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At Mekong food is seen as something universal, which brings people together and a sensory experience to be remembered, so it's not surprising that Asian, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines combine in happy unison here. The restaurant aspires to give diners plenty of reasons to do so whether it's for a business lunch, a pre or post theatre dinner or just to admire the Vietnamese artwork on the walls.

The menu covers all bases from crispy aromatic duck pancakes and Saigon spicy prawns to sizzling chicken with lemongrass and sesame prawn fingers. There are also a number of Thai dishes included for  good measure alongside an interesting wrap and roll section. Mekong also stocks a good range of beers from South East Asia in addition to champagnes, spirits, aperitifs and liqueurs. The wine list covers a wide territory from New World Rieslings to classics from the French vineyards.

Matsuri is an inspired attempt to recreate the atmosphere of a Japanese festival, which just happens to be the meaning of its name. The interior is designed likewise with the taiko drum and the nebuta mask at the top of the staircase; the staff too follow suit with waitresses attired in brightly-coloured kimonos. Then there is the teppanyaki area where you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the whooshing teppan, and the sushi counter where chefs whip up those delightful mouthfuls in a few seconds.

Although the speciality here is teppanyaki and sushi, vegetarians are not entirely forgotten, the wakana, a set course menu specially designed for our veggie friends includes a seaweed salad, vegetable tempura and sushi. The kitchen exhibits keen willingness to explore hitherto uncharted territory, think Scottish fillet steak and foie gras teppanyaki and spicy tuna tartar exquisitely presented as tuna sashimi topped with fresh salad. The crunchy spider-maki prepared using dark shell crab demonstrates that elegant presentation is the underlying essence of Japanese cuisine.

Spaghetti House is the handiwork of two Italians - Lorenzo Fraquelli and Simone Lavarini - who put their love for good Italian food and entrepreneurial skills to the test and decided to open their first outlet on Goodge Street. That was way back in 1955, now you can sense their indomitable Italian spirit in their 10 branches spread across Central London. All the outlets make a distinct impression in terms of décor, and happily intermingle with their surroundings.

Spaghetti is definitely the way to go, whether it's the Bolognese or pomodoro e basilico with San Marzano tomatoes and fresh basil sauce, or you could veer into the trofie zone where traditional Genoese short twisted pasta are tossed with cannelloni beans and mussels. Explore the Tuscan style of cooking fish and seafood stew with zuppa di pesce alla Toscana, while Umbrian sausages arrive casseroled with lentils and peas.

Spaghetti House can also accommodate groups of up to 200 guests and all outlets are strategically located close to theatres, museums and West End attractions.

This new fish restaurant in Pimlico certainly is the business. However a recent visit by a highly respected critic established that Wednesday appears to be the chef's night off, so plan accordingly would be appear to be a wise move.

Otherwise it's roses all the way in a dining room that is all fish, and all white, which may sound - and is - fairly singular, but works very well. A simple menu offers dishes that are not complicated, but executed in a way that might not always be possible at home.

Prices are far from cheap but on current performance there appear to be more than enough people who are prepared to stump up for fresh, raw sea urchin on ice with warn toast, baby octopus stew, and citrus cream to finish. Sardinian influences are well to the fore.

The wine list is well able to meet the challenges from the kitchen, and overall it is clear that the West End has once again got lucky.

Petrichor Restaurant located within the Cavendish Hotel, London epitomises understated elegance and class with its contemporary ambience, plush furnishings and informal atmosphere. Situated on Regent Street, and with easy access to many local attractions and sight-seeing places, the restaurant attracts a varied crowd of hotel guests, travellers and even the odd local to enjoy the all-day breakfast and seasonal specials of lunch and dinner.

The restaurant places great emphasis on using sustainable and organic ingredients with a commitment to local suppliers and British farmers and this is reflected in the seasonal contemporary British cuisine. The a la carte menu has starters of Irish beef carpaccio served with rocket salad and Guinness glaze, and Dorset scallops served with black beans and Wicks Manor ham hock. Mains include options of Aylesbury duck breast with Maple Manor bacon and potato gratin, and buttered broad beans, and Atlantic served with sautéed English asparagus, shellfish sauce and fried wholemeal bread croutons.

A selection of fine wines, champagnes and other drinks complements the delectable meal perfectly.