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Located in Horner Lane at Old Spitalfields Market, this latest addition to the Fire & Stone portfolio brings "deliciously different pizzas" into the heart of the City of London. Whilst the regular inhabitants of the area may be having to work harder these days they still have to eat and Fire & Stone are part of the pattern that has seen some of London's finest restaurants moving into the City.

Some years ago I lunched at the Covent Garden Fire & Stone with a colleague and quickly realised that here was a restaurant that meant business. Their claim to be a 'hip' place to eat was no idle boast then, nor is it now. A simple but highly efficient service ensures that bookings can be made with ease wherever you are.

But should time be precious the Fire & Stone takeaway service will make the most of what little you have. The same care and attention that goes into their other menus is applied to the substantial takeaway version that draws on ideas from an international spectrum. If time is money Fire & Stone takeaways are on your side.

Frankly all this rushing about really isn't good for you. Give yourself a break at lunchtime and take a close look at the lunch meal deal. Book in advance and choose any pizza, pasta or salad from the set menu, currently for £4.95. Choose from amongst such delights as the Marrakech with cumin spiced ground lamb, mozzarella, mint yoghurt sauce, green olives, raisins and sliced onion drizzle with chilli oil, or the Acapulco with slow cooked ground chilli beef, Fire & Stone's tomato sauce, jalapenos, mozzarella, sliced red onions, topped with sour cream and guacamole.

For a modest extra indulgence there's the Peking, with Chinese Hoi Sin sauce, shredded aromatic duck, mozzarella and spring onions topped with cucumber ribbons, or you can go green with barrel aged feta, sliced red and green peppers, cucumber, jumbo green olives, red onion, oregano, vine tomatoes and red wine vinaigrette. From which you will note that Fire & Stone spare neither imagination nor scope.

On the main menu consider the myriad choices drawn from five continents preceded by starters that take in a range of dips, sharing boards, calamari, crispy wonton king prawns to name but a few. Their new thin bases still have the same great flavours, homemade sauces and chutneys that top the Original base, but are bigger and crisper. Salads of each and every sort abound. A range of toppings helps in adding individuality to your pizza or you may prefer to head for the pasta choices that include their renowned spicy sausage Rigatoni.

In these difficult times the number of special offers increases and Fire & Stone have that one taped too. Amongst them are the Pizza Passport, so that each time you buy one of their unique pizzas up to six you collect a stamp that then entitles you to your seventh pizza free The best way to keep abreast of these and other offers is to sign up for their Newsletter, or check up on their Website where offers like Friends Eat Free, 2 pizzas for £10, and Kids Eat Free, are frequently to be found.

You want to eat; Fire & Stone want to help you do that as economically and enjoyably as possible.  It's really that simple. Buon appetito!

Located in the heart of the Square Mile and only hundred yards from Bank tube station, Browns Old Jewry is one of the City's hidden treasures. Even though the restaurant has only been open since 1999, for many of its regular guests it seems impossible to think of a time when Browns in the City didn't exist.

Located just off Cheapside, Browns offers excellent wines, cocktails and delicious food all served by one of the friendliest and slickest front of house teams in London.

The large restaurant is located on two different floors with a mezzanine level catering perfectly for private parties and events. Browns Old Jewry has developed its fantastic reputation by making every guest feel welcomed and special, which is no mean feat when you see how busy it gets, particularly at lunchtime.

Browns is a classic English restaurant with a menu that evolves rather than changes. It offers a genuine value for money experience and can cater well for large parties with a more expansive budget. A plate of appetisers to share comes in either vegetarian, Italian meat or seafood form, or there are thin and crisp flatbreads topped with such delights as garlic, rocket and Parmesan. Starters cleverly re-invent some of the classic brasserie dishes; expect to find crab and avocado salad, ham hock terrine, and a fine selection of freshly made soups depending on the day.

Fish and salad dishes include Browns's smoked fishcakes witha tomato, red onion and mixed leaf salad with horseradish crème fraîche. A real value seafood platter will have smoked salmon, Browns crab mix, squid, kiln cured salmon, large shell-on tiger prawn and marinated king scallop assembled together served with brown bread and butter.

Browns's own steak, mushroom and Guinness pie is a real puller, with the rack of lamb not too far behind. Profiteroles with a warm Belgian chocolate sauce and sticky toffee pudding combine traditional with new classic, but the fact is that after years of experience in the field of what might be termed comfortable eating, Browns have it pretty well stitched up.

Evenings are a more relaxed affair as people enjoy a leisurely meal after work or before visiting one of the Barbican's theatres. The bar gets particularly busy early in the evening as office workers enjoy a beer, a glass of wine or a bottle of champagne from London's best value for money list.

Step into Browns for a relaxed weekday breakfast or brunch with newspapers, simple food and a well constructed Bloody Mary. And what a brunch it is! Fresh melon and pineapple with Greek style yogurt and blueberries, eggs Florentine, Royale or Benedict, the full English, champagne by the glass or smoothies, it's all there.

Private parties are especially well catered for with packages ranging from a full sit down dinner to a canapé and drinks event. Browns Old Jewry provides the perfect balance between the energy of London's West End and the refined sharp of the City.

For their full menu and details on private party bookings, do visit their Website.

Located at Exchange Place on Appold Street, The White Horse is minutes away from Moorgate Tube Station and Liverpool Street Rail Station. In the heart of London's financial district, and just a short walk from the Barbican Centre, The White Horse offers a cosy British pub ambience with a stylish blend of contemporary and rustic décor that mixes classic leather armchairs with rugged work benches. A secluded terrace is perfect for al fresco dining in warmer weather. Guests can select from an international cuisine menu which includes signature versions of classic pub favourites.
 
Breakfast is served Monday to Friday from 7.30 am and offers choice that ranges from continental pastries including croissant, pan au chocolate and muffins, or a more substantial bowl of Scotch porridge. Other choices include eggs Benedict, toasted crumpets with butter, and smoked salmon and scrambled egg on toast all accompanied by breakfast tea, cappuccino, espresso, hot chocolate or a range of soft drinks. For something more substantial try the Full City Breakfast.

A meal from the a la carte menu could begin with starters of smoked salmon served with artichoke salsa and brown bread; Cromer crab on toast with poached egg and horseradish hollandaise; or blue cheese and spinach tart with mixed leaves. Follow with main course of the White Horse cheese burger with hand cut chips and relish; pearl barley risotto with wild mushroom and pumpkin; roast salmon with herb crust, creamed leeks, cabbage and new potatoes or roast Norfolk chicken with warm salad of new potatoes and bacon. Don't miss perennial pub favourites of haddock and chips with mushy peas and tartare sauce, Cumberland sausages with mash and onion gravy, beef and Guinness pie with creamy mash and roast carrots and rib eye on the bone with béarnaise, bone marrow and hand cut chips.

The pub also serves a choice of sandwiches on crusty bloomer or wholemeal bread includes chicken and bacon, West Country cheddar cheese and Branston pickle and crayfish and prawn wrap with Marie Rose sauce. For a quick lunch try the plat rapides which offers two or three courses served together on one large slate such as the Fishmongers board which includes market fresh Valley farm smoked salmon, smoked mackerel pate, shell on prawns, home-made fish fingers and luxurious Jersey rock oysters.

Alternatively chill out at the smart bar with your favourite drink in hand and a range of tasty snacks such as pork pie, raw vegetables with flat bread and hummus, cold roast chicken, salt and pepper squid or artichokes on toast.

The globally representative wine list includes fine examples of champagne and sparkling, whites and reds including Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Le Coq Rouge, Terres du Sud Grenache, Côtes-du-Rhône and Veuve Clicquot. There's also a selection of real ales, bottled beers, spirits and liqueurs.

The White Horse is available for private hire, be it a wedding reception, birthday party or corporate event, on a Saturday or Sunday for up to 80 seated or 180 standing guests. It's also available for group dinners and drinks bookings Monday to Friday.

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

Adjacent and only fifty yards away from the ever growing Canary Wharf, Browns, West India Quay, has developed into the one of the Docklands most popular dining locations. Carrying on the tradition set by the company, Browns WIQ is located in a Grade II former sugar warehouse and next to one of London's most dramatic five star hotels, The Marriott, holding a truly unique position in this exhilarating part of London.

In the winter months the restaurant and downstairs bar offer a warming, familiar home for the workers and shoppers of Canary Wharf. The restaurant is also conveniently located next door to a multi-storey car park and a modern twelve screen cinema.

In the summer months Browns becomes The Wharf's largest outside restaurant with two stunning external patios with views of the quay-side and London's striking modern architecture. Continually full of workers having lunch, friends meeting for dinner or the Docklands' residents enjoying a glass of wine, Browns West India Quay is the place to meet.

Browns is a classic English restaurant with a menu that evolves rather than changes. It offers a genuine value for money experience and can also cater for large parties with a more expansive budget.

A plate of appetisers to share comes in either vegetarian or seafood antipasti form, or there are thin and crisp flatbreads topped with such delights as pulled pork and apple with a barbecue sauce, and garlic, rocket and Parmesan. Starters cleverly re-invent some of the classic brasserie dishes; expect to find crab and avocado salad, grilled oyster Florentine, pan-fried chicken livers with raspberries and freshly made soup of the day with crusty bread.

Fish and salad dishes include Browns smoked fishcakes with a tomato, red onion and mixed leaf salad served with horseradish crème fraîche. A fish and meat combination of char-grilled fillet steak or 28 day aged rib eye steak are accompanied by giant fresh water prawns. Browns' own steak, mushroom and Guinness pie is a real puller, with the calves liver and bacon not too far behind. Their fantastic selection of cheesecakes arrive in interesting flavours such as baked vanilla, strawberry, banoffee and rum and raisin, but the fact is that after years of experience in the field of what might be termed comfortable eating, Browns have it pretty well tied up. A separate private dining room and downstairs bar enables private events to be catered for in perfect surroundings for up to 200 people.

Step in to Browns for a relaxed Sunday brunch with newspapers, simple food and a well constructed Bloody Mary. Their afternoon tea is a real treat at any time, and two people can get into a friendly huddle over their Most Unusual version that introduces even more indulgence into the equation, including two large G and Ts.

There is a full wine, cocktail and Champagne list with the Champagnes being particularly well regarded for their sensible pricing. For further information, including their menu and details on private dining, do visit their Website.

Occupying a beautifully restored Victorian property, Bistro du Vin on St. John Street in Clerkenwell offers a modern British cuisine menu in spacious comfortable interiors. The first stand alone restaurant from the successful Hotel du Vin group, Bistro du Vin is the perfect venue for a business lunch or a more intimate evening meal. Just a short walk from the Barbican Centre, the restaurant is also close to well-known landmarks such as Smithfield Market and a short walk from Farringdon Rail Station.

The restaurant can accommodate up to 100 diners with an additional 45 at the Bubble Bar which is open all day and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bistro du Vin offers fresh home grown produce especially naturally reared and traditionally matured beef, pork and lamb from master butchers Donald Russell, organic shellfish from Maldon Oysters, high quality smoked salmon from Scotland, artisan bread from The Bread Factory and the best farmhouse artisan cheeses from La Cave à Fromage.

The à la carte begins with a 'raw and cured' selection which includes Cornish rock oysters served with natural, shallot vinegar or Tabasco; Forman's London smoked salmon with crème fraiche and pumpernickel and matured Iberico bellota ham. There's also starters of grilled Cornish mackerel with fennel, soy and lime dressing; ham hock with parsley terrine and sauce gribiche and shrimp and avocado cocktail salad.

For the main course you could choose wild fillet of bream with parsnip purée and caramelized garlic; roast wood pigeon with boudin noir and sauce bourguignonne or braised blade of beef, onion and garlic purée. The state-of-the-art Josper Grill offers succulent onglet steak frites, bone in sirloin and grilled lobster served with fat cut chips and garlic butter. Daily specials could include confit duck cassoulet, rabbit à la moutarde, beef stroganoff and salmon coulibiac.

A tempting dessert selection indulges the sweet tooth with strawberry vacherin sundae, Belgian waffle with fresh strawberries and Valrhona chocolate sauce or a lighter lemon, ricotta and pine nut tart. An artisan cheese and charcuterie plate could be an equally delicious alternative. Guests can sample cheeses in a cheese room before ordering their plate.

Bistro du Vin offers a comprehensive selection of 200 premium whites and reds from all round the world. A master sommelier is at hand to take you through the carefully compiled wine list. A 'wine by the glass card' allows you to sample as many wines as you would like before ordering a bottle. Wine tastings and wine dinners for connoisseurs are regular events here.

Diners can also refresh the palate with aperitifs of Rhubarb Kir, Miller's Gin and Tonic and Classic Bellini at the bar, which also stocks a selection of beers and spirits.

Bistro du Vin also offers well-appointed cosy private dining rooms that are perfect for a birthday party, family dinner or business meeting.

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

The Malmaison group of hotels has established throughout Britain a collection of centres of excellence where nothing but the best will do. As a concept alone this is exciting, but the reality is brilliant, so that at last there is a hotel group where uniformity of standards is of the same high calibre.

Hidden behind a Victorian-brick façade in the cobbled courtyard of leafy Charterhouse Square you will find the atmospheric Malmaison London. An oasis of calm in the heart of trendy Clerkenwell yet on the edge of the Square Mile and just minutes away from the Barbican and Smithfield Markets - the best of all worlds. Architecturally superb, in its past life it served as a nurses' residence for St Bartholomew's hospital. The bedrooms are all that one would expect from a hotel that has genuine regard for its guests and is concerned with every aspect of their wellbeing.

The hotel has ninety-seven elegant rooms and one suite, all of which are great for business trips or luxury weekend breaks. A calm yet fresh milieu is created by the understated décor of lilac, dove and earth fabric tones.

Amidst elegant surroundings, with crisp linen, spotless gleaming glassware and shining cutlery, an essentially brasserie menu is offered. The original vaults have been opened up to provide for intimate dining spaces, while cosy corners with plumped silk and velvet cushions create a warm relaxed environment.

Lovers of seafood will be delighted to note at once that their particular needs are well heeded, starting with a delightful mussel, leak and saffron tart or a smoked haddock fishcake. Other choices that seldom fail to please include treacle cured salmon, squid, clam, chorizo and chickpea salad, the assiette of charcuterie, and the chicken liver and foie gras parfait.

Head Chef John Woodward and his team bring to the table inspired choices such as the roast monkfish tail, and braised lamb neck fillet served with carrot puree, cabbage and salsa verde, for those seeking by this time a slightly more carnivorous approach. Which leads us neatly to the - wait for it - Mal burger, a 250 grams burger made from ground beef tucked into a floured bap to join bacon and gruyere, served with homemade relish and some fries.

Over the years the number of outriders surrounding a good honest steak on the plate has grown to unacceptable dimensions. At Malmaison the thought and care is centred on the 35 day aged rump steak frites and that's it - except for the chips. If you want all the rest go for the side dishes, but steak and chips on its own takes some beating. Vegetarians are well looked after - the sautéed wild mushroom and truffle risotto sounded appealing, and there is an excellent green salad as well.

Heading the puddings is the Malmaison vanilla crème brûlée, a triumph of timing and co-ordination, supported by other choices amongst which expect to find apricot and frangipane tart, chocolate fondant or a splendid crêpe suzette with Grand Marnier sauce.

Their wine list is a symphony of its kind, clearly compiled by an enthusiast who knows his wines well enough not to disappear into a world of hyperbole when describing them.

Their Website is a wealth of information that will, I predict, only serve to increase your resolve to make Malmaison your next stop in London. It is worth noting that you can also make reservations Online on their Website.

Luc's Brasserie does what generations of politicians have generally failed dismally to do, namely bring the English and the French together into close proximity - and smile. The location for this superb diplomatic achievement is none other than the historic and increasingly fashionable Leadenhall Market, in the City of London, with its picturesque cobbled walkways that have somehow miraculously survived the health and safety process, and its echoes of London past and present, now triumphantly joined at Luc's with Parisian chic.

One of the greatest achievements of the Leadenhall Market project lies within its creation of a classless zone where all sorts and conditions of people happily whoop it up, and it is into this scene that Luc's blends with precocious ease, offering food that is cosmopolitan and appealing. So the city slicker finds himself sitting next to the day visitor from Cheltenham, or the lonely émigré from La France itself, amidst a riot of simple wooden tables casually draped with spotless white cloth.

The décor is indiscreetly French, with a restaurant that seats 100, and an upstairs private dining room that accommodates another 30. To provide before and after space a long elegant bar is backed with a cluster of high tables at which solitary visitors to Luc's can cherish their isolation with a meal and a glass or three.

Chef and Partner, Darrin Jacobs, has produced a menu that signals yet another success for l'entente cordiale, starting with some bacon and potato rösti with poached egg and hollandaise, sautéed foie gras with caramelised apple, calvados, sauce liege and toasted brioche, or some escargots de Bourgogne. Grilled Dover sole offer at least a breath of L'Angleterre and the French attitude to matters of meat is well captured in the duck rillettes with red onion confiture.

Steaks feature strongly; all are served with oven dried tomato, frites and sauces au poivre or béarnaise. Chateaubriand for two invariably makes the best of the cut as well as rolling nicely off the tongue when ordering. Calves' liver Lyonnaise makes a welcome change from our often uninspired methods of making this nutritious meat appealing to a wider public.

The eponymous steak hache burger has all the appeal of a well prepared faggot combined with the flavours of well hung meat, served plain or with beef tomato, cos lettuce and dill pickle.

No French leaning menu is complete without a boeuf bourguignon, or bouillabaisse with rouille, gruyere and croutons, and of course the French are always much more adventurous in their approach to bucolic meat such as wood pigeon, served here with braised endive and wild cherry sauce.

Desserts offer profiteroles with Luc's white chocolate ice cream, tarte au citron, mousse au chocolat and, of course, crème brûlée.

A wine list that leans exclusively towards the Gallic mode should come as no surprise, nor indeed as a disappointment bearing in mind the quality of the 100 plus wines from which to choose. Their Website is well worth a click to find out more about special offers and opportunities for private functions in this central City location.

A glamourous venue in the heart of London's Canary Wharf, Boisdale offers guests a unique dining experience. Its capacious interiors, which can seat 200 guests, has a vibrant colour scheme of lacquer red and dark green walls with rich mahogany paneling, tartan upholstery and original art work adding to the stylish, sophisticated ambience. The delicious modern British menu features a range of expertly chosen Scottish specialities including Aberdeenshire beef, Hebridean shellfish and Scottish smoked salmon.

The restaurant - housed on the second floor of an Art Deco influenced city block - overlooks Canary Wharf's Cabot Square, offering fine views of the River Thames and the city skyline beyond. Live music creates a buzz with a host of jazz, soul and blues numbers from a host of leading musicians. The space inside is supplemented by a covered and heated Cigar Terrace where diners can light up their favourite cigars while relaxing in comfortable tartan upholstered armchairs and sofas. Cigar lovers can replenish their stock from the restaurant's Cuban Library and Shop which features some of the finest Cuban brands sourced from Hunters & Frankau and C.Gars.

You could also chill out at the art deco-styled Caviar and Oyster Bar, sampling a delicious range of seafood including Rossmore and Colchester rock oysters, cold poached lobster, West Coast Scottish langoustines, Atlantic prawns and Morecombe Bay potted shrimps. The superb caviar selection offers Golden Almas, Imperial Beluga, Classic Oscietra and Royal Salmon for the connoisseur. 

The à la carte menu offers tempting starter dishes such as Aberdeenshire chopped steak tartare with Melba toast, Dunkeld Scottish smoked salmon with a shallot and caper relish and ballotine of guinea fowl and Yorkshire pigeon. A substantial main course could include steak, onion and kidney pudding with poached rock oysters, Wicks Manor pot-roast pork belly and pigs cheeks served with Herefordshire cider, pickled radishes and Ayrshire bacon or Cornish black bream accompanied by watercress risotto, mussels and clams. Your choice of a range of 28-day aged Aberdeenshire steaks served with option of béarnaise sauce, garlic roasted field mushrooms or Rossinni seared foie gras could be equally tempting.

Scrumptious desserts of chilled bread and butter pudding brulée rich with sultanas soaked in Glenfiddich 15-year and served with apricot jelly, Valhrona chocolate cheesecake with ginger biscuits and crème fraîche or crème caramel paired with Chantilly and almond tuile round the meal off in style.

The restaurant's stunning Whisky Bar an unrivalled glowing amber display of a thousand bottles of the finest Scottish malts, ranging from rare gems such as Macallan 1937 and Macallan 1946 to fine varieties like Highland 1968, a 40-year old Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie Traditional, an 18-year old Aberlour and Islay Mist, as well as an extensive range of whiskies from Ireland, the United States, Japan, Wales and India.

The wine list offers a fine selection, with an emphasis on French wines as well as carefully chosen examples from South Africa, Chile and Portugal sprinkled amongst them including Symposium Blanc, Welmoed Chardonnay 2010, Sancerre Rose 2008 Cotes du Rhone 2007 and a rare Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 1998.

Boisdale's four elegantly appointed private dining rooms, on the second floor, are perfect for that exclusive party, important business meeting or brainstorming working lunch you might have in mind.

For more information, do visit their Website.

Boisdale of Bishopsgate opened in The City of London in June 2002, the establishment, formerly home to Bill Bentley's, reflects the eclectic and idiosyncratic atmosphere of the restaurant and bars in Belgravia, it has been decorated and furnished in Boisdale's end of Empire style. The dark reds and greens will remind visitors of Belgravia, as will the display of Boisdale's extensive collection of paintings and objets d'art - providing a clubbable environment within the territory of Mammon.

The ground floor Champagne and Oyster Bar is furnished with leather, marble, old oak and mirrors and provides an excellent watering hole for the cognoscenti. Downstairs is a Restaurant for formal dining, with crisp linen place settings and a subtle hint of tartan.

The McGonagall Room is popular with discreet diners, seating up to forty two guests in rare seclusion, whilst other booths are available for those private business discussions. The traditional Piano Bar, hung with a fine collection of antique bonds and share certificates, offers classic cocktails from the jazz era.

The Head Chef at Boisdale of Bishopsgate is Neil Churchill, who offers a blend of traditional and modern British cooking, with ingredients sourced directly from Scotland, including haggis, salmon, game, lobster, shellfish and cheese.

Who could fail to be tempted by first courses such as Atlantic prawn cocktail with green harissa mayonnaise and salted lime; smoked ham hock, wild mushroom and potato roulade, spiced cranberry and redcurrant relish; Loch Carnan hot smoked salmon with new potato salad and horseradish cream, or glazed shallot and Bosworth Leaf goats? cheese tartlet?

That could be followed by the very best grass-fed Aberdeenshire beef from Aubrey Allen, dry aged for flavour with a choice of sauces from Béarnaise to green peppercorn, or, if you prefer fish, there is a selection of dishes, while vegetarians are also catered for.

All of Boisdale of Bishopsgate's facilities are available for private parties and corporate functions - particularly at weekends when large gatherings can be accommodated, at exceptionally reasonable prices. There's live jazz each evening from 6.00 - 9.00pm at the Piano Bar.

Whilst Boisdale does not set out be a cheap restaurant, they do offer good value set menus at both lunch and dinner, with more information available on their Website.

The neo-classical interior is graced by domed skylights by Pietro Agostini and curving banquettes provide a particularly plush surface for the hind quarters of the well heeled. What better place than to regale ones self with a big boy's lunch whilst taking a short break on a hard day making money?

The full à la carte does not stay still for long but expect to find dishes along the lines of starters of carpaccio of tuna, oriental spices and toasted sesame seeds, radish, ginger and lime vinaigrette, or salad of Cornish crab and avocado with brown crab meat, herb mayonnaise, lemon oil and bloody Mary sorbet. However, the scallops 'mid cuit' with citrus and tarragon, virgin olive oil, liquorice and fennel will bring a quiet smile of delight to the connoisseur.

From the main fish courses the seared sea bass with fennel seeds, Provençal vegetables, basil mash and warm saffron and tomato vinaigrette is a rare treat, whilst amongst the meat and poultry the limousin veal fillet comes to table with sweetbreads and asparagus Chablis and sorrel velouté puff pastry.

From an impressive list of puddings keep a lookout for a chocolate, whisky and coffee praline lombardo. There's also a feuillantine of caramelised Granny Smith and Guinness ice cream topped off deliciously with glazed hazelnuts. A wine list that is impressive in its scope includes legendary names and years.

1 Lombard Street - The Brasserie and Restaurant are bookable online, please use the drop-down booking box to bring up Brasserie in it; be careful to use Restaurant if you want to book that.

Their Website is well worth visiting as a prelude to the real thing.