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Serving modern Lebanese food with flair, LayaLina on Beauchamp Place in the heart of fashionable Knightsbridge delights the palate as well as the senses with a vibrant ambience. Just a stone's throw from Harrods, Layalina is open every day of the week from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., evenings here come alive with music and belly dancing, reflecting the typical verve and zest of traditional Lebanese culture.

The restaurant's executive head chef Joseph Chahine comes with nearly thirty years of experience and is highly acclaimed for his culinary skills. His extensive menu delivers a flavourful variety of dishes combining creativity with traditional culinary techniques. The mezze selection includes cold, hot and tartar dishes with choices of hummus, tabouleh, stuffed vine leaves, prime fish fillet topped with herbs and pine nuts and served with a spicy tomato salsa, crispy cheese filo and kafta nayeh - a traditional dish of minced lamb tartar mixed with parsley, onion and fresh spices.

A delicious beginning to the meal is followed by sumptuous vegetarian, fish, chicken or lamb main courses. Vegetarian options include artichoke heart stew of grilled artichoke, flavoured with olive oil, spinach mushroom, white cheese, onion and garlic. While fish dishes include roast fish, a classic Lebanese fisherman?s dish with prime fish-of-the-day served on a bed of seasoned rice with a fragrant glaze. Meat dishes include the house speciality of LayaLina lamb, slow cooked fall-of-the-bone lamb leg served with mushroom and rice of the day, or chicken taouk - a traditional  shish kebab of marinated chicken pieces, char grilled and served with roasted vegetables and garlic sauce could be equally satisfying.
 
No Lebanese meal is complete without a salad and choices here include fatoush, a mixed leaf salad with tomatoes, sumac, cucumber and roasted bread croutons, or a seafood salad with prawns, pickled calamari, anchovy fillets, mixed leaves and tomatoes, flavoured with green sauce, cheese and virgin olive and garnished with roast almonds. Other options include a rustic village salad of cheese, tomatoes and black olives or chicken salad of grilled chicken marinated with garlic, lemon and red capsicum, served on tossed green leaves with cucumber, onion and tomatoes.

The grilled selection offers marinated lamb cutlets with bouquet of wild herbs and mustard served with Lebanese couscous, or succulent fillet steak, and seasoned beef fillet grilled and served with mushroom sauce on a bed of asparagus, vegetables and flavoured rice. Sides of traditional bread, steamed rice cooked with minced lamb onions, pine nuts and Arabian spices, and thick cut potato chips served with homemade salsa or Lebanese pickles complement your main course dish.

Elaborate confections of baked fresh pears served with ice cream and mohalabiyah, cheese honey - a dessert dish of steamed cheese with semolina and honey, topped with ashta and syrup and sprinkled with crushed pistachio, and aish al saraya, homemade crispy dough cooked with honey, topped with cheese, banana and pistachio make for tempting desserts. Guests can savour a range of champagnes and cocktails in the trendy lounge bar and sample a variety of fine wines too. 

A two-course lunch menu comes with a complimentary glass of house wine. Sharing set menus are available too. LayaLina offers a takeaway menu and home delivery as well for the convenience of its patrons.

Guests can also chill out at LayaLina Privée, a late night cocktail lounge adjoining the restaurant. Stylish contemporary interiors with individual touches provide the perfect setting for Knightsbridge denizens and out-of-towners to relax and unwind in comfort while enjoying a range of exotic signature and classic cocktails. A main room and a VIP room can be booked for private parties with up to 150 people.

More information is available on their Website.

Located but a few stones' throws from the austere portals of Royal London, The Phoenix is well able to offer its own architectural dignity to the scene, spread over an impressive three storey building, with an exterior appearance that positively insists on closer inspection from within.

An open kitchen in the bar gives a challenging touch to the conventional British pub concept, with high wooden tables and large restful sofas adding to the elegance of a stylish interior.

Part of a small group of mainly former public houses that have been skilfully converted into modern premises which retain more than a breath of their colourful past, The Phoenix offers swift service to the local business community during the day, replaced with a more relaxed approach in the evening.

Head Chef Mihad Lawal works from a menu that concentrates on the familiar, with starters, for instance, of chicken and chorizo skewers with roasted pepper herb dressing, tiger prawns and pumpkin rice with sweet chilli and garlic sauce, and stuffed roast pepper with spinach, mushrooms and Roussas feta. Main might include pan fried duck breast and compote of duck leg with sweet potatoes cake and chilli jam sauce; pan fried scallops wrapped in speck, served with sautéed Savoy cabbage and crispy bacon.

Cumberland sausage is served with spring onion mash and tomato chutney, offering a humbler alternative to the confit duck leg with sweet potato chips and sweet chilli sauce. For pasta lovers there could be penne with wild mushroom, cherry tomatoes and sweet basil pesto. Puddings follow much the same pattern, with an apple and rhubarb crumble with custard competing with chocolate fondant, tiramisu, and crème brûlée or banoffee pie.

The express lunch service offers a novel approach to a daily concern, served on a slate with sliced smoked salmon with beetroot and apple salsa on Norfolk crunch slice, or pot roasted British lamb shank with buttered mash and seasonal vegetables. Those who have a little time to spare are welcome to design their own dish at the salad bar or choose from the menu for snacks and heartily portioned meals.

Their excellent Website should prove to be a helpful source for further information, and also for obtaining details on the other outlets in the Geronimo Inns chain, all of which bring a new breath to this welcome hybrid of the 21st century.

Situated in the heart of the West End, minutes from Covent Garden and Charing Cross underground station, this contemporary yet comfortable central London hotel can serve as your gateway to London's best. Housed within is Johnstons Brasserie, a stylish, open-plan restaurant, with Mediterranean tones and décor, which is perfect for all occasions - a quick snack with friends before a show, a casual business dinner, or a candlelit romantic supper for two. Guests can also enjoy afternoon tea with a selection of various coffees, teas, scones, sandwiches and cakes.

For light bites before a show order king prawn salad with a chilli dressing and homemade ravioli with wild mushroom and asparagus. The main course section of the menu contains options for meat eaters as well as vegetarians and includes pan fried corn fed chicken breast and salmon, cod and haddock fish cake. For dessert explore choices such as apple cinnamon and sultana crumble and a delightfully fresh vanilla crème brûlée.

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

High above Piccadilly, The Terrace Restaurant is one of the roomiest venues in London; with its vented natural sunlight captured in the shadows of the stone pillars, it boasts a blend of old and new world within its classical yet contemporary surroundings. Compared to the bustling West End below, the restaurant offers a relaxed and refined dining experience.

Alternatively, if you prefer a chic slice of a Venetian 'al fresco', lunch can be served on the balcony.

They describe their menus as, 'Being modern European with a cool fashionable twist, serving food which is mouth watering and sumptuous - satisfying the ultimate connoisseur'.

Particularly good value - especially for a top hotel restaurant in London - is represented by their fixed price menus at £17.95 for lunch for three courses and £27.95 menu served for pre-theatre.

The menus are seasonal and during a summer visit be prepared to find starters ranging from curried scallops with cauliflower purée and crisp pancetta, ham hock terrine with gooseberry relish, or smoked duck breast with spiced orange marmalade.

This imaginative and diverse approach continues through to the main courses from organic Scottish salmon with sautéed wild mushrooms and celeriac purée, pan fried sea bass with tomato fondue and gremolata dressing to roast fillet of beef, marrow bone, camembert fondant with red wine shallots.

Their pan fried Guinea fowl breast with fricassee of peas, pearl onions and lettuce served with barrel new potatoes and crème fraiche mustard sauce make a luxurious meal for a truly indulgent dining experience.

Diners could, perhaps, enjoy a comfortable aperitif or digestif in the Bar lounge area, before or after dinner, with a wide range of wines and champagnes to choose from.

Their afternoon tea can be similarly meaningful as you enjoy 'Tea on the Terrace', this is an experience that is all too rare in London these days.

For further details, including information about staying at Le Meridien Piccadilly or holding private parties and conferences there, do visit their Website.

Signor Sassi, in London's fashionable Knightsbridge, is one of a dying breed, as once upon a time London had masses of cheerful, bright, friendly Italian trattorias, where you could always be assured of a warm welcome, assiduous service and interesting food. There was the Mario and Franco chain that set the trend, and San Frediano in the Fulham Road, where the inimitable Franco, the finest host in London, who had an encyclopaedic knowledge of names and faces, ran a superb place.

Sadly there seem to be few good ones left, however, that was until a rejuvenated Signor Sassi came into the picture; for many years the former owner Mario held sway there, until he sold it to Carlo Distefano, who has transformed its rather tired image and décor, improved the food, with a fish selection that would put many a seafood restaurant to shame, and generally brought back some of the charm that was missing.

Managers Donato and Jo greet their many regular customers in a truly Italian manner, immediately you know that you are going to enjoy the whole experience, as it runs the gamut, with the occasional singing waiter, and the fake cappuccino coffee cup trick, through to an outstanding menu with some old favourites and many more modern touches.

There is a £2 cover charge, this may seem steep, but you will change your mind when you see what you get for it, a bowl of wonderful olives, a selection of breads, bruschetta with tomatoes and shavings of a good quality parmesan cheese, almost a meal in itself.

A starter of cured slice of beef may catch your attention, though seared tuna with sautéed fennel and citrus dressing runs it close as an alternative, it is finely chopped, and beautifully presented with rocket and topped with shavings of parmesan, olive oil and lemon juice. Follow on with a baked rack of lamb with Chianti and mixed herbs or whole lobster with brandy, béchamel, shallots, English mustard and cheese.

The food is presented with style and standards are high throughout for a neighbourhood Italian restaurant, while the wine list is enterprising, fairly short, but with a good choice between £20 and £30 a bottle, including most of the usual culprits, Verdicchio, Orvieto, Pinot Grigio, Frascati in the whites and a decent selection of reds also.

So there is much to recommend about Signor Sassi, if you want to enjoy a lively evening out with genuine Italian hospitality at its best, combined with cooking of real quality, and leave feeling pampered and full, it should be the perfect choice for you. Their Website should inspire you to venture in their direction.

The British love affair with French cuisine rolls on and all over the country pockets of Gallic expertise pander to this national inclination. The Little French Restaurant, tucked into one of the more civilised and quieter corners of Earl's Court, takes a leading role in perpetuating our adoration of not only the cooking abilities of the French, but perhaps just as importantly their philosophy regarding this highly rated pastime, occasionally cloaked beneath the mantle of necessity.

Given that the entente cordiale is not always the uppermost thought in the minds of the collective British, this is an enormous tribute to the culinary abilities of a race that are characterised by such daily icons as garlic, the whiff of Gauloises, romance and inscrutable politics.

Half the battle in any French restaurant so impudent as to establish itself in a foreign field is to get the décor right. Thoughts of impressionist art, pewter bars, red velvet and dangerously ponderous sparkling chandeliers and a general air of controlled decadence come to mind, and on at least some of these matters The Little French restaurant ticks the box.

But of course, when the chips are down, it is the food and drink that make the pace, so let's start with the wine list. Having perhaps visited their website beforehand you will have noted that the most expensive bottle of wine does not even reach the £25 mark. This, from one of the most respected wine producing countries in the world, may well have surprised and a Crozes Hermitage at £22.95 does not disappoint. As ever an exception is made for the Lanson champagne which does cross the threshold, but wait - the house champagne at £22.95 is most certainly not to be overlooked.

Lunch time in Earl's Court makes the middle of the Sahara look overpopulated and the three course meal on offer at £9.95 is therefore offered at both lunchtime and in the evenings, making it incredibly sound value. With a choice of nine dishes each from the starters and main course the eye catches a traditional start with French onion soup, vichyssoise, corn and crab French potage with scent of fresh parsley, springs, thyme, shallots and black pepper, or tartare of marinated wild salmon with cucumber salad.

Main courses weigh in with coq au vin d'Alsace done the French way in a pot, before even considering the lamb Wellington, hardly an item one expects to find in a French restaurant, but never mind all that was a long time ago. A return to patriotism is signalled by the arrival of the cod à la Provençale, but let nobody ignore the canard Josephine, tender breast of duck, marinated in Asian spices, grilled and served with sauce bigarade.

Desserts such as French apple tart, or crème caramel lead the satisfied diner to a graceful completion before coffee is served and the relative merits of a single malt or an excellent brandy become a talking point.

The Little French Restaurant lives up amply to its name and has all the necessary accoutrements to ensure its neighbourhood status. Do check on its Website for further information and evidence that it is in tune with then spirit of the times.

Located at the St. James end of Jermyn Street, Franco's has been serving the local community, from early morning to late night, for over 60 years. Surrounded by private clubs, lifestyle boutiques, art galleries and hotels, this restaurant has amassed a remarkable customer base who are impressed with the team's relaxed, friendly approach and attention to detail.

The interior is stylishly decorated with a 1940s theme with walls adorned with attractive modern paintings and mirrors creating a luxurious appearance that is comfortably reassuring. Part of the Hambro family portfolio, Franco's is a reliable favourite, its character evolves throughout the day from the early morning breakfast, to the charged lunches and romantic candle lit dinners in the evening; an all day operation that is perfectly tuned.

The menu has been developed by the Head Chef Paulo Parlanti and combines both traditional and modern dishes. Only the very best seasonal ingredients are often flown in from Italy to ensure that the food is not only authentic but wonderfully flavoursome.

Whether it's a strong coffee and warm croissant before work or a hearty cooked breakfast, Franco's is the perfect setting for all those that prefer an early rise. The outside tables provide an excellent opportunity to watch the world go by whilst being warmed by the heaters. The menu comprises of old favourites such as eggs Benedict, as well as Franco's complete breakfast; a combination of both cooked and continental elements. For those more formal business meetings the smaller private dining room is an ideal space if privacy is required.

The lunches attract regulars and locals alike. Those who require a speedy meal generally head to the main restaurant to be part of the buzzing atmosphere, whilst those who prefer a more leisurely affair, head downstairs to the quieter and more relaxed ambience of the mirrored room. On the à la carte starters such as pan fried scallops with mustard, pear purée and beetroot or white crab meat with tomato and avocado purée can be found along with mains of roast duck breast with braised onion and mustard fruit chutney and a vast selection of quality cuts from the grill. Alternatively the splendid set lunch, that offers a choice of 2, 3 and 4 courses, pinches less in the current climate.

For the serious shoppers who have skipped lunch or those who are in search of a decadent treat, Franco's has introduced a full Afternoon Tea Menu with scones, clotted cream and finger sandwiches. In comparison with those offered by other establishments, who shall remain nameless, it is truly a steal. As evening falls, the lights of the West End beam and attract many to the theatre menu, which is probably the best value of the day, with a collaboration of dishes from the lunch and dinner menus. By dinner Franco's has changed gear again and offers an impressive range of classic dishes with asparagus salad with poached egg and black truffle, sliced Parma ham with marinated artichoke, followed by grilled king prawns with cherry tomatoes, capers and mixed leaves.

The wine list has been expertly devised to include a selection that is understandably of 80% Italian origin. Every year Franco's hosts Europe's largest Rose Wine list featuring wines from around the world. Whatever the grape variety you prefer there will be something for you!

From intimate dinners, or lavish banquets to cocktail receptions and product launches the private dining room is exceptionally versatile and can be transformed for any occasion. The space can hold up to 60 guests seated and can also be divided for smaller functions to allow an area for pre-dinner drinks or a break out space.

As Time Out magazine explains 'Franco's succeeds...by getting dozens of small details exactly right'. Their Website will tell you more.

Whether you are in search of fine ales, weekly quizzes and live sport, or some good old banter and a bite to eat with friends, The Curtains Up can offer an ideal spot for you. Both daily specials and hearty British favourites come together to form the delicious menu which is served from midday until 3pm and in the evening, with longer hours at the weekend. 

If you're not feeling too hungry, a simple eggs Benedict or fish finger sandwich could do the trick but equally you could rise to the challenge of a rib-eye steak or a char-grilled beef burger. If you fancy a traditional meal then try collar of bacon with carrots and champ, or beer battered fish and chips with tartare sauce and mushy peas. If you still have room try the summer pudding, or Swayledale, blacksticks blue, and coloomey camembert.

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

Located on Dean Street, in the heart of London's vibrant Soho, Cay Tre offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine in a stylish contemporary setting. Just a short walk from Oxford Street, the restaurant is the perfect spot for a leisurely lunch after a shopping expedition, and with Theatreland on the doorstep Cay Tre is ideally located for a pre-theatre dinner before taking in a performance in the West End.
 
The varied menu uses British produce wherever possible as well as authentic Vietnamese ingredients and offers a selection of delicious small plates, wraps and rolls, salads, noodle bowls and rice plates, pho dishes and mains. Whether it's small plates of grilled aubergine topped with brown shrimps, crabmeat and scallions; lemongrass skewered rib-eye beef served with fermented soy sauce or delicious rolls of wild shrimp, white crabmeat or crispy pork, each dish combines an array of delicious flavours.
 
A hearty dish of lemongrass marinated pork loin with rice vermicelli, crispy pork spring rolls, daikon and herbs or a Tiu Bowl with chicken, beef, charsiu pork and pho noodles in a tangy sour sauce is a meal in itself. A spicy pho dish of Hanoi Pho, a modern version of pho with flash-fried hanger steak and roasted garlic could be equally satisfying.
 
Mouth watering mains include roast baby chicken marinated in honey, five spice and dried Vietnamese herbs; claypot simmered Mekong catfish caramelised in anchovy fish sauce and roast Tamworth pork belly stuffed with sweet curry leaves from northern Vietnam, honey and lemon roasted and served with dried shrimp chilli oil.
 
Tasting menus for a minimum of two people have to be ordered 48 hours in advance and includes platters of stewed mallard, BBQ wild boar and lemongrass salt baked sea bream as well as whole suckling pig, lobster curry, roast guinea fowl and steamed sea bass. Set lunch and takeaway menus are also available.
 
An expertly compiled wine list offers a global selection of whites and reds that complements the food perfectly.

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

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!