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hand picked restaurants

Restaurants like The Modern Pantry are reviving fusion food with exciting precision and this delightful Clerkenwell establishment is well on its way to fame and popularity despite being a relatively recent entrant on the London dining scene. There's a cafe on the ground floor offering an informal setup for breakfast, lunch or dinner, meanwhile above that there are two elegant and airy dining rooms, perfect for the more serious pursuit of culinary pleasure.

Look for the sugar cured prawn omelette with spring onion, coriander and smoked chilli sambal amongst the starters. Follow this with a main course of grilled spatchcocked poussin marinated in preserved lemon, smoked paprika and cumin and served with grilled aubergine, cherry tomato, basil salad and tahini cream, which offers a Mediterranean twist. Desserts hit the right note with chocolate mousse topped with vanilla and lavender cream and served with pistachio shortbread. The wine list at The Modern Pantry is a carefully compiled selection that complements the food perfectly.

Located in Wilson Street, Bangers is one of the more traditional Davy's venues. A sprawling wine bar with a 90-seat dining room, this is where City folk can unwind in comfort in its casual laidback ambience while dining from a traditional British menu.

Guests can expect to put away large portions of perennial favourites like Cumberland sausages with mashed potatoes and onion gravy as well as some fine selections of char grilled steaks including the house speciality - 21-day aged hand trimmed sirloin. Dishes such as chicken liver pâté, marinated herring fillets, grilled Gressingham duck breast and premium bone-in rib of beef also find a place on the menu. At the bar, munch on a range of snacks and hot and cold sandwiches in the company of your favourite potion. Finish with treacle tart, Welsh rarebit or the superb cheese board. A large cellar is well stocked with some unique wines from around the world as well as fruity cask conditioned ales such as Davy's Old Wallop and seasonal draught ales like Guinness and Asahi.

El Paso is a Hoxton favourite when it comes to tantalising Tex-Mex cuisine and wicked cocktails, and in the past ten years or so, it has slowly established itself as a chilled out destination for those looking out for a good time. Relax in the laid back atmosphere with friends over a tasty meal or head out for after work drinks with colleagues and let yourself unwind in the glitzy ambience of this restaurant.

Consider the fiery beef chilli topped with sour cream and pico de gallo served with corn tortilla chips for a starter and move on to slow oven cooked pork ribs in homemade herb barbecue sauce served with fries or baked potato and coleslaw. There's also a tender tuna steak served over lettuce, tomato, cucumber and avocado in a crispy flour tortilla shell if you prefer dishes from Mexico. Don't miss the list of amazing cocktails and shooters, ranging from the classic margarita to the thrilling flat liner.

The Japanese Canteen is unapologetic about its straightforward ambience that is also devoid of music, but then their only aim is to make sure you come back for their tasty food or take some away to eat in the comfort of your home. This simple but smart establishment is focussed on providing traditional Japanese dishes to its patrons who are drawn by the delicious noodle soups, curries, salads and dumplings prepared fresh using authentic ingredients.

Enjoy dishes such as chicken katsu curry or salmon teriyaki served with rice or try the stir fried noodles with beef, fresh vegetables and udon noodles. There's a superb fried rice, spiked with sesame chilli oil and layered with chicken. Noodle soups such as the duck ramen are popular and they come in a choice of three stocks, clear with soy sauce, miso or spicy coconut and lemon grass. Sushi at the Japanese Canteen is a delectable option, arriving in sets of four or six pieces of maki, nigiri or sashimi.

Canary Wharf regulars find Brodie's irresistible. One reason for this could be that the stylish and conceptual bar at the foot of the main Canary Wharf Tower is a haven of sorts for those looking to enjoy a simple but tasty meal with friends as they relax in the intimate and elegant dining space. Summer months find the extensive outside terrace, offering a view of the water, scattered with casual diners who can't seem to get enough of the delicious nibbles and sandwiches on offer.

The food is traditionally British, featuring popular favourites such as battered calamari with lime and coriander dripping sauce or char grilled sausages with tomato sauce mustard dip. Sharing platters, such as the Mexican Dipping Feast, chicken and chilli quesadilla served with salsa sour cream, guacamole and tortilla chips, are also popular while a main course of homemade beef burger with mixed leaves and chunky chips is excellent. The wine selection is extensive, featuring vintages alongside classy newcomers while beers, ciders and cocktails contain some splendid choices.

The Lane Bar effectively brings the west and chic to the bohemian surrounding of Brick Lane and its elegant interior is marked by tiled floorings, teak furnishings, huge glass windows and big soft sofas systematic arranged.

The Lane is a vibrant and sophisticated lounge bar that serves Pan Asian cuisine with occasional influences from the European cooking creeping in the well devised menu. You could begin with prawn wantons, onion rings or jalapeno poppers or choose from the traditional light fillers that include penne bolognaise and jacket potato with smoked salmon. For main course consider braised lamb shank and rib eye steak with shallot butter. Desserts such as cheesecake topped with seasonal fruit and tiramisu can end the gastronomic experience on a sweet note.

An interesting range of unique cocktails are to hand at The Lane Bar apart from regular martinis and margaritas.

A spacious and bright contemporary style interior with a 200-seat capacity defines Clifton, a Bangladeshi and Indian cuisine restaurant. It occupies a prime location in the corner of Whitechapel Road and Osborne Street leading to Brick Lane. An open kitchen allows diners an inside look.

Bangladeshi specialities served at Clifton include chicken koftas in a spicy sour sauce, Bay of Bengal tiger king prawns tossed with butter and garlic and whole tandoori baked spring chicken stuffed with spinach and cheese. Standard Indian fare offered here consists of dishes like spicy prawn vindaloo, Goan chicken curry, mild chicken korma, lamb dopiaza, grill fish tikka, grill duck tikka, sheekh kebab, prawn puri, spinach paneer roll and cauliflower pakora. Bengal fish grill made with a fresh water fish marinated in a special spicy sauce is a new addition. A selection of Balti, Sylheti and Pakistani dishes adds to the variety. Sundries such as pappadoms, pickles, chutneys and cucumber raita accompany the meal.

Hubbub is a smart and contemporary cafe and bar in the Docklands area on Westferry Road, which has been serving a range of delicious food and drink to its loyal customers for some ten years now. This is a comfy space with low level seating, squashy sofas to lounge in and wooden floors that lend a rustic feel with benches on a gravel laid garden outside offering another delightful option in which to sit down and enjoy a meal.

Early in the day, try the breakfast baps with sausages or the filled bagels and croissants and later on, around noon, there could be sandwiches with a variety of fillings that include free range chicken salad or honey roast ham and mature cheddar. A typical dinner could begin with tiger prawns with dill dressed coleslaw and roasted tomato crème fraiche, followed by a main course of grilled loin of cod with parsley and lemon crust, finishing with a black cherry cheesecake. Wines on the Hubbub list complement the meal expertly.

Located in the America Square, Missouri Angel is true to its name in every way - immaculate white walls, elegant chandeliers and soft lighting create a celestial ambience, which is backed up by top notch service. Offering a fine dining experience, this enchanting restaurant knows modern American cuisine like no one else and manages to present every dish in style. There's a sensibly priced wine list to accompany the meal and the place is ideal for any occasion - business or pleasure.

Begin with seared tuna with cucumber vermicelli, lime and chilli dressing, before moving onto any one of their signature steaks. Grilled fillet steak, peppered New York strip steak, prime rib-eye steak and smoked St Louis ribs are top of the charts. Their beef is organic and supplied by the world-renowned Buccleuch Estate in Scotland. Conclude with baked New York cheesecake with blueberries and crème fraiche or chocolate brownie with white chocolate pistachio mousse for a quintessentially Missouri Angel experience.