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hand picked restaurants

With the sort of publicity that Fifteen has received, it is no wonder that the place is packed to the roof. It is the brainchild of Jamie Oliver and he is to be commended over this project, as he has taken fifteen unemployed youngsters and turned them into chefs - with every part of the painful process exposed to the world on TV - and sunk his own money into the venture with all the profits going to charity.

As might be expected from him, the menu concentrates on simplicity with good quality ingredients and strong flavours, so risotto alle fragole - strawberry, chicken stock and parmesan with aged Belazu balsamic - and slow-roasted belly of Dalgarnock pork with dressed cannelloni beans, chard, pistachio and anchovy dressing make an appearance. To finish it could be a raspberry crème brûlée with homemade biscotti.

Fifteen Trattoria is located on the ground floor and its rustic, relaxed feel attracts lovers of serious Italian food.

Alounak is not only one of the few places serving genuine Persian/Iranian food in London, but it is also distinguished by the superb quality of its dishes, and the cheapness of its prices; and, for those of you who like a drink with your meal, it is not licensed, so you can bring your own and not be charged for it.

Whilst slightly gaudy in appearance, but probably authentically so, it offers a series of dishes that more than satisfy the most demanding of taste buds, with food that is bursting with flavour.

For the hungry, they offer an amazing combination starter: Mirza Ghassemi, char grilled aubergine, fried onion, garlic and tomato, Homos (yet another spelling of hummus!), Salad Olivieh, diced chicken breast, potatoes, boiled egg, pickled cucumber, garden peas, mayonnaise and olive oil, and lastly Halim Bademjan, mashed char grilled aubergine, fried onions, herbs, garlic, butter beans, walnuts and kashk.

However, you must order a portion of Taftoon bread to go with it; no worry though as that is only a small additional charge and you can watch it being baked in seconds in front of you in a most colourful style of tandoor oven.

Wonderful mains run from marinated baby chicken served with rice or bread or salad to a range of kebabs with both fish or meat and even a whole sea bass; all their prices represent fantastic value for a Central London restaurant. Do accompany either the starters or the main courses with some Mast-O-Maasir, chopped shallots (wild garlic) mixed with homemade yoghurt.

Finally be amazed that - though they add on a 10%, and well deserved it is as the waitresses are delightful and most helpful, service charge - the bill is extremely unlikely to be more than £25 a head.

They have another, but rather smaller, branch in Westbourne Grove.

This unique and authentic restaurant, part of the Made in Italy Restaurant Group, is very close to the famous Portobello Road, and has finally brought tasty, authentic pizzas to Notting Hill as well as a friendly Italian atmosphere, ideal for an intimate dinners as well as great parties.

A shot of espresso served with hazelnut sauce and topped with whipped cream has the makings of a perfect, lazy mid-morning sojourn while a mixed plate of Parma ham, salami Milano, roasted ham, buffalo mozzarella, rocket, grilled Mediterranean vegetables, bruschetta and marinated olives could be ideal for an unusual fresh and balanced meal. Pizza lovers will find a wood-fire oven and will have numerous options with the likes of Italian sausage, pepperoni, rocket and pancetta or an intriguing pizza with half topped by mozzarella and roasted ham and the other half with mozzarella, tomato sauce and mushrooms; ordering their famous pizza metro - pizza by the metre - will bring a new way to party and share the fun.

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.

This informal and highly friendly Vietnamese café offers an authentic menu commencing with appetisers such as Vietnamese pancakes and spring rolls. Starters can then be followed by a huge array of main courses or one-plate meals that make for easy ordering. The best of the menu includes pho chicken soup and the wonderfully aromatic lemongrass chicken. The great food and down to earth prices make Viet-Anh an affordable lunchtime spot, as well as a great choice for a cheap night out.