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With chic contemporary décor offset by luxurious period furniture, Annie's Bar in Kentish Town Road provides an elegant venue for an informal business meeting or leisurely meal with family or friends. The baby grand piano frequently plays host to some of London's best lounge pianists. On weekends enjoy something rather more upbeat.
 
Annie's has a state of the art beer cooling system  allowing draught lagers to be served at +2° Celsius, some 3°C to 4°C cooler than usual systems. Cocktails are a speciality here and you can choose from martinis, Irish specialities, champagne cocktails, short drinks, long drinks, signature cocktails, shots and alcohol free cocktails. Take your pick from mint madness, pink lady, hazelnut forest, bellini, sweet kiss, banana bubble, chocolate martini, vanilla mojito and coconut lips. The bar also offers wide range of wines including a selection of champagnes, as well as bottled and draught beers and lagers.

St John's is one of the more accomplished London gastro pubs boasting a separate dining area at the rear of the pub complete with open kitchen. There's the obligatory blackboard based menus and you'll find a great atmosphere most nights. Treat yourself to traditional favourites such as steak in a beautifully rich green peppercorn sauce or seared to your liking swordfish on a bed of herbed couscous. Desserts are guaranteed to tempt with you both classic and new taste combinations and as with any self-respecting gastro pub, the wine list will delight.

For some time I made the mistake of thinking that no group of restaurants in the region of 200 locations could hope to maintain the quality for which I was looking.

Then one day I decided to put my prejudices to the test, walked into Oxford Ask! and discovered that I could not have been more mistaken. Their claim to serve freshly prepared quality food in stylish and comfortable surroundings with friendly and efficient service proved to be absolutely spot on.

Since then I have also discovered that a degree of consistency seems to operate throughout their restaurants, and that certainly does take some achieving, implying a degree of management that is enviable. They are perfect places for an impromptu snack, a bit of culinary grazing, or the full works, and families are catered for particularly well.

Their trendy décor usually comprises tiled floors and black furniture with well set tables that sparkle with glass, silver and spotless linen. Ten starters include crostini and bruschetta, followed by a range of salads, pasta and al forno, oven baked pasta, some with chicken.

The pizzas are stone baked in the oven, creating a crisp, authentic and delicious flavour, and they all come topped with mozzarella and tomato. Calzone introduce a touch of opulence with a folded pizza baked in the oven and topped with garlic butter and melted grana padano, whilst inside expect to find chicken or a vegetarian mix.

Amongst the specials may I warmly, in every sense, recommend the polpette al forno, a popular Milanese dish of beef meatballs sautéed in garlic with fire roasted peppers, caramelised onions, chilli and pomodoro sauce, with penne pasta, topped with cheese and oven baked.

An enticing selection of desserts list banoffee pie and tiramisu amongst them, and the coffee tastes like coffee, which may sound banal, but I guess you know what I mean.

Thanks to a well selected wine list speculative drinking can offer handsome dividends, even with prices rarely crossing the £20 barrier.

The Grand Union Group, an independent chain of pub-restaurant and bar-grill venues, certainly awes guests with its classic feel. Each location is uniquely designed.

There is also some fine work by the kitchen displayed in the plethora of burger styles that include a fired earth version that steer toward a spice route with chilli powder, peppered cheese, sliced jalapeños, fresh rocket and a secret spicy sauce. The menu also promises some breadless selections like chicken and goats' cheese stack accessorised with char-grilled vegetables, sun-blushed tomatoes, pesto and rocket.

Step in for a post-work drink whilst listening to funk or soul in the evening. Weekends are a time to celebrate at Grand Union with DJs spinning tunes until late.