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Established over 16 years ago and positioned in the heart of Theatreland, Palm Court Brasserie guarantees its reputation as one of Covent Garden's most established dining and drinking experiences with a stunning refurbishment and menu overhaul.

Opened by London restaurateur Brian Stein, it has been lovingly crafted to recreate a classically 1920's art nouveau environment. The intimate restaurant is perfectly suited for long, leisurely chats over a bottle of choice Chardonnay, or other choices from the vineyards of France, Italy and the New World, enhanced by a welcoming selection of dishes from the bar menu.

The walls are adorned with carefully selected images conducive to the art-deco feel and the eye is drawn to these by subtle use of varied lighting effects to create a subdued but cosseted ambience.

The beautiful, wrought-iron, centrally hung chandelier softly illuminates the surroundings and contrasts the failing, winter's light outside as the Covent Garden Piazza slides into nightfall. Palm Court Brasserie is an elegant time capsule and an oasis of sophisticated calm.

Palms absorb dishes by influence from Italian and French culture and gives them a traditionally British slant. The emphasis of Palm Court Brasserie cuisine is focused on light and healthy dishes representing an attractive fusion of the rustic and urban styles. Classic brasserie offerings such as steak frites and mussels cooked in white wine, garlic, parsley and cream, sit happily alongside pan-Mediterranean dishes including a seafood linguine of king prawns, clams with roma tomatoes, chilli and spinach, and grilled duck breast with dauphinoise potatoes, roasted vegetables and peppercorn sauce.

This 120-seater restaurant is ideal for couples or quieter mature groups who wish to enjoy a relaxing meal in casual, leisurely environment, either before or after the theatre. Guests may enjoy dining by the French windows commanding a view of the artists performing in the nearby Piazza.

Alternatively, the restaurant's rear suite with forty seats may be sealed off, creating an ideal atmosphere for guests who wish for complete privacy during a meeting, buffet or seated party. A range of menus is available, and you could find one to best suit you. More details are available on their Website.

Do note that they are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

A fine modern European cuisine menu served in a stunning ambience makes the Fifth Floor Restaurant a destination of choice for good food aficionados. Housed on the top floor of Harvey Nichols iconic Knightsbridge branch, the restaurant's stunning interior draws inspiration from constructivist art of the early 20th century and is the perfect place in which to take a break during a day of shopping or sightseeing. You could also unwind at the stylish bar or smart café which boasts lovely views over West London.

Executive Chef Jonas Karlsson creates stunning menus featuring a selection of modern dishes, influenced by his passion for French cooking as well as by his home country, Sweden. He uses a selection of the best seasonal ingredients available from the Harvey Nichols Foodmarket.

Starters of Cornish crab salad with dressed crab, avocado salad and mango vinaigrette; marinated Dedham Vale beef; thinly sliced beef with toasted pine nuts, green beans and chive dressing and mosaic of wood pigeon; smoked quail and celeriac with tarragon cream make for a delicious beginning to the meal.

Main courses follow on perfectly with hearty dishes such as roast pork loin with winter cabbage, Agen prune and sage jus; roasted Highland venison with truffle macaroni with curly kale and sweet and sour game jus and Norwegian halibut with shellfish bolognaise bacon and parsley ravioli and red chard leaves.

The dessert menu will tempt diners with a sweet tooth who can choose from chocolate fondue, raspberry mille feuille with raspberry Chantilly or apricot and rhubarb sable tart with rice pudding surprise.

Alternatively, you could relax in the informal surroundings of the Fifth Floor café which offers its own menu through the day for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. For a hearty start to the day enjoy a classic full English breakfast with certified organic free range eggs, crispy smoked bacon, sausages, black pudding, beans and toast; fried eggs and chorizo or a healthy porridge with Scottish oats, drizzled Greek yoghurt and Harvey Nichols Heather Honey.

For lunch or dinner begin with starters of sea bass ceviche with chilli, mango and fresh herbs or grilled Mediterranean vegetables or share an antipasti selection with fennel salami, cured ham, carpaccio di Barolo, Noccellare olives and burrata, marinated artichokes and sundried tomatoes. Main course offerings could include wild boar pappardelle with fresh Italian egg pasta and slow cooked wild boar ragu or slow roasted Devon chicken with wild rice and shitake mushroom sauce.

Guests could also chill out at the chic champagne bar, inspired by Emile Gallé's iconic 1902 anemone design for the Cuvée Belle Époque Champagne bottle, while sampling luxurious vintage champagnes or a variety of botanically themed and calorie conscious cocktails.

The Fifth Floor offers diners a variety of interesting programmes including cocktail and wine master classes and a specially created five-course tasting menu. The restaurant's four separate areas can be hired individually or as a whole for private parties or corporate events.

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

Over twenty years ago, in July 1989, Bill Wyman opened Sticky Fingers, just the kind of restaurant he most likes to eat in - friendly, welcoming in an informal atmosphere with excellent food and service - the rest is history! Sticky's is ideally positioned in a stunning building, just off the famous shopping Mecca that is High Street Kensington and this haven of great food and original rock memorabilia provides an enviable environment for eating, drinking, and relaxing.

The invaluable collection of Stones memorabilia is a real talking point for both Stones fans and anyone with taste for rock heritage. A comprehensive listing is impractical but some of the highlights include a full-size 3-D photo master of small 3-D photos on the cover of the Rolling Stones album 'Their Satanic Majesties Request.' Released late 1967, it is only one of three known copies in the world.

The Beatles can be seen in the 'undergrowth', and a homemade Electric Bass Guitar built by Wyman in 1960 and amusingly nicknamed by Ian Stewart as 'The Flying Penge.' He played this during early concerts and numerous TV shows and was often used on Rolling Stones' recordings until 1976.

Of course, people go to Sticky Fingers for much more than a great visual experience and a vibrant atmosphere. The justly fabled ribs are a perennial favourite as well as the impressive selection of cocktails, wines, draught and bottled beers which will either compliment the varied dishes or slip down well whilst supping on hand scooped potato skins or crispy shredded duck with cucumber, spring onions and hoi sin sauce, at the bar.

Apart from its burgers such as the Californian, topped with cheese, bacon, salsa, guacamole and sour cream - for which Sticky's has been awarded the 'Best Burger in London' accolade by respected critics at RestaurantSpy - a testament to the talent and restless innovation of their Head Chef, you can also dine on a lovely salad of peppered steak; dishes such as pan-fried new England crab cakes with garlic mayonnaise; sizzling fajitas, homemade lamb burritos with Portobello mushrooms, sour cream, guacamole, salsa and jalapeños, and sign off with a sinful hot fudge and pecan nut brownie.

It is easy to over-intellectualise Sticky Fingers' unique formula. Put simply, it is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail and meal, buy from a wide range of merchandise or simply chill out and relax with the best burgers in town. They are happy to accept bookings and enquiries by E-Mail.

Do note that they are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

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.

Located in the heart of London, close to the iconic department store, Selfridges, Ayoush on James Street offers Middle Eastern, Moroccan and North African cuisine just a stone's throw from Bond Street Tube Station and the shops on Oxford Street. The restaurant's vibrant contemporary ambience is enhanced by authentic Middle Eastern artwork and decorative touches while the 'caves' and booths downstairs are perfect for a romantic dinner for. Café style seating outside affords a ringside view of all the street side buzz while live belly dancing keeps the atmosphere inside sizzling.

Ayoush offers a selection of the best flavours and ingredients from Egypt, Morocco and the Middle East. The wide range of cold and hot starters includes classic dishes such as labna, tangy soft cheese made from yoghurt with finely chopped cucumber, fresh mint and olive oil; vine leaves stuffed with rice, lemon juice and olive oil; tabouleh; grilled chicken wings marinated in fresh ginger, herbs and lemon and mergueze; and grilled North African sausage. A special mezze menu is a great way to sample a range of the region's unique flavours.

You could follow with a sumptuous main course which includes chef's specials of chicken spinach roulade served with rice; oriental roast leg of lamb; or a vegetarian platter with a selection of grilled vegetables in extra virgin olive oil, garlic, herbs, topped with mozzarella cheese and served with rice.

The à la carte lists other authentic specialities including a variety of couscous, served with a Moroccan special flavoured sauce, and tagines, served sizzling in traditional pots, with Arabian bread, steamed couscous or rice. These include lamb couscous with tender lamb stew with traditional Moroccan mixed herbs, raisins and steamed vegetables; chicken tagine, a classic chicken stew, with the light touch of Moroccan spices, preserved lemons and green olives; and Couscous Royal of tender lamb, chicken, mergueze, steamed vegetables, raisins and chickpeas.
 
The grill offers succulent fare such as shish tawouk, a dish of grilled chicken cubes with onion, red and green peppers marinated in a herb garlic sauce, and the ever popular lamb kofta. If you prefer fish and seafood, there's choice of grilled Mediterranean king prawns marinated in olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and herbs; grilled whole sea bass topped with a flavourful tomato sauce mixed with leek, dill, fresh coriander, garlic and chilli and a tempting fish tagine which combines cod chunks with potatoes, carrots, courgettes and turnips in a traditional Moroccan herb sauce. A variety of set menus gives diners other options.

The dessert menu maintains the Middle Eastern authenticity and offers mouth-watering choices such as mehalabia, a traditional Egyptian dish made from cornflower, milk, eggs, fresh strawberry and topped with whipped cream, or masfouf, a Tunisian dessert of steamed fine couscous mixed with sugar, pomegranate and topped with nuts and cinnamon.
 
The drinks list offers a wide range of cocktails and shooters, white and red wines, beers and spirits.

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

Hidden away in St George's Wharf on the banks of the Thames, The Riverside bar and restaurant offers patrons an oasis to unwind in at leisure in elegant and capacious interiors. Apart from the modern British and European food, stunning views of the London skyline up and down the river will have their attention.

After having imbibed a cocktail or two at the stylish bar, you could settle down with pressed terrine of gammon, chicken salad with Wiltshire bacon and honey or a crispy duck platter. Then, progress to butternut squash risotto, steamed sea bass with pak choi, fish pie topped with golden Cheddar mash or sweet potato curry with Kashmiri pilau. Traditional British food classics served here include fish and chips, bangers and mash, salmon and smoked haddock fishcakes, and West County fillet steak with Portobello mushrooms. To pamper the sweet tooth, there's warm chocolate fondant, berry crumble with white chocolate ice cream and baked Camembert cheese. The Riverside's premium selection from wines to whiskies gives guests their choice of tipple.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive 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.

In the heart of the shopping capital of England, sandwiched between Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, Browns Mayfair provides a welcome oasis from the stresses, some of them pleasantly self-inflicted, of London life.

In keeping with the tradition established by Browns when considering their restaurant sites, this beautifully converted Georgian tailors has a wealth of history, for those who spent their working days there were responsible for outfitting such dignitaries as Winston Churchill and Clem Atlee into a state of sartorial elegance, before Browns restored the building.

Lunch times are frantic as those working locally wine and dine with friends and clients, while the afternoons and evenings are a more relaxed affair as weary shoppers and ebullient theatre-goers meet for quality food and drink. In addition to the restaurant there is a separate cocktail-wine bar and private dining rooms for a more secluded event. Those who haven't been to Browns Mayfair are missing out on one of the area's classiest restaurants.

The weekends tend to be an oasis of calm by comparison as shoppers, tourists and local residents escape form the hectic bustle of the West End. Saturday has its own buzz as people meet for a spot of supper before going on to one of the many near-by theatres, or simply relax with friends over a cocktail and a bite to eat.

Browns is a classic English restaurant with a menu that has evolved rather than changed over the last thirty years. 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 vegetarian, seafood or Italian meat form, and there are thin and crisp flatbreads topped with such delights as prosciutto, chorizo, mozzarella and roasted peppers.

Starters cleverly re-invent some of the classic brasserie dishes; expect to find crab and avocado salad, baked Scottish langoustine with spinach, cream and Emmental, and a fine selection of freshly made soups depending on the day.

Fish dishes include salmon fillet marinated and baked in soy sauce, with shitake and button mushrooms served on a char-grilled pak choi. Mains take in beef and olive ragu in a tomato sauce tossed with pennette rigate, and tender roasted four bone rack of lamb with a red wine jus, sprouting broccoli and dauphinoise potatoes. Brioche bread and butter pudding and Pimms jelly with strawberry coulis and apple and fresh mint 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.

There is a full wine, cocktail and champagne list with the champagnes being particularly notable for their sensible pricing. For further information, including their full menu and details on private dining, visit their Website.

Inspired by the Chicago Palm restaurant in America, The Hon Christopher Gilmour opened Christopher's in an elegant Victorian building in the heart of Theatreland in Covent Garden and rubbing shoulders with the Royal Opera House; though it has new owners these days and he has moved on elsewhere. Since December 1991 this famous American Bar and Grill has been serving good quality steaks and lobster, previously largely unavailable in London.

It quickly became one of the capital's most opulent restaurants, resplendent over 3 floors, and though the concept has been adapted to take into account changing tastes and fashions, it remains faithful to the original theme.

Christopher's is housed in a grand, Grade II listed Victorian building. Following a refurbishment many of the beautiful original features have been retained and complimented by the introduction of a contemporary chic mood creating an atmosphere of classic elegance.

On the ground floor, the fully Wi-Fi enabled Martini Bar is cool and stylish with a list of over 24 scintillating martinis from which to choose. Luxurious booths lining one side of the bar invite you to settle in for the evening.

At the top of the sweeping stone spiral staircase lies Christopher's large and elegant dining room, with extensive views over Waterloo Bridge. Strong colours and soft lighting complement the high ceilings and beautiful original features of the building. The exclusive private dining room on the lower ground floor, offers a fantastic venue for many different occasions including receptions, meetings, corporate dining and parties.

An à la carte menu bears the brunt of this restaurant's popularity, with their famous 28oz prime rib chop for two; grilled Maine lobster with garlic butter, or cobb salad and mango chilli salsa; slow-cooked belly pork with Boston baked beans, feta and celeriac slaw, and blackened salmon with jambalaya risotto and cress salad, as eye-catching menu leaders. Christopher's uses its best endeavours to ensure all of their fish are caught from sustainable sources.

Amongst the delights on the dessert menu expect to find baked New York cheesecake with blueberry compote, pecan maple tart with vanilla ice cream, and some very interesting regional cheeses.

Christopher's is the perfect place to eat or drink before a show. The theatre menu served from Monday to Saturday between 5pm to 7pm and10pm to 11.30pm (£16.95 for 2 courses or £21.50 for 3) represents great value for money.

Weekends at Christopher's are agreeably relaxed. A traditional American style brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 3.30pm and includes classics such as Eggs Benedict, a Texas Grill, or scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, as well as less challenging traditional dishes of buttermilk pancakes with maple cured bacon and warm maple syrup.

For more information or to see Christopher's menus, visit their Website.

The Kings Head, sitting atop Winchmore Hill, is a North London presence of the Geronimo group of excellent pubs, who have managed to achieve with elan the tricky task of making that new phenomenen, the gastro pub, traditional. This is no mean feat, but by carefully selecting pubs that have potential character and then tweaking them, in some cases more than a bit, they've done it.

At The Kings Head there is a large bar, a vaulted dining room of potentially gothic aspiration, added to by a covered terrace and decked beer garden. The first floor houses the air conditioned Long Room, a space ideal for gathering of up to 40 people seated, or standing for 70, and has its own bar.

Watch out for the suits of armour and thrones, all adding to the quirkiness of this splendid place, a temple indeed to to Bacchus and Ceres, or as Footloose magazine put it, "there's no stripped pine and designer suits here". Rather is there a feeling of having just dropped in to the junior common room of an Oxbridge college, where style and good company go hand in hand.

The fodder is served from two attractive menus, one each for lunch and dinner. The lunch menu moves subtly from soup and sandwiches, through toasted Cumberland sausage and fried egg sandwich to full blown 10oz rib eye steak, with tomato, mushrooms and chips, and most points between.

For instance you might feel tempted by the fish pie made with smoked haddock, salmon and saffron, or a King's hamburger with streaky bacon and cheese. Such worthy standbys as steak, kidney and mushroom pie with some root vegetables and mash, or chicken Caesar salad with parmesan and croutons does it for many, and for those in a hurry the honey roasted ham and English mustard sandwich in white bloomer is ideal. The point is whether it's three course or sandwich lunch you're after it's all there and it's good ? believe me.

Dinner takes on a slightly more formal approach with pan fried swordfish, a pork fillet with creamed petit pois, bacon and sausage mash, or some very tasty lamb rump with fondant potato, wild mushrooms and a red wine and thyme jus. Penne pasta with chilli, pancetta and parsley and tomato sauce brings a breath of Italy to proceedings and for both lunch and dinner there is always a good array of desserts on the blackboard.

On matters of drink they are fortunate to have the assistance of John Clevely, Master of Wine and father of the founder of Geronimo, who with customary skill has produced a wine list that is comprehensive, tremendous value and explores the world most effectively. There really is something there for everyone.

Do keep The Kings Head in mind when it comes to party time. They know how to do these sort of things and the setting, together with their advice, if wanted, could be just what you're looking for.

Their friendly Website is always available for updates on menus, functions and events.