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London may well have more than its fair share of French restaurants but Le Cercle differs sufficiently from the rest to make it worthy of attention. First the setting, a tall basement only a short distance from Sloane Square, a space with which the designers have had a real field day, not entirely eliminating the feeling of being in a night club. The predominant material seems to be leather and the overall effect is not displeasing.

The menu draws on a several-sectioned approach starting with vegetables through fish, meat, traditional French country dishes, cheese and puddings. It is suggested that everyone should order somewhere between three to five savoury dishes which, given the average portion size is not unreasonable advice. Traditional dishes appear amongst a discreet selection of new interpretations. The crab shepherd's pie came across as a rather lost opportunity, but such old favourites as black pudding, or tender baby squid served with asparagus and mangetout are well up to scratch.

Le Cercle has been described as a haven for ladies who lunch and this may well turn out to be the case, but it seems unlikely that too many of them will returning in the evening with their partners, unless they are taking a diet pretty seriously. However, it is early days and the general quality of the food and its presentation certainly has strong appeal.

The award-winning Michelin starred restaurant Zafferano first opened in the heart of London's exclusive Belgravia area in 1995. Since then, the awards and accolades have continued to pour in each year and the restaurant has achieved some of the most sincere restaurant reviews written.

Zafferano has been acclaimed time and again for its honest, wholesome take on Italian cuisine, with dishes like malfatti, pasta parcels with potato and morel mushroom, lobster and langoustine sautéed with samphire and also roast Fiorentina T-bone Steak with herb salad.

In 2005 Zafferano underwent an exciting refurbishment, much to the delight of its patrons. A unique private dining room was created in the vaults of the wine cellar, which has become a firm favourite for corporate entertaining during the week and birthday parties and special family gatherings at the weekend.

There is also an elegant bar offering a selection of cocktails, aperitifs and digestifs as well as a bar menu with a mouth watering choice of regional Italian favourites.

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.

Certain things are never meant to change. Take the 'quality first' catchphrase of Balls Brothers for instance; after trading in fine wines for over 150 years, this motto still hold true. Now with a chain of bar and restaurants across London, each possessing a unique note of distinction in terms of décor and location, all share a common love for classic British food and a good choice of wines.

Menus do vary slightly from one restaurant to another, so you could spot a group of friends in Carey Lane bonding over a British grazing platter of fish fingers with chunky tomato sauce, minty lamb meatballs, Londoner cocktail sausages and potato wedges with sour cream and chives. Head to Hay's Galleria for warm chicken livers, chorizo and spinach salad, followed by smoked salmon muffin, free range poached egg and hollandaise sauce, and strawberry and vanilla parfait with summer berry coulis.

There is another draw to Balls Brother, their exciting wine dinners and tastings, and quiz, swing and jazz nights are but a few of them.