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Housed in the elegant County Hall building, Zen China offers diners a stunning view across the River Thames taking in the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Tower Bridge. Specialising in traditional Chinese cuisine, it invites guests to sample the glories of the imperial Beijing style of cooking in a grand riverside setting and is the perfect venue to recharge your batteries after taking in the South Bank's numerous sights and attractions.

A skilfully assembled menu focuses on traditional northern Chinese cuisine with specialities including hot and spicy beef fillet and tripe slices, and marinated spinach and peanuts and north-east China mustard flavoured bean thread. For a special treat allow yourself the pleasure of tucking into the restaurant's signature dish, Beijing roast duck, also known as Peking duck, which is skilfully carved at your table and served in two courses; first with pancakes, trimmings and hoi sin sauce and then stir fried with vegetables and pickles and served on lettuce, a gastronomic experience in itself. Customers should note that only a limited number of Beijing ducks are prepared each day so it is advisable to order one beforehand.

Starters of steamed fresh scallops with garlic, crispy king prawn shredded potato wrap, salt and pepper squid, spare ribs in barbeque sauce or deep fried duck rolls are ideal to get the meal going. The bountiful seafood selection embraces such dishes as fresh lobster with ginger and spring onion, wok fried fresh crab with salted egg yolk, braised sea bass slices in spicy Beijing sauce, classic kung pao king prawns, stir fried squid with asparagus and assorted seafood with spicy XO sauce. Main course meat dishes include sizzling spicy chicken with black beans, chicken with oyster mushrooms, Beijing minced duck meat lettuce wrap, classic double cooked pork slices with leek, marinated pork belly slices with north-east Chinese sauerkraut, fillet steak slices with dried chilli and spices, quick fried lamb slices with pine nuts and lamb skewers. You could also try steamed or wok fried dumplings filled with beef and radish, pork with celery, seafood with egg and chive and chicken with green pepper and shrimp.

Accompaniments include roast duck noodle soup, fresh shrimp, egg and tomato noodle soup, fried rice with duck meat, and chicken slices with fried noodles or a classic egg fried rice and vegetable slices with fried noodles. Vegetarians are also well catered for and can look forward to tofu with mushrooms and green and red peppers, braised mushrooms with seasonal Chinese greens with garlic, or traditional street market style potato, aubergine and green peppers. To round off consider apple tart Beijing style, coconut crème brûlée or chocolate delight.

Zen China also offers an extensive range of set menus with options such as the Zen Budda vegetarian menu and the luxurious Ci-Xi seafood menu which includes Imperial seafood and crab soup, and the signature 'Five Willow' sweet and sour sea bass. To accompany the meal diners can choose from an impressive wine list featuring well-chosen red and white wines from the old and new worlds as well as number of fine champagnes including Moutard, Bollinger and Dom Perignon. Check on their Website for further information.

Cinnamon Tree on Exmouth Market offers guests an Indian cuisine menu in a vibrant contemporary setting in the bustling heart of Clerkenwell. Close to Saddlers Wells and the Old Red Lion Theatre, it's the perfect spot for a pre or post-theatre dinner. Farringdon Rail Station and Angel Tube Station are also with walking distance.

Whet the appetite with starters of duck tikka, breast of duck marinated in light spices and grilled in the tandoor over charcoal; tender lamb chops marinated in yoghurt, cream, cheese and ginger and grilled in the tandoor or king prawn puri, a classic dish of king prawns stir fried in a medium spicy sauce and served with deep fried puffed thin bread.

From the tandoor or charcoal grill there are specialities such as tandoori trout, whole rainbow trout marinated overnight in ginger, garlic, crushed spices; sheek kebab of pungently spiced minced lamb seasoned with lemon juice, mint, coriander and onion and chicken shashlick marinated in spices and barbequed with peppers, onions and tomatoes.

For the main course why not try one of the chef's specials including garlic chicken chilli masala, shank of lamb marinated with herbs and spices and roasted in the oven, or roop chand bhuna a traditional fish dish of Indian Ocean silver pomfret marinated and pan fried with garlic, onion, tomato, spices and herbs. A variety of Balti specialities, vegetarian dishes and aromatic biryanis are also offered on the à la carte.

A sumptuous deluxe set menu for two delivers starters of poppadom, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, sheikh kebab, lamb tikka and king prawn and mains of butter chicken, prawn bhuna, vegetable curry, pilau rice and naan followed by dessert and coffee.
The drinks menu offers a variety of aperitifs, white and red wines as well as beers such as Cobra, Kingfisher and Tiger.

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

The Adam and Eve in Wells Street is a another fine West End example of a Geronimo gastropub, where the right atmosphere, fine food, decent wine and a general air of bonhomie are all par for the course. This small but highly effective and well run group of reformed pubs from the old order now has 28 under its fold, each encouraged to be highly individual, each focused accurately on its own particular area and clientele.

Lest the name should bother you in any way there is an alley at the back which has some outside tables and comes in handy for lovers looking only for each other's eyes and others requiring personal space. Located only a short hop from Oxford Street the Adam and Eve is a sanctuary for those seeking relief from the retail frenzy. Once inside punters appreciate the décor that is reminiscent of many a good home, not overbearing and calculated to sooth and please.

This is a one menu pub and I defy anyone not to find pleasure at enough points to enjoy a thoroughly wholesome, well-cooked and interesting meal. The daily soup is of course a changing feast and it comes with crusty bread. For those who just like their bread and butter ? period ? there's the Oxfordshire variety with Nether End Farm salted butter. Bloody Mary sauce accompanies some crisp whitebait, or try the Valley Farm smoked salmon warm potato cake.

If rush is the order of the day head for the Welsh rarebit, a symphony of toast and cheese, or savour the rare roast beef sandwich with onion chutney and creamed horseradish.

A little more time? Head for the chicken curry with naan bread and pilau rice, or a lamb casserole and herb dumplings. French fries and chips are around, but the best bet are the hand cut chips served with Cornish sea salt. Follow with treacle sponge and custard or some hot apple crumble.

A wine list selected by John Clevely, Master of Wine, does ample justice to the food and leads you through a friendly, well chosen bunch of bottles, few over £30, the great majority available by bottle, and large or smaller glass.

The Geronimo Club provides a sort of inner sanctuary for the regulars and anyone can join. There are definite benefits, to start with a drink on the house for just giving your details. Your birthday comes around and there's a present for you, and on the anniversary of you joining the club. Every month you get an email with an update on what's ongoing, perhaps a party invite or voucher, a few recipes or news of special offers coming up, all reminders that you belong and your company is valued.

Pubs have always come in many different varieties but groups like Geronimo who really work at the the job of getting people along, who listen to their customers and provide a setting where like-minded people can enjoy each other?s company in familiar surroundings are leading the way.

Whether or not you join The Geronimo Club keep tuned in to the Adam and Eve Website where good fellowship abounds.

A warm familial atmosphere with a gastro pub menu distinguishes The Duchess of Kent in Liverpool Road. Guests can chill out in the comfortable laid back setting enjoying the company of family and friends or a board game from the well-stocked games cupboard.

Whether it's traditional pub grub such as sausages and mash, fish and chips and fish cakes or something more expressive, the use of fresh ingredients is paramount here. You could begin the meal with grilled Portuguese sardines and tomatoes on toast, salmon saltimbocca with grilled aubergine or goat's cheese with beetroot and walnut salad. Then proceed with Hereford ribeye steak with skinny chips and peppercorn sauce, char grilled ratatouille brochettes with tomato and couscous salad or grilled leg of lamb steak with Puy lentils and tzatziki. A carefully compiled wine list gives the customer a wide variety of individual wines, typical of the region and its grape varieties, as well a range of beers, spirits and soft drinks.

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

Curry aficionados can do justice to their cravings at The Red Turban which features a menu with interesting dishes from the subcontinent. Located in Straetfield Road, guests can unwind in a buzzing restaurant atmosphere with typical Indian street images lining the walls and live DJs stepping up the pace. With the capacity to host 100, the restaurant seating options - booths, benches and a lounge bar area - allows diners the space to chill out just as they wish. With a takeaway menu they can enjoy themselves in the comfort of their homes as well.

Moving away from typical 'Indian English food', executive chef Ashish Bhatia has been inspired by a culinary tradition that goes back 200 years old, rooted in the royal kitchens of India. It's a cuisine characterised by the subtle use of spices to impart a delicate flavour to the food. The Red Turban's offerings range from tangy street fare dished out in the region?s colourful bazaars to flavourful kebabs from Lucknow and tempting desserts, all made with fresh seasonal ingredients in-house.
 
Rich curries occupy pride of place on the restaurant's à la carte menu. Enjoy starters of potato cakes stuffed with green peas and drizzled with tamarind, tandoor baked mushrooms filled with cottage cheese or chicken tikka marinated with basil, kaffir lime leaves and green chillies. Traditional seekh kebab nizami, originally created by the chefs of the nizam of Hyderabad, combines minced lamb meat with the delightful flavours of saffron and spearmint to create an extraordinary melt-in-the-mouth dish.

Main course options include okra with powdered pomegranate, cumin and garlic, a north Indian speciality, lamb shank in a rich onion gravy infused with saffron and medley of salmon, scallops and king prawn poached in coconut milk. Fiery lal maas from Rajashthan delivers carefully selected pieces of lamb cooked with more than the usual quota of red chillies and other spices to create a dish that tests the palate's limits. Delectable biryanis of lamb, chicken and vegetables or a range of naan breads complement the main course.

Finally, consider soothing the palate with kulfi trilogy, infused with Bailey's, Kahlua and Malibu, pistachio pannacotta or carrot halwa, each of which makes for a pleasureable end to a fine meal. The cocktail bar promises red diva, Indian summer, lychee martini and peach and passion bellini as well as lassi, milkshakes and fruit juices.
The restaurant's 'turban experience' is a free membership system that allows customers to indulge in what they like best with discounts on food and drink, priority bookings for events and ad hoc gifts throughout the year. Comedy nights and a cinema club are on the anvil to enhance the experience.

The Red Turban is the perfect location for that special celebration. If it's your birthday and you are planning a party with at least eight guests, they will treat you to a complimentary bottle of champagne.  Or, they'll bake you a cake if your party has over 20 guests. And, for that special anniversary, there's an intimate meal for two with a complimentary bottle of wine. Their excellent Website will give you further details.

Namaaste Kitchen in Camden town is an Indian restaurant with a difference, created by The Salaam Namaste Bloomsbury team, and drawing heavily upon kitchen theatre. At its heart a theatrical restaurant show-kitchen enables diners to enjoy the spectacle of sophisticated Indian grills and different varieties of quality Indian and Pakistani cuisine in preparation. By the use of subtle and complex marinades they create distinctive dishes that are a delight of mingled flavours.

To match this modern approach the décor has been designed to respond in full, with a mix of traditional and contemporary design. The principal area is modern but with a rustic flavour of bare brick walls, chimney breast and fireplace. American walnut pillars contrast well with `cream leather seating.

A welcome innovation is the two Chef's Tables with a privileged view of the restaurant grill room, which between them can cater for groups of 8 covers. Three very core Indian grilling methods are used throughout; first the Tandoor, traditional Indian cooking done through a really hot clay oven, then the Sigri, a simple but effective method using a coal flame, and finally the impressive Tawa, where food is cooked or griddled on a hot, thick iron plate.

By now you may be asking whether the quality of the food matches that of the sense of theatre, to which the only real answer is, go and find out. But if you trust those who have, you will find no cause for hesitation. The menu offers around 16 starters, and whilst some of the respected dishes of long standing are there, look for the newcomers, the twists on old friends, and the inspirational, witness the Tandoori Portobello mushroom, marinated before being filled with figs, cashew nuts, raisins, green chilli and homemade cheese in a curry leaf dressing. It is often said the street food of India is amongst its best - test that statement with chowpatty Bhelpoori, vegetarian street food from Mumbai.

It is always fascinating to see the food of one country being adapted to the recipes of another, so why should we raise even so much as an eyebrow at wild rabbit leg Achari, cooked in pickling spices with missi roti and aubergine compote, never mind Peshwari lamb chops marinated with fresh ginger paste, raw papaya and specially selected herbs and spices. But my favourite comes from Rajasthan, the land of forts and palaces, where Tandoori Barbary duck breast is served with roasted tiger prawn in a tangy fresh salad, simple but inspired.

Dates and ginger naan, dhall Panchratan, a five-lentil mix of great charm, and exquisite lemon rice serve to bolster the principal courses, as if any were needed, but the biding memory is of the wonderful aromas that intertwine through the restaurant. It would be presumptuous to assume that the wine list in such a restaurant could be anything but sophisticated, and you'd be right. Light years ahead of any outdated assumptions that decent wines and Asian cuisine do not share the same aims, the wine list at Namaaste is a well annotated production that, whilst not lengthy, makes a strong case for the union at prices that only apply the rod in the Champagne area, and offer up towards a dozen by the glass.

The main bar has a feature wall of lights and stone slate to admire as you savour a cocktail before or after, and there is a good range of bar snacks and an all day dining menu. Absolutely no excuse at all for not paying an early visit to this increasingly popular Indian haven to high standards all round.

Check their Website for updated menus, offers and - yes, believe it or not - a takeaway menu. Lucky old Camden town!

Having served classic Italian trattoria fare for over 40 years, Taberna Etrusca in the heart of the City, continues to roll out old favourites to its loyal customers. With its unusual location, in the courtyard of St. Mary-Le-Bow church and its welcoming interiors of textured white walls, tiled floors and an open-beamed ceiling, Taberna Etrusca is a haven from the bustle of the city and in fine weather customers can take the opportunity to eat al fresco in the sunny courtyard to the rear of the restaurant. A short walk from Bank and Mansion House Tube Stations, the restaurant is also close to famous London landmarks such as St. Paul's Cathedral, the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall.

The seasonally changing à la carte menu is supplemented by daily specials, and offers starters of poached asparagus with sage butter and Grana Padano, fresh crab and avocado salad with a tomato coulis or finely sliced Parma ham with honeydew melon to begin the meal on an appetizing note. A mixed platter for sharing offers Parma ham, bresaola, salami, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and pickles.

Then continue with main course fare such as tagliatelle in a creamy smoked salmon, asparagus and dill sauce, spaghetti tossed with Scottish beef fillet slices sautéed in garlic, chilli and fresh tomatoes or penne with fresh vine tomatoes, grilled vegetables and goat's cheese.

Meat lovers will relish traditional dishes such as grilled calf's liver and bacon, served with a spring onion potato pureé and red wine reduction, chargrilled 28-day matured Scotch rib-eye, with crisp onions and grilled plum tomato or pan-fried pork fillet medallions topped with Parma ham and taleggio cheese, served with sautéed spinach.

If you prefer fish or seafood, there's choice of spicy tiger prawns with tomato, garlic and chilli served on a bed of rice, grilled scallops with lime, smoked pancetta and rocket and roasted fillet of sea bass with mixed wild mushrooms and oven baked diced potato. Set menus for lunch and dinner are also available.

BBQ set menus offer dishes such as succulent pork ribs with a caramelised BBQ sauce, 28-day matured Scotch beef sirloin steak or prime Cumberland sausages served in a roll with caramelised onion along with potato salad with chopped chives and pine nuts, plum tomato with buffalo mozzarella and basil salad with an extra virgin olive oil dressing or Russian salad and a selection of desserts and fruit.

Bring the meal to a fitting conclusion with tempting desserts of traditional tiramisu with Savoiardi biscuits dipped in espresso coffee and layered with mascarpone, baked lime cheesecake with a rum cream or warm chocolate fondant with coconut ice cream. There's also an assortment of soft and hard Italian cheeses served with biscuits and honey.

A predominantly Italian wine list features an extensive selection from all over the country, including a noteworthy selection of grappa, and a sprinkling of examples from the rest of Europe and the New World.

A well-appointed private dining room is available for up to 40 guests, with set, buffet, canapé and bespoke menus, is perfect for a special occasion or corporate event.

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

The White Swan in Fetter Lane between the City of London and Holborn is one of those transformations that works, it is instantly recognisable by its flavour, and its formidable ambience that casts a spell from the moment you enter. Converted from a former pub to what is popularly called a gastropub, offering modern British food, the transition is almost unbelievable, with smart wooden floors that resist the temptation to be chic, plenty of high quality woodwork in the detail, well ventilated when required and a light airy lofty dining room with floor to ceiling windows.

A ground floor pub pays homage to the traditional element and fresh flowers add a touch of that extra mile feeling. Free parking is available in Fetter Lane after 6.30pm Monday-Friday, after 1.30 on Saturdays and all day Sunday. Three NCPs are all within easy distance.

Even in these days of financial gloom people still eat lunch, and the White Swan is near enough to the City to be handy for those looking for style coupled with value. The magic number is six, so plenty of choices through all three courses and side dishes with a typical midday meal of rabbit terrine, prunes, figs, pickled girolles and hazelnut dressing followed by whole roasted lemon sole, clams, tomato, samphire and Jersey Royal potatoes, perhaps with some hand cut chips, peas and bacon or braised radishes to accompany.

This being essentially a City pub there is a highly worthy cheese board from Britain and France, and a choice of tempting desserts that includes milk chocolate ganache with cinnamon and raspberry doughnuts, or Eton Mess.

The evening menu follows much the same modern British direction, in the dishes, such as fine tart of mackerel, baby onions, black olive tapenade and balsamic accompanied by pan fried skirt steak, braised cheek, artichoke barigoule and bone marrow before ending with peanut butter parfait with Kirsch cherries.
 
Some dining room dishes are singled out for inclusion in an attractive bar menu, which also offers such sound brasserie numbers as fine tart of mackerel served with baby onions, black olive tapenade and balsamic, and Spanish olives followed by Atlantic cod and organic salmon fishcake with greens and tarragon butter sauce. An interesting list of homemade ice creams speaks for itself.

Fine food and wine evenings are a regular feature, though it has to be said that every evening has its merits. The menu has the feel of having been honed on the basis of what customers want rather than the other way round and whilst this is always a welcome sign the ailing economy seems to be lending it even more emphasis.

The White Swan is well able to cope with the demands of private events any day or night of the week. Spread over three floors it can be hired as a whole, for 150 people, with a 3am licence available at weekends, or piecemeal to suit smaller parties from 20 to 100. Dj nights are speciality.

Weddings as an item have changed for the better, and The White Swan will be more than happy to look after the arrangements for your reception at Fetter Lane. A maximum of 52 can eat a sit-down meal, or 24 for a seated buffet. A standing reception for 150 guests is a doddle, and if by any chance you are getting married at Islington Town Hall you are only a mere 15 minutes from the action.

For further details of this excellent and attractive pub and dining room a quick click on their Website should answer all your queries.

Named after the legendary actor Charlie Chaplin, Charlie's Ristorante Italiano on North End Road in Barnet is a comfortable neighbourhood Italian with a warm welcoming ambience that makes it perfect for a quick business lunch or enjoyable family dinner. Relax in its pleasant modern interiors - red, white and black décor, tiled floor and marble topped bar - enhanced by the numerous pictures, photographs and assorted Chaplin paraphernalia on the walls. Located right opposite Golders Green underground station, the restaurant is conveniently close to areas such as Hampstead Village, Swiss Cottage, St. John's Wood and Camden Town.

Charlie's offers a varied Italian menu with dishes made from fresh seasonal ingredients either imported from Italy or procured from local suppliers. As with the rest of the freshly prepared food, the pizza dough is made fresh every day and the pasta sauces are traditionally Italian. Starters of funghi ripeni, baked stuffed mushrooms in tomato, cheese and cream sauce, Parma ham with melon or polpette Napoli, prime minced seasoned beef meatballs cooked in a rich garlic and tomato sauce whet the appetite. Then take your pick from a variety of pizza toppings including prosciutto, topped with tomato, mozzarella and ham, Napoli, with tomato, mozzarella, olive, capers and anchovies, Americana, with tomato, mozzarella, sausage, peppers and chilli or cinque stagioni, with tomato, mozzarella, ham, mushrooms, olives, artichokes and sausage. There's also calzone, a traditional folded pizza filled with mozzarella, ham and mushrooms.

Choices of pasta include spaghetti Bolognese, linguine with squid, prawns, mussels and clams, penne arrabiatta and tagliatelle with chicken strips and mushrooms. Oven baked dishes feature cannelloni filled with ricotta cheese and spinach and topped with tomato and cheese sauce as well as melanzane alla Parmigiana, sliced aubergines in tomato sauce topped with cheese. Charlie's also offers a range of meat dishes include grilled lamb cutlets with rosemary sauce, chicken or veal Milanese with spaghetti Napoli and sirloin steak with mushrooms, onions and red wine sauce. The fish and seafood selection embraces grilled sword fish steak topped with a light lemon and virgin oil dressing, king prawns in a garlic, wine and chilli sauce and grilled salmon fillet with chopped tomatoes, herbs and lemon dressing. There's also a children's menu for under-10s offers pizza topped with cheese, tomato and sausage, penne with butter or tomato sauce and chicken nuggets with chips.

A carefully selected wine list includes house white and red starting at £11.95 per bottle and £3 per glass, while a bottle of Prosecco, the classic Italian sparkling wine can be had for under £20. The drinks list also includes birra beer, hot drinks and special coffees such as Irish and calypso as well as the expected selection of soft drinks. The restaurant can also cater for any occasion whether it's a birthday, wedding anniversary or office celebration with a variety of fixed priced party menus.

More information, including full menus, is available on their Website .

The Goring is London's oldest and favourite privately owned 5 star De Luxe hotel, situated in Belgravia, close to London?s most prestigious address, Buckingham Palace, and almost as grand. It has a fabulous Dining Room, created by the world-famous designer and cabinet maker, David Linley, and his talented team. It is also renowned for the quality of its English cuisine, combining tradition with modern touches.

The Dining Room combines state-of-the-art modernity with timeless, classical elegance. The room is decorated in shades of biscuit, cream and caramel. Amazing Swarovski chandeliers float above the diners and change colour, according to the amount of light streaming through the large windows.

David Linley said, 'The Goring is one of the last family-run hotels. It was about trying to preserve tradition. This is the best restaurant in London'.

At the Tio Pepe ITV Awards Ceremony, early in 2005, The Goring received the award of 'Best British Restaurant' and 'Hotel of the Year' at the Catey Awards 2009. And US Travel and Leisure Magazine listed it among its choice of the 100 best hotels in the world.

In the Dining Room, quiet waiters on castered feet hurry to and fro under the watchful eye of the Maître d'. The famous menu changes with the seasons and takes its cue from the very best kind of British country house cooking. This is British food exquisitely cooked and superbly presented and this is cooking that delights the critic as well as the simply hungry.

Specialities include the sensational glazed Scottish lobster omelette, poached fillet of Loch Duart salmon with sea aster, mussel and potato broth, and braised shoulder of Castle of Mey beef with onions, carrots and creamed potatoes. Puddings are a speciality and include poached pear with orange sponge, caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream and a fantastic selection of cheeses from across the British Isles.

The wine list is one of the finest in London, and is personally selected by Jeremy Goring and Managing Director, David Morgan-Hewitt. The Goring is unusual in laying down wine for the future enjoyment of its guests, which means that the prices are often more reasonable than in other quality establishments.

Fay Maschler wrote, 'I love the family-run Goring....an oasis of gentility'.

That is The Goring. Not ostentatious, not stuffy, a very gentlemanly place with lashings of five star quality.

Their four private dining rooms will accommodate between four and one hundred guests for breakfast, luncheons, dinners, cocktail parties and wedding receptions. Click on their attractive and clearly set out Website for further information.