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The Elgin Food Pub and Music House is described as a gastropub for Notting Hillbillies, a play on where it is in North Kensington; with its very own Gin Palace that has 22 gins to tickle your fancy, the mood is loungeability against a background of relaxing music, comfy sofas and a mix and match décor.

It is brought to you by Geronimo Inns, who are the people that have proved if you stop bothering about your more self-expressive inclinations and give the customers what they want instead, you can open revitalised pubs and stay afloat provided you create a warm home from home atmosphere where real food at affordable prices is available seven days a week.

Front of house offers major bay windows; look out and you might see Hugh Grant looking in. More to the back is the 70 cover music room which will also accommodate larger groups, and offers regular live accoustic music sessions. 'If music be the food of love, play on' ,said Shakespeare and what is aptly described elsewhere as 'the weird and wacky world of W11', whose domain this is, does not disagree.

In such circumstances lunch is not a meal, but a staging post long the road to survival for something a touch grander in the evening. So look for basics such as Oxfordshire bread with Netherend farm butter. Soup of course, or some roasted beetroot and Cashel with a Blue cheese salad perhaps. For the desperate there's fish and chips with tartar sauce and mushy peas, or The Elgin's Caesar salad in which anchovies are an item. But if you missed breakfast there's bangers and mash, or a very cool beefburger with bacon, cheese, relish and chips

The evening brings a stirring amongst the smart houses of W11, still worth colossal sums of money, and it's down to the pub time for maybe a game of dominoes or bar billiards over a pint or so of some succulent brew, before moving on to a few of John Clevely's well chosen wines as the world moves from red to blue through green, which is not meant to be a political statement.

A spot of roulade of smoked salmon and salmon mousse with yoghurt-dill dressing, or devilled lambs kidneys and yellow split pea dhal sets the stage for a Yorkshire venison casserole and parsnip puree, or a rump steak with skinny chips and bourguignon sauce. The Elgin fishcakes arrive at table accompanied by spinach, a poached egg and warm tartare sauce.

But for sheer indulgence times two, share a 22oz Scottish T-Bone steak with two kinds of chips, a mixed salad and green peppercorn sauce. Desserts to follow may or may not be just, but honey, thyme and yoghurt parfait with roasted fig seems to me the sort of dish that will nestle up well with almost anything.

Beyond a degree of excellence nothing stays the same for too long at The Elgin with the food. So check on their Website for specialities, as well as great music from aspiring and established musicians alike.

Everybody in London knows Browns. Whether they were first introduced whilst at university in Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton or Bristol, or they work near one in the City, Covent Garden or Canary Wharf, Browns has become very much part of the London scene.

The strengths of Browns have always been you know what you are going to get, attractive staff, straight forward food cooked well and excellent value wines and cocktails. However, as with any enterprise, no matter how good, time moves on, and Browns have given their restaurants a different look that has retained the best and added where necessary.

Browns opened up in Islington, on the Green and next door to Waterstones in a part of London, which has always had a cutting edge to it. In October 2004 a novel design was unveiled with a much more contemporary flavour including a lounge space at the front of restaurant that is equally appropriate for drinking or dining. The whole area now feels a great deal more comfortable whilst still retaining the original Browns style.

The bar is where the transformation is most obvious. The bar counter is now clad in pewter, which gives it the feel and look of Paris in the 1920s. The wine list is as diverse as ever and there are still the wonderful signature cocktails for all to try. There has also been the addition of some great draught beers such as Staropramen, Leffe, Erdinger and Amstel; perfect for the after work drinkers.

The back area of Browns is reserved for diners and is much more of a serene environment than it was before with pastel colours used to add a sense of warmth. The whole ambience is one of quality coupled with the thought that someone has spent a great deal of time and effort in creating a truly special feel.

The menu has been over-hauled to reflect all the design changes. It still has all the old favourites with some lighter options for those who don't need comfort food all the time. They all combine to provide a menu that suits all needs, whether it is a light lunch, afternoon tea or a pre-theatre meal. Thus, starters could include Scottish langoustine gratin with spinach, Emmental and cream served with crusty bread; pan seared Black Pearl scallops with a lemon and pea risotto and chilli butter dressing, or homemade soup of the day.

Moving down, the range of main courses include slowly braised pork with black pudding and crisped bacon served with mashed potato and sage gravy; slowly cooked shoulder of lamb with garlic and rosemary jus, sprouting broccoli, Chantenay carrots and mashed potato, or chicken schnitzel served with a poached egg and a tomato, onion and herb salad. Hard to resist are puddings such as poached pear with warm chocolate sauce and chocolate ice cream, and raspberry and chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream.

What Browns has always done so well is provide a place where you can enjoy yourself and nothing has changed there. If you are out shopping with the family, meeting friends for dinner, going out with colleagues for a drink after work leading on to a bite to eat, then Browns is a superb choice. The service is always friendly and efficient but unlike some other chains in Islington, Browns delivers the quality of food to back it up.

If you haven't been to Browns for a while then you really should give Browns Islington a go. My guess is you will be pleasantly surprised. Their Website will yield further information particularly on menus and opportunities for other social gatherings.

Tin Goose represents a major leap for BAA and Geronimo Inns, who have teamed up to provide the travelling public with a kind of restaurant flight simulator. Built round the legendary Tri-motor, the first all-metal plane ever created to fly passengers, made by Ford, and now recreated in spirit at Heathrow, the world's busiest airport and base to over 90 airlines, Tin Goose brings to life the pioneering spirit and luxury of those early days.

Passengers enduring interminable airport waits will find in Tin Goose a haven from the stress and strain, reminders of the days of early air travel in the form of leather trunks and port-holes, and first class pampering in the way of furnishing, refreshment and service. All of this - and more - is accomplished within a space of over 4,100 feet, encompassed by two vast glass walls overlooking an exterior balcony. The food sets new standards for the airport variety with more than a suggestion of gourmet approach, starting with the breakfast, where porridge served with golden syrup, however much it may scandalise the Scots serves to make it acceptable to the rest of us.

The English breakfast is a symphony in self-indulgence; Tin Goose is one of the few places I know where they don't suspend breakfast at some outrageously early hour, and then there's always eggs Benedict as well. The smoked salmon salad is served with guacamole and rocket, and an excellent charcuterie platter comes with chutney and foccacia. Other delights are Tin Goose fishcake, warm asparagus and dolcelatte tart, or ham, egg and wedges. Chocolate fondant with crème fraiche or baked lemon tart rounds the meal off with a flourish.

Despite dire injunctions about the perils of mixing flying and the demon drink, many still persist, and are even more likely to do so when they see the Tin Goose wine list, particularly as many of the wines listed have helpful little notes intended to enhance your pleasure. How else would I have known that a Louis Latour Chardonnay Grand Ardeche 2002 simply loves chicken and leek pie? To cap it all there is a wonderful institution known as the Coffee Runner who will bring you unlimited coffee all day long at £1 a call. We have allowed £12 as the average cost, though a full meal with wine would clearly come out at rather more.

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

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.

If you haven't discovered this part of London's riverside area yet, you really have missed out. Butler's Wharf has grown over the years and the formerly derelict warehouses have been converted into luxury flats, boutique shops and designer restaurants and bars.

Located in the shadow of Tower Bridge, Browns occupies the area's premier site with a stunning restaurant overlooking the Thames and the magnificent architecture of riverside London. Al fresco dining is always popular in the warmer months as the area's workers and residents enjoy the capital's impressive external decks. The whole area is thriving during the weekend as families and friends enjoy the relaxing feel to Shad Thames and the wonderful food and drink that Browns offers.

Browns is a classic English restaurant with a menu that evolves rather than changes. It offers a genuine value for money experience for guests 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 antipasti form, or there are thin and crisp flatbreads topped with such delights as garlic, rocket and Parmesan, and spicy beef and mushroom. Starters cleverly re-invent some of the classic brasserie dishes; expect to find crab and avocado salad, ham hock terrine, pan-seared scallops and a fine selection of freshly made soups depending on the day.

Fish and pasta dishes include prawn and chorizo linguine, served with tomato and chorizo sauce. A real value seafood platter will have smoked salmon, Browns crab mix, squid, kiln cured salmon with horseradish crème fraîche, large shell-on tiger prawn and marinated king scallops assembled together, whilst hungry chaps may well opt for the whole baked sea bream with lemon and ginger served with wilted spinach and new potatoes.

Browns's own steak, mushroom and Guinness pie is a real puller, with the rack of lamb not too far behind. Desserts include raspberry and chocolate brownie and cheese board with fresh bread, crackers, grapes and celery. 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.

On Sundays step into Browns for a relaxed Sunday brunch with newspapers, simple food and a well constructed Bloody Mary. And what a brunch it is! Smoked fishcake with poached egg and hollandaise, eggs Florentine, Royal or Benedict, the full English, or smoothies, it's all there.

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 & Ts. There is a full wine, cocktail and Champagne list with the Champagnes being particularly notable for their sensible pricing.

Adjacent to the stunning design museum, Browns has become an ideal neighbourhood restaurant and bar to those fortunate to live in the area, but also a perfect destination to those visiting this magnificent addition to London's amenities. Browns's private dining room is the ideal venue for corporate entertaining especially for those who want to offer their guests something a little bit different and special.

More information, including details on their full menu and private rooms, can be viewed on their Website.

"Where everybody goes and quite rightly so" - The Guardian

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 the Capital's best. Located off the main lobby, this expansive new Lounge Bar is an ideal place to conduct a discrete meeting or host a friendly get-together. Serving a wide range of coffees and teas, and with a well stocked bar, this popular meeting place is a welcoming spot for drinks and snacks throughout the day or for afternoon tea.

Short eats such as eggs benedict topped with hollandaise sauce gratin, toasted foccacia bread with Scottish smoked salmon and tossed ham and cheese sandwiches are popular among regulars. A business occasion may call for a discreet order of tortilla wraps with grilled breast of chicken and king prawns tempura. Desserts include homemade cheesecake and chocolate fondant.

The wine list is short but features an impressive assortment of red and white wines along with liqueurs.

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

In the strikingly elegant and historical former site of Bank of New York in the City of London, Prism Restaurant promises stylish surroundings along with quality Modern British food and service. Restored by architects Lifschutz Davidson back to its former glory with all its original 1920s architectural features carefully replaced, the airy banking hall provides a distinctive 10,000 square-foot space on three levels - lower ground, ground and mezzanine - which have been transformed into a bar, 120 cover restaurant with conservatory and private dining rooms.

The 120 cover dining area is split into two spaces; the main restaurant with its classical columns and towering windows and a light-filled conservatory dining room. Furniture and fittings reflect Harvey Nichols's chic image with classic Mies van Rohe 1930 'Brno' chairs in brilliant red leather and American walnut waiter stations and exclusively designed serving trolleys and wine coolers.

Located in the City, Prism attracts a largely business crowd at lunch tempted by the good food, discreetly spaced tables and slick service. The menu is Modern British with an extensive menu featuring the best of British produce. Divided into sections such as "Small Picks", "Something Potted", "Salads and Starters", "Grills and Main Courses" there is the option to have a full blown meal, or graze on lighter dishes. There is a fantastic selection of meat, sourced from the wonderful Ginger Pig, with the speciaility being two types of steak that have been aged for 50 days. The Head Chef, Dan Sherlock is a passionate gardener, bringing in produce from his own allotment, and also growing tomatoes on the roof of the restaurant in the Summer.

In the evenings, there are frequent special menus, with great deals to be had by booking on-line. There is live music on Thurdays and Fridays, and upcoming weekly cabaret events.

Champagne Breakfast receptions can be arranged to start off a special day on the right note.

Prism Bar: The bar is situated below ground where once stood the bank vaults. Here Harvey Nichols has created a contemporary space with an accent on luxury with polished, reclaimed Maninga floors, Kavasinga panelling and leather bar linings.

Once again the furniture has been carefully chosen to inspire an elegant atmosphere. The 'Single' bar stools are by French designer Christophe Pillet and the oyster coloured leather rolled banquette designed by Lifschutz Davidson is flanked by serried ranks of low 'Bob' stools. A lunch time menu showcases simple and classic options where you might face a dilemma in choosing between a homemade short crust chicken and mushroom pie with mashed potatoes, Cornish pollock with chips, peas and tartare sauce or a Thai prawn curry with jasmine rice. The bar can be hired exclusively, accommodating a maximum of 80 guests for a drinks reception.

Private Dining Rooms: Prism has two private dining rooms; the Mezzanine seating up to 55 guests and the Library seating up to 24 guests. The Mezzanine is located on the first floor of Prism and is perfect for private dining, meetings or as a reception venue. It is a dual aspect room with an amazing view of both the Main Restaurant and Leadenhall Market.

The Library is situated on the ground, at the rear of the restaurant. It is perfect for small intimate lunches/dinners and meetings. Its style is reminiscent of a small gentleman's club, retaining many of its original features including the ornate ceiling and fireplace.

Prism also has a wedding licence, and is available for private hire at weekends.

For further information, please visit the Harvey Nichols Website.

For those hardy souls seeking the perpetual party, the answer to your desires exists in the heart of Covent Garden. Referred to by Time Out as 'a phenomenon', this is a pretty accurate description. Live bands are on stage every night, and a great line-up of some of the best DJs in town between them make very sure that the tempo stays high and the enjoyment level never droops at Roadhouse Covent Garden.

Fuelled by a 60-strong cocktail list the pace is emphatically party whether you are celebrating, commiserating or just trying to forget - no problem - get in there and do your thing, Happy Hours come and go as the evening wears on, no matter what day of the week, but with 50% off most drinks it pays to be around at the right time.

Why not call down on a Monday or Wednesday for Roadhouse Rockaoke? Instead of just listening to one of their amazing live bands, they give you the chance to get on stage and sing with them. Pick a song from the extensive list and compete for your chance to win a £100 bar tab.

All this sybaritic living can be very taxing, and a vast array of dishes that cover a medley of cuisines are served in the Diner to sustain you, starting with the small bites, call them tapas if you will, with crispy-fried calamari, beef satay and jalapeño cream cheese peppers amongst the list.

Then come the real starters like nachos grande, char grilled chicken and cheese quesadilla and the Roadhouse classic burger, followed by their combo collection that might be termed the hearty school of eating - well what else can you say about of a full rack of barbecue ribs and two chicken breasts, and the fully loaded version with a couple of steak and chicken breasts each and French fries, onion rings and salad.

But it's the grill that really hits the high spots, with a New York strip, cut from the centre section of the short loin to produce some great flavour and texture. There's a barbecue big rack, char grilled and smothered in their signature BBQ sauce, served with chunky coleslaw and fries; blackened salmon, basted in Cajun spices with spring onions, mashed potato and red pepper sauce or flame grilled fajitas served sizzling on tequila and lime infused peppers with a choice of filling.

The Bailey's sundae is certainly not aiming to be left out of the calorie contest while the hot chocolate fudge cake resumes its position as the king of desserts. The diner has its own happy hours, and the cocktails are brought to your table; no scary journeys for you from the bar to your table with a fistful of precious fluids.

The Roadhouse is very keen in the offers department and it pays to keep an eye on their website, where print off vouchers can be the source of an excellent value evening.

It almost goes without saying that a party night out at Roadhouse is a real blast, with a great range of nights from which to choose the bands and DJs you like, and food and drink to keep everybody, yes even the vegetarians, thoroughly happy.

Do note their cover charges - Mon and Tue £5 after 22:00, Wed £5 after 21:00, Thu £7 after 21:00, Fri £10 after 21:00, Sat £5 after 19:00, £12 after 21:00.

Their programme never stays still, so stack their Website amongst your all time favourites as the key to a real party.

One of the small Sofra chain of inexpensive café restaurants, Sofra Covent Garden offers diners the opportunity to sample home style Turkish cooking, with an eclectic blend of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Oriental styles. Sofra has been successful in changing the view of many, who regard Turkish restaurants as nothing more than kebab shops.

Owner Huseyin Ozer who came to the UK from humble beginnings in Turkey, worked in kebab shops before opening his own restaurant. Several ministers and the then Turkish Ambassador would dine at this Mayfair restaurant, fortified with bullet-proof windows to receive these special guests. Ozer deserves credit for introducing Londoners to the delights of genuine Turkish cuisine.

The restaurant's mezze platter is known to give diners a small peek into many delicacies. Hot starters like humus kavurma, spiked with succulent, morsels of lamb and pine kernels, icli kofte, a great classic of the Middle East, deep-fried oval shells of pounded lamb, bulgur and flavourings filled with spiced mince and herbs or the börek platter, a selection of spinach, feta cheese and leek filo pastry parcels help set the stage. Cold starters include imam bayildi made of stewed aubergine, tomato and peppers and salmon sashimi.

For the mains, try the Sofra style lamb tagine, on the bone lamb, oven cooked with vegetable, almond and dry fruit, served with bulgur and lentil. If you're in the mood for seafood or fish, try the marinated Malaysian prawns served with silk route made with stir fried vegetables, rice and yoghurt. The chef's special salmon stew with onions and peppers, with Maris Piper potato puree is worthwhile too. The charcoal grill, dishes out delicious marinated chicken or lamb delights like the kulbasti or the house special of grilled mince on a bed of bread, fresh tomato sauce and yoghurt.

Red and white wines served by the glass include options from Turkey, among other wine making countries. The friendly waiters at Sofra help choose wines that go best with the food ordered. The cubes of milk pudding in rose syrup with berries and nuts are a combination of flavours and one must not leave Sofra without sampling this. Kazandibi, the caramel milk pudding with cinnamon powder and rose ice cream is another delightful choice. The knowledgeable and obliging staff make the experience at Sofra both special and memorable.

More information can be found on their Website.