerton Street in fashionable Belgravia, Petrus is one of Chef Gordon Ramsay's most prestigious and well regarded restaurants, winning a coveted Michelin star in 2010. The opulent décor, with a gentle palette of oyster, soft silver and copper tints as well as the establishment's signature claret red sets the tone for a unique gastronomic experience.

Executive chef Mark Askew's innovative modern European menu promises a signature dining experience with dishes combining classic flavours with exquisite presentation. Diners can expect to order starters of roasted quail breast with crispy quail's egg, parmesan polenta and Swiss chard or frog's legs with butternut squash and trompette mushrooms. Mains of lemon sole with creamed celeriac, clams and five spice sauce or best end of Devon lamb with spiced aubergine and thyme jus take it to another level. Dessert of orange and vanilla baked Alaska or chocolate sphere with milk ice cream and honeycomb delivers the grand finale.

The chef's table, located in the heart of the kitchen, offers guests a ringside seat of all the action together with the delights of a bespoke menu.

The popularity of patisseries in London and elsewhere is a longstanding tribute to human indulgence. When spirits are low there are few better kick-starts than a visit to the nearest purveyor of wonderful cakes, sticky, creamy confections that melt in the mouth, leaving a comfortable feeling of having scored one up on whatever malaise is afflicting you.

Madam Valerie, a lady of Belgian extraction, knew all about this when she established her first patisserie in Firth Street in 1926. Some years later the Luftwaffe, with typical insensitivity, obliterated the place, but not Madam who moved round the corner to the present site in Compton Street, now much patronised by media people, celebrities and art students, who adore its Parisian informality.

There are now 31 Valeries in the UK. In addition to the most gorgeous confections, some of them also do breakfast, which in its own way is another propper-up of human frailty, however transient. Evening meals are also served at Patisserie Valerie.

Noura Lounge, on Hobart Place in Belgravia, delivers contemporary Lebanese cuisine in chic surroundings. Right next door to the original Noura restaurant, the Lounge boasts a stylish interior with backlit  white wood-panelled walls and relaxed leather banquette seating, and provides an ideal space for guests to unwind while tucking into food that is both exotic and unique, prepared from quality and locally sourced ingredients.

The comprehensive menu serves a wide range of quick bites and appetizers that perfectly complement the tempting cocktail list. They include mezzes canapés of warak enab, grape vine leaves filled with rice, tomatoes and parsley cooked in olive oil; falafel and chicken kebbeh. There are also platters of lamb and chicken chawarma served with hoummos or salad that is ideal for larger groups to share. The main menu also includes a number of hot and cold mezze dishes alongside more substantial fare such as kafta khashkhash, a traditional dish of minced lamb with a spicy tomato sauce, or mousakaat batenjan which consist of baked aubergine with tomato and chickpeas served with rice.

The restaurant has a well-stocked bar that serves a range of cocktails such as mojitos, margaritas, martinis and champagnes.