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hand picked restaurants

Il Convivio literally translates as a gathering of dissident intellectual philosophers of the Dante era over food and drink or just to keep things simple let's call it a 'banquet'. Dubbed as one of the most exciting and ambitious projects of the Eturusca group, owners Enzo and Piero have had the confidence and passion, backed by twenty-five years of experience in the catering industry, to put together a welcome addition to Belgravia's restaurant scene.

As you step into the converted Georgian house with all its original charm intact, you might notice a few tables overlooking Ebury Street. The main restaurant's sky lit area has an airy and spacious feel while the conservatory at the back with an electric roof enables year round al fresco dining. Deep red walls embossed with words taken from Dante's poetry reminisce the Romantic era and the limestone and cedar wood panels add to the elegant atmosphere.

The regularly changing menu created by Lukas Pfaff includes antipasti such as terrine of octopus with tomato essence and radish and beef carpaccio with celery and basil infused virgin olive oil. The homemade black spaghetti with lobster and spring onions, alongside duck and pea ravioli with foie gras sauce is a main draw at Il Convivio's elegant tables.

Fish courses take in the Arctic black cod caramelized with aged balsamic, served with grilled asparagus and Muscat grapes and pan-fried fillet of halibut with a 'soft shell' crab sauce and black olive tapenade. From the meat section there is clay pot roasted 'black leg' chicken with an aged Marsala sauce and crispy pancetta served with olive oil infused mashed potato, and veal cutlet with a fine herb and caper butter,

Desserts are a treat to the chocoholics with chocolate trilogy and dark chocolate and pistachio pudding with a sour cherry sorbet. Those who prefer to keep it simple could try a selection of homemade sorbets or ice creams and coffee and petit fours.

Not surprising then, that since opening in September '99, they have proved popular with critics and locals alike. A click on their informative Website will introduce you to II Convivio at home.

Chaam Northern Thai Cuisine just off Fulham Broadway is a perfect example of how the growth of Thai cuisine in Britain has provided a healthy - in all senses - option to other eastern styles of food to which we have grown accustomed, indeed very attached, in recent times. But there has always been something rather different about Thai eating, and that difference has caught the spirit of the age with increasing enthusiasm.

Thai cuisine is a 'green' style, it carries with it mental pictures of spotless kitchens, careful preparation and refined results, with flavours that are delicate to the point of subtlety, and impeccable service. All this and more has caught the eating-out public's imagination.

Chaam sets out to achieve all this but to take the experience a stage further by introducing some of the lesser known Thai dishes, the sort of thing that is enjoyed in Thailand as a matter of course, but does not seem to have made the jump much further afield. It can lay some claim to be in a position to do this well, as a third generation Thai restaurant, and a sibling to Papaya Tree in Kensington High Street.

An elegant and quite lengthy menu sets the tastebuds jumping from the word go. Chaam styles itself as a Thai Eatery, though in truth that is a bit of an understatement. No surprise therefore to find that number one on the menu is tom yum, the much-loved hot and sour soup with rice noodles, black tiger prawns, bean sprouts and crushed peanuts. Thai boat noodles were originally served from small boats in the floating markets of Thailand, and come with sliced sirloin beef in a special Thai herb soup. Look also for the kao soi and nahm ngeaw, soup noodles which equate to the excellent street food of other places.

Amongst the fried noodles expect to find kao pad boh thek talay, stir fried rice with seafood and mushroom in a sharp tom yum sauce. Morning glory may help those who had enough of their vegetables when young and force fed to take another view at the delightful mix fried with chilli and garlic.

A good mix of curries brings out the red, green and yellow versions, but the penang goong, a peanutty curry of king prawns, coconut milk and shredded kaffir leaves is also much favoured. The gentle green curry of chicken, bamboo shoots, coconut milk and baby eggplants demonstrates Thai cooking at its simple best.

Seabass wrapped in banana leaf, and char-grilled rib eye steak with spicy cracked rice dip are two of the less well-known dishes in Britain, and it is refreshing to know that much of Chaam's ingredients are flown in twice weekly from Thailand.

The delicacy of Thai cooking lends itself well to the refinement of wine and a small but entirely empathetic wine list embraces a contemporary outlook.

Chaam does free deliveries to SW6, SW5 and SW10 postcodes, others can be arranged, just call them. Minimum order is £20 and they aim to deliver within 45 minutes. Keep abreast of events at Chaam with a click on their excellent Website.

Housed in an elegant Grade II listed building, The DaScalzo is a charming brasserie and art gallery all rolled into one, and is the perfect place to put your feet up after a busy day of shopping at the nearby Victoria Place Shopping Centre. Drawing inspiration from the traditional Parisian cafes, where Bohemian artists enjoyed food and drink in exchange for their artwork, DaScalzo skilfully combines good Italian food and contemporary art in a warm setting. Spread over two floors, the dining area exudes a Parisian feel with arched ceilings, wooden furniture and subtle lighting.

The menu features well-presented Italian dishes and there is a good choice of starters like the antipasto Italiana, a selection of cured Italian meats with olives and anchovies, sautéed scallops and prawns with lemon and chilli sauce, and calamari and zucchini fritti with garlic mayonnaise. The pasta selection is equally impressive with a tagliatelle carbonara, pancetta, parmesan and cream sauce, and spaghetti alle vongole with clams and fresh tomato in white wine, garlic and chilli.

Fish lovers might appreciate the organic grilled salmon with salsa verde, boiled new potatoes and baby spinach, or sea bass and salmon fishcakes served with a lobster sauce, sour cream, rocket salad and chips. Moving onto the restaurant?s main courses, diners can expect to find classic dishes such as scaloppa Milanese, a traditional dish of breaded veal with parsley and garlic, pan-fried and served with spaghetti Bolognese, or grilled sirloin steak with a green peppercorn or brandy sauce, chips and garlic mushrooms.

DaScalzo's breakfast is highly recommended and the full English makes for a hearty start to the day and other choices include Scottish oak smoked salmon, eggs Florentine, Benedict or royal, and a selection of coffee, tea, and fresh juices. The carefully selected drinks list features wines from across the globe alongside a selection of beers, ciders, whiskies, cognacs, liqueurs and digestifs.

There is a fantastic selection of artwork on display and DaScalzo also plays host to exhibitions and private viewings regularly.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

A stylish contemporary restaurant, Artigiano in Belsize Terrace offers a compelling modern Italian menu in a striking setting complete with glass canopies and artful use of lighting and colour. On warm summer evenings the glass frontage folds away to open the restaurant up for an al fresco dining experience. Close to Hampstead Theatre and the Everyman Cinema, Artigiano isn't too far away from Primrose Hill or Hampstead Heath either.

The seasonally changing menu at Artigiano has many treats in store for the discerning diner. You could begin the meal with starters of crispy parmesan basket filled with goat's cheese, avocado and asparagus, topped with poached egg and herb mayonnaise; bresaola with roasted peppers and buffalo mozzarella or crab, lobster and asparagus timbale wrapped in spinach leaves.

Artigiano's delicious pasta selection includes homemade potato gnocchi with a mushroom, squid and cherry tomato sauce; linguine with fresh clams and chilli, lobster and scallop risotto as well the restaurant's signature spaghetti alla chitarra with Scottish langoustine and fennel.

For a hearty main course committed carnivores could try pan-fried breaded veal escalope with rocket and balsamic drizzled cherry tomatoes; breast of chicken stuffed with Parma ham and buffalo mozzarella, with a virgin olive oil, oregano and tomato concassé or grilled lamb chops with an aubergine and cherry tomato caponata.

Fish and seafood lovers can look forward to dishes such as whole grilled sea bream with olive oil and herbs; sautéed fillet of cod with lentils, sun-dried tomatoes and crisp pancetta or tiger prawns in a spring onion guazzetto.

Vegetarians are also well catered for with a range of dishes including cream of vegetable soup with polenta croutons; beetroot salad with feta, fine beans, toasted pine nuts and a raspberry vinaigrette; chestnut, pumpkin and ricotta cheese ravioli with a sage butter sauce and spaghetti with a fresh tomato sauce and buffalo mozzarella.

Tempting confections of vanilla pannacotta with coffee cream and coconut biscuit, lime and orange meringue parfait with a strawberry compote and peach tartlet with vanilla ice cream bring any meal to a delightful conclusion. If you wish, sample a selection of rare Italian mountain cheeses served with honey.
 
A set menu offers guests more options with dishes such as roasted beef tomato stuffed with a cheese mousse and leeks, prawn skewer with a pineapple carpaccio and wild rocket, spaghetti with a beef and basil ragù and pan-fried hake with a tomato and garlic sauce. The restaurant is open from 11am every day and serves a brunch menu with breakfast options, starters, light bites, toasted sandwiches, pasta and risotto, mains and desserts.

The wine list has a fine selection of predominantly Italian reds and whites, enhanced by a small number of old and new world wines available by the glass and bottle.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

Conveniently located between Gloucester Road and South Kensington tube stations, this is a classic Geronimo pub, combining traditional British food with all the quality and style you'd expect in Kensington. The Duke of Clarence is situated in the oldest licensed building and is steeped in history. Just as the building has withstood the test of the time, so too has the spirit of an old inscription that was once found here - "Ars Langa Vita Brevis, Nunc Est Bibendum", or "Art is eternal, life is short, now let's drink."

The venue is growing in popularity for its brunch, burgers and bonhomie among the Kensington locals, who come here to indulge in a spot of lunch, watch the sport on Sky TV or simply observe  the world pass by through the large open windows.

The revered selection of fine wines, real ales and expansive range of beer pay due homage to the food.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

Belgo Centraal is totally unique in its design, especially its industrial lift, which transports guests over one of the busiest kitchens in London, where dishes from a menu of high quality are produced. Situated in the hub of Covent Garden, Belgo Centraal has been a hit since it opened in 1998 and a destination for tourists and Londoners alike ever since. Well known for its high quality Belgian food and drink, accompanied by unbeatable service and a stimulating environment, it has won a Best London Restaurant Award and was also runner up in the Best Family Restaurant Award 2000.

Affordable, filling meals include their famous mussel platter, served with frites, and other superb seafood, vegetarian or meat dishes, such as rotisserie chicken and haddock in Belgo Wit beer batter. If you have room you should try one of their scrummy desserts featuring Brussels style waffle with vanilla ice-cream, Chantilly cream and a choice of warm white or dark chocolate sauce.

The waiters, dressed as monks, are always willing to guide guests through the vast array of varying Belgian white, dark and fruit beers that are on offer to complement your meal. Belgian food tends to concentrate on leeks, asparagus, potatoes, beetroot, carrots, fennel; onion, celery, thyme, chives, rosemary, turnips, radish, beef, chicken, fish, butter and cream. From this by and large pretty healthy selection by most standards, they produce such classic Belgian dishes as waterzooi and carbonnade.

Do keep an eye out for their special deals, such as the famous 'Beat the Clock', where you pay the price at the time shown on your food order when ordering from their BTC menu, i.e., 6pm is £6. Express Lunch is a set lunch menu for £9.50, served with a choice of Cristal lager, a glass of house wine or a soft drink.

They also have 'Kids Eat Free', which entitles one child to eat free from the 'mini menu', a 2-course meal served with frites or mash, that includes such dishes as rotisserie chicken, pork or leek sausages, or cod goujons, rounded off with Belgo's homemade ice-cream, per one adult ordering a main course from the à la carte menu.

With two seating areas to choose from, firstly their dining area, where reservations can be made, or dine in the more relaxed beer hall area, with bench style seating,  where reservations are not required, this is definitely a unique dining experience. They can also cater for private parties from approximately 50 to 250 guests.

And talking of guests, read on: 'excellent evening! The waiters were very entertaining and so, so knowledgeable about all those different beers'.

'We had a fantastic time, great food and the kids really loved it! The waiter brought them to see the kitchen and gave them a chef's hat. All that and the kids ate for free'.

For information on reservations, parties and private hire, or just to learn more about Belgo Restaurants, visit their well designed Website.

Despite vigorous attempts by people, many of whom should know better, and others who know little at all, to suppress them, more natural methods of cure and prevention are advancing in popularity. Since most of these are taken by mouth it is by no mean surprising that restaurants see themselves as having a hand in this movement.

"You are what you eat" is a well known catch-phrase that has about it the ring of truth, and many feel that the structured pattern of modern life is not conducive to natural eating. Itadaki-zen seeks to play its part in restoring a more natural basis to the potentially joyful habit of eating out and eating well as a means of achieving an agreeable taste and the healing qualities that go with the food.

Diners will encounter rice, root vegetables, seaweeds, soya beans and by-products prepared with care and unhurried methods. Side dishes of grilled tofu with a special sauce called yangyeom are accompanied by seasonal vegetables simmered with tasty sauce, large non-seaweed sheets, bean sprouts seasoned with yangyeom, cold tofu with special soy sauce topping ginger and spring onion blend with fresh roll, spring green lightly boiled sheet enfolding okara and vegetable filling, followed by seaweed salad and miso soup.

Special dishes are popular both for diversity and value, amply demonstrated by the neba-neba-don, rice with sliced Daikon radish, okjura, nattou and shredded nori seaweed. NebaNeba means 'sticky', like the sticky ingredients from vegetables good for the immunity system. Followers of sushi will be pleased to see a special sushi menu, with such treats as vegetable sushi rolls, Agesan, a dish of of fried beans curd, carrots, cucumbers and Shiitake mushrooms, and wild garlic rolls made from wild garlic leaves, cucumber and carrot.

In terms of desserts kanten jelly, made from seaweeds, is a vital ingredient in producing such mouthwatering looking confections as soymilk pudding, a delicious mango pudding, a sesame pudding, and the wonderfully named and accoutremented fruits-awase pudding.

The lunch box is a time honoured institution in far-Eastern lands, a little something to keep the engine turning, soothe maybe. The mixed rice version packs a punch with mixed rice of five kinds of grains, five seasonable vegetables simmered with tasty sauce, along with Nori's seaweed sheets and bean sprouts seasoned with Yangyeom special sauce. One of the even more nutritious dishes is Hijiki-no-nimono, a combination of mix vegetables, fried tofu in shoyu sauce and hijiki, a variety of seaweed full of calcium and iron.

But my money goes on the homemade kimchi, naturally preserved vegetables in a piquant blend of red chilli, fine nuts, ginger root, crushed garlic and many other ingredients. Amongst all this beneficial and kindly food it seems at first strange to spy bottles of Whitstable Bay ale, until on closer inspection they turn out to be organically produced. Wines from a well spread net include some impeccable names, and of course, traditional Japanese sake.

Eating at Itadaki-Zen can be a highly refreshing and pleasant experience. Its art gallery establishes the contacts between good art and good food, and their excellent Website will tell you more. Students should take note of the fact that they can always benefit from a 10% discount.

Housed within the iconic Blakes Hotel on Roland Gardens, Blakes Restaurant expertly combines the best of Eastern and Western cuisineenhanced by elegant service in splendid surroundings. Located in the well-heeled South Kensington area of London, it's close to well-known attractions such as Hyde Park, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Royal Albert Hall while the shops and boutiques on Brompton Road are just a short drive away.

The work of the reputed designer and London socialite Anouska Hempel, the restaurant's atmospheric setting combines classic design with luxurious furnishings and exotic artefacts to create a unique ambience in which guests cannot but relax and unwind at leisure.

Dinner could begin with starters of miso soup with silken tofu, carpaccio of beef with parmesan, tortellini of foie gras des landes or salt and peppered soft shell crabs. Add a luxurious touch to your meal with Oscietra or Royal Beluga caviar served with Balkes blini or warm potato soufflé and vanilla ice cream.

Follow with delicious mains of angel hair pasta with black truffle, black cod with miso and ginger sauce; beef fillet teriyaki with hot sake or rack of English lamb and rosemary with mint cous cous. Diners looking for a lighter bite could enjoy refreshing salad of buffalo Burrata mozzarella with tomatoes or warm chicken salad with avocado, pomelo, cashews and nam jim sauce. The lunch menu offers ginko nut curry with lime risottini, baby chicken with thyme and lemon or peppercorn fillet of beef. While the bento box selection includes miso soup with silken tofu, beef teriyaki, lobster toast and ginger rice.

The desserts menu at Blakes is a joy in itself and includes tempting gems such as the light and refreshing dessert of coconut ice cream with lime and palm sugar, a simpler tropical fruit salad or a richer dark chocolate fondant with vanilla and pistachio ice cream and finally, if you wish, coffee with cardamom or ginger tea.

The restaurant's all-day menu serves a selection of dim sums; fried prawn and yuzu sauce, soups, sandwiches and hot food; toasted poilâne sourdough chicken sandwich with avocado and ginger and Blakes burger and French fries and salads; oak smoked scotch salmon.

Breakfast is also served at Blakes with choice of a full English, continental breakfast or more exotic fare such as Changa Turkish eggs, two poached eggs served with leaf spinach, chilli oil and yoghurt; classic Scottish smoked salmon with scrambled eggs spicy Parsee eggs a dish of scrambled eggs with fresh green chilli and coriander. For a healthy alternative try Bircher muesli with Greek yoghurt and fresh berries or compôte of fruit with cornflakes and prunes.

For a delightful break during the day the afternoon tea menu at the adjoining Chinese Room or Courtyard offers finger sandwiches with fillings of beef and chilli horseradish, smoked salmon and egg and cress; fresh scones with fresh strawberries and cream; a selection of tea cakes and choice of tea from Earl Grey, Lapsang Souching and Darjeeling.

An extensive wine list with a range of whites and reds from Italy, France, Germany, Australia and South Africa complements the food perfectly.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

The Goring is London's oldest and favourite privately owned 5 star De Luxe hotel, situated in Belgravia, close to London?s most prestigious address, Buckingham Palace, and almost as grand. It has a fabulous Dining Room, created by the world-famous designer and cabinet maker, David Linley, and his talented team. It is also renowned for the quality of its English cuisine, combining tradition with modern touches.

The Dining Room combines state-of-the-art modernity with timeless, classical elegance. The room is decorated in shades of biscuit, cream and caramel. Amazing Swarovski chandeliers float above the diners and change colour, according to the amount of light streaming through the large windows.

David Linley said, 'The Goring is one of the last family-run hotels. It was about trying to preserve tradition. This is the best restaurant in London'.

At the Tio Pepe ITV Awards Ceremony, early in 2005, The Goring received the award of 'Best British Restaurant' and 'Hotel of the Year' at the Catey Awards 2009. And US Travel and Leisure Magazine listed it among its choice of the 100 best hotels in the world.

In the Dining Room, quiet waiters on castered feet hurry to and fro under the watchful eye of the Maître d'. The famous menu changes with the seasons and takes its cue from the very best kind of British country house cooking. This is British food exquisitely cooked and superbly presented and this is cooking that delights the critic as well as the simply hungry.

Specialities include the sensational glazed Scottish lobster omelette, poached fillet of Loch Duart salmon with sea aster, mussel and potato broth, and braised shoulder of Castle of Mey beef with onions, carrots and creamed potatoes. Puddings are a speciality and include poached pear with orange sponge, caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream and a fantastic selection of cheeses from across the British Isles.

The wine list is one of the finest in London, and is personally selected by Jeremy Goring and Managing Director, David Morgan-Hewitt. The Goring is unusual in laying down wine for the future enjoyment of its guests, which means that the prices are often more reasonable than in other quality establishments.

Fay Maschler wrote, 'I love the family-run Goring....an oasis of gentility'.

That is The Goring. Not ostentatious, not stuffy, a very gentlemanly place with lashings of five star quality.

Their four private dining rooms will accommodate between four and one hundred guests for breakfast, luncheons, dinners, cocktail parties and wedding receptions. Click on their attractive and clearly set out Website for further information.

Namaaste Kitchen in Camden town is an Indian restaurant with a difference, created by The Salaam Namaste Bloomsbury team, and drawing heavily upon kitchen theatre. At its heart a theatrical restaurant show-kitchen enables diners to enjoy the spectacle of sophisticated Indian grills and different varieties of quality Indian and Pakistani cuisine in preparation. By the use of subtle and complex marinades they create distinctive dishes that are a delight of mingled flavours.

To match this modern approach the décor has been designed to respond in full, with a mix of traditional and contemporary design. The principal area is modern but with a rustic flavour of bare brick walls, chimney breast and fireplace. American walnut pillars contrast well with `cream leather seating.

A welcome innovation is the two Chef's Tables with a privileged view of the restaurant grill room, which between them can cater for groups of 8 covers. Three very core Indian grilling methods are used throughout; first the Tandoor, traditional Indian cooking done through a really hot clay oven, then the Sigri, a simple but effective method using a coal flame, and finally the impressive Tawa, where food is cooked or griddled on a hot, thick iron plate.

By now you may be asking whether the quality of the food matches that of the sense of theatre, to which the only real answer is, go and find out. But if you trust those who have, you will find no cause for hesitation. The menu offers around 16 starters, and whilst some of the respected dishes of long standing are there, look for the newcomers, the twists on old friends, and the inspirational, witness the Tandoori Portobello mushroom, marinated before being filled with figs, cashew nuts, raisins, green chilli and homemade cheese in a curry leaf dressing. It is often said the street food of India is amongst its best - test that statement with chowpatty Bhelpoori, vegetarian street food from Mumbai.

It is always fascinating to see the food of one country being adapted to the recipes of another, so why should we raise even so much as an eyebrow at wild rabbit leg Achari, cooked in pickling spices with missi roti and aubergine compote, never mind Peshwari lamb chops marinated with fresh ginger paste, raw papaya and specially selected herbs and spices. But my favourite comes from Rajasthan, the land of forts and palaces, where Tandoori Barbary duck breast is served with roasted tiger prawn in a tangy fresh salad, simple but inspired.

Dates and ginger naan, dhall Panchratan, a five-lentil mix of great charm, and exquisite lemon rice serve to bolster the principal courses, as if any were needed, but the biding memory is of the wonderful aromas that intertwine through the restaurant. It would be presumptuous to assume that the wine list in such a restaurant could be anything but sophisticated, and you'd be right. Light years ahead of any outdated assumptions that decent wines and Asian cuisine do not share the same aims, the wine list at Namaaste is a well annotated production that, whilst not lengthy, makes a strong case for the union at prices that only apply the rod in the Champagne area, and offer up towards a dozen by the glass.

The main bar has a feature wall of lights and stone slate to admire as you savour a cocktail before or after, and there is a good range of bar snacks and an all day dining menu. Absolutely no excuse at all for not paying an early visit to this increasingly popular Indian haven to high standards all round.

Check their Website for updated menus, offers and - yes, believe it or not - a takeaway menu. Lucky old Camden town!