Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

Located on Dean Street, in the heart of London's vibrant Soho, Cay Tre offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine in a stylish contemporary setting. Just a short walk from Oxford Street, the restaurant is the perfect spot for a leisurely lunch after a shopping expedition, and with Theatreland on the doorstep Cay Tre is ideally located for a pre-theatre dinner before taking in a performance in the West End.
 
The varied menu uses British produce wherever possible as well as authentic Vietnamese ingredients and offers a selection of delicious small plates, wraps and rolls, salads, noodle bowls and rice plates, pho dishes and mains. Whether it's small plates of grilled aubergine topped with brown shrimps, crabmeat and scallions; lemongrass skewered rib-eye beef served with fermented soy sauce or delicious rolls of wild shrimp, white crabmeat or crispy pork, each dish combines an array of delicious flavours.
 
A hearty dish of lemongrass marinated pork loin with rice vermicelli, crispy pork spring rolls, daikon and herbs or a Tiu Bowl with chicken, beef, charsiu pork and pho noodles in a tangy sour sauce is a meal in itself. A spicy pho dish of Hanoi Pho, a modern version of pho with flash-fried hanger steak and roasted garlic could be equally satisfying.
 
Mouth watering mains include roast baby chicken marinated in honey, five spice and dried Vietnamese herbs; claypot simmered Mekong catfish caramelised in anchovy fish sauce and roast Tamworth pork belly stuffed with sweet curry leaves from northern Vietnam, honey and lemon roasted and served with dried shrimp chilli oil.
 
Tasting menus for a minimum of two people have to be ordered 48 hours in advance and includes platters of stewed mallard, BBQ wild boar and lemongrass salt baked sea bream as well as whole suckling pig, lobster curry, roast guinea fowl and steamed sea bass. Set lunch and takeaway menus are also available.
 
An expertly compiled wine list offers a global selection of whites and reds that complements the food perfectly.

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

It is not an easy task to maintain impeccable standards and uniformity of taste across a chain of over eight hundred outlets, yet that is just the distinction that The Gondola Group has achieved. Their restaurants, with the brand names of Zizzi, ASK and Pizza Express, serve authentic Italian food at reasonable prices, in a warm and friendly ambience. The chain continues to grow, with the group opening around twenty-five new outlets each year.

Another talent that the group has is converting listed buildings and in which to house their restaurants. This has helped the group maintain standards, but allows each location to keep its innate charm. Done up in light colours, with wooden floors and gleaming cutlery, Zizzi boasts of a bustling open kitchen which churns out freshly prepared, tasty fare.

Like all good Italian restaurants, the extensive carte offers four distinct sections of antipasti, salads, mains, including pasta, pizza and risottos, a meat and fish menu which changes seasonally and a vast and exciting dessert menu. The restaurant's special antipasti platter has mixed Italian meats with buffalo milk mozzarella, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, mixed olives and red onion focaccia bread. Garlic mozzarella pizza bread and caramelised balsamic onions too, set the tone for a hearty meal.

The calzones or folded pizzas are a treat and come with salads. The carne piccante calzone has marinated chicken, meatballs, Bolognese sauce, mushrooms, chillies, tomato and mozzarella while the clarissa version, has aubergine, and red pepper caponata, olives, goats' cheese, rocket, pine nuts, tomato and mozzarella. The pasta and risotto sections arouse plenty of interest, with the farfalle alla Genovese combined with marinated roasted artichoke hearts, Santos tomatoes, and pine nuts in a delicious creamy pesto sauce or the light risotto with tiger prawns, oak-roasted salmon, calamari, courgettes and baby spinach in a rich creamy base with lemon and chilli.

The pizzas are not far behind either, with funghi topped with field mushrooms, fresh tarragon, mozzarella and tomato while the popular Sophia has marinated chicken, pepperoni, over-roasted sausage, tomato, mozzarella, finished with green chilli and fresh rosemary.

The extensive wine list offers a range of red, white, sparkling and rose wines in addition to beer and spirits while the dessert menu is attractive too, with a range of tempting fare from the homemade tiramisu to the torta cioccolata with its thick hazelnut chocolate base served with vanilla mascarpone. A really hot and tasty cup of coffee, tea or chocolate rounds the meal off well.

The fact that the restaurant hires their employees very selectively is evident in the friendly, cheerful and capable manner with which the staff treat diners, lending each outlet the personalised feel of a family run restaurant.

The Osteria Spiga is a welcome addition to West Hampstead's vibrant restaurant scene. Located on Broadhurst Gardens, just a stone's throw from West Hampstead Tube Station and a short walk from the O2 Centre, this Italian restaurant offers a range of specialities for the discerning diner in a smart contemporary setting.

The Osteria's à la carte begins with small bites of wild mushrooms tossed with garlic and herbs and meat balls with scarmoza cheese in a rich tomato sauce, followed by starters of fried goat's cheese with roasted mixed peppers, spinach and aged balsamic sauce; and smoked salmon with cucumber and fennel salad, mascarpone and chives. A wood-platter of Italian cured meats and cold cuts with artichokes, sundried tomatoes and grilled smoked mozzarella is a more substantial affair.
 
The pasta selection offers linguine with half lobster meat, cherry tomatoes and chilli, enhanced with brandy, homemade ravioli filled with roast veal and tossed in butter and sage and pappardelle with cherry tomatoes and aubergine enriched with mozzarella.
 
For the main course, you could select roasted chicken breast in a mushroom and cream sauce, served with mashed potato; pan-fried calf's liver with sultanas and toasted pine kernels in Marsala wine sauce garnished with sautéed fresh spinach or Grissini crusted rack of lamb, garlic and rosemary sauce with potato gratin. A set menu is also available for lunch and dinner.
 
After a long walk on Hampstead Heath, just a short drive from Osteria Spiga, why not reward yourself with delicious desserts of vanilla pannacotta with mango coulis, chocolate torte with fresh strawberries or crème brûlée with Irish cream and forest fruits which will satisfy even the sweetest tooth. There's also a selection of ice creams and sorbets as well as a cheeseboard with Italian and English cheeses.
 
The Italian dominated wine list offers a variety of flavourful whites and fruity reds from regions such as Umbria, Abruzzo and Toscana as well as sprinkling of wines from France and Australia.

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

The East Hill is located in Wandsworth on Alma Road SW18 in the heart of an area known as the Tonsleys. The pub is approximately 200 yards from Wandsworth Town railway station, which serves the main line into central London as well as direct to Twickenham.

Hidden in a residential street and looking more like a modern country residence than a pub, the environment is clean, bright and permeated by elegance, all made comfortable by the presence of big woven carpets, wall benches and old-style leather couches.

The East Hill is a gastropub in every sense of that description; customers have the option of lounging out and enjoying the atmosphere of the bar with a glass of wine or the specially selected beers on offer. A small conference/private dining room is also available, which seats up to fifteen guests, while, shaded from the sun or warmed by heat lamps, the outside patio can be utilized by drinkers and diners alike.

The menu ranges from homemade burgers, seared salmon on warm potato salad to rib eye steaks and broad bean and pea risotto. There is also a great choice of bar bites including a whole baked camembert and homemade scotch eggs. Fish lovers will enjoy Fridays at the East Hill with an extra fishy menu and specials.

While Sundays are the day to relax at the East Hill, why not start with a perfectly mixed Bloody Mary, enjoy a great roast lunch and stick around for the ever popular quiz on Sunday evenings?

Beers and wines are far from disappointing: you could opt for a Tea, San Miguel, Bitburger, Twickenham Scrum Down, Doombar, Aspall on draught, or Tiger, Sol, Konig Ludwig Weiss and Baltica (Russia) in bottles. The real attraction as far as the drinks go, however, is the wine, arranged on a list 30 vineyards long. Whites and reds are grouped according to dryness and flavour, and they have been selected with extreme care and knowledge.

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

El Cantara, deep in the heart of London's raffish Soho, is the first to bring together the Spanish and Moroccan elements in a setting that is highly prized for what is regarded as the real McCoy. The arabesque décor and plush seating provide an atmosphere of natural enjoyment, and together with authentic cuisine and agreeable company, it?s like being transported from bustling Soho to tranquil Marrakesh or Andalusia.

The list of starters is so vast, underlining the tapas trend, that it is broken down into soups, vegetarian and meat, with harira and cream of vegetable to set the ball rolling. Beetroot and avocado salad is served with a balsamic and olive oil dressing and the piquillo de patatas offers baby peppers stuffed with a potato and carrot purée.

Spinach with olive oil, olives and compote lemon will be better recognised by some as baccoula and a tortilla emerges as a Spanish omelette with potato and onion. Broad beans are a popular vegetable, particularly when served as habas a la Catalana, with mixed herbs, cumin and garlic. All these attractive dishes emphasise the Mediterranean dependence upon vegetarian sources for so much of their ingredients, and perhaps helps explain the longevity of the inhabitants.

However, faced with pan fried spicy sausages served in spicy tomato sauce, grilled chicken wings in a fragrant orange and paprika marinade, oven baked sardines served with a mixed herb crust, crispy buttered squid rings, or mussel shells stuffed with crab and mussel meat the attention of even the most dedicated carnivore might begin to stray.

Couscous, steamed fluffy cracked wheat, is served with a choice of lamb, chicken or Mergeuz, vegetables or Royal. The charcoal grill is a major force when it comes to preparing Mediterranean food, and the mixed grill on one side, the grilled chicken with a lemon, saffron and garlic marinade is in a class of its own.

Lovers of the tagine, that delightful Moroccan stew served in the traditional pot will be cheered by the choices, which include seafood, lamb, vegetable and chicken. The menu of any self-respecting Mediterranean restaurant could not exist without its paella, with seafood and chicken served as a dish for two. A real delicacy is the pollo Basque, chicken served with a sweet pepper, garlic and cream sauce, but possibly the ultimate is the frito mixto Andaluz, an assortment of five different seafoods served on a bed of rice.

Moroccan or Spanish bread lends a whole new meaning to the word artisan in this connection, and small mixed salads add a nice touch to the meal. A tapas menu at £16.95 embraces any four starter dishes, and the 3 course set menu for six people or more is good value, particularly as it includes a jug of sangria. A pre-theatre menu at £19.95 starts with a tapas platter, and a choice from two main courses.

The food is of commendable quality, the surroundings authentic, and with house wines at £13.95 and Chateau Musar from the Lebanon all is well with the world.

Another indulgence at El Cantara is the shisha terrace when you can experiment with fruity flavours such as apple, strawberry, mint and grape, or you could team up your fresh apple or milk shisha with an array of cocktails. Guests are also guaranteed generous doses of entertainment with either the belly dancer with her snake or the flamenco artists in their amazingly colourful attire. What?s more, you can even learn belly dancing or ask the tarot card reader to predict your future.

The two beautifully appointed private dining rooms at El Cantara are done up in a charming manner, the lounge bar can accommodate up to 50 and the first floor is spectacularly decorated with Moroccan artefacts. It can accommodate up to 80 diners and includes an outdoor terrace and private sound system.

Do click on their Website for latest news on menu changes and offers.

The Fish and Grill in Putney follows its namesake in Croydon with chef owner Malcolm John continuing to do what he does best. Freshly prepared seafood with a choice of grilled steaks is served in a laid back cozy ambience with dark wood furniture and leather upholstery, perfect for an enjoyable evening with family and friends. Al fresco dining on the terrace can accommodate up to 30 guests. The Fish and Grill is a 7-minute walk from Putney Rail Station.

Diners are greeted by a fresh fish bar showcasing a wide ranging selection sourced from the South Coast and Cornwall. Rare-bred meats and the free-range poultry offer delicious alternatives for lunch or dinner. The meal could open with starters of salt cod fritters served with crushed pea aioli, Dorset crab with mayonnaise, whitebait with aioli or Carlingford oysters. The potted fish selection offers smoked mackerel with toast and breakfast radish, curried shrimps with gem lettuce and Cornish gurnard with citrus, toast and Waldorf salad.

Alternatives to fish and seafood starters include a Natoora Italian charcuterie board and English asparagus with soft boiled duck egg and hollandaise as well as salads beetroot with goat?s curd, pickled walnut and wild mushrooms and endive with honey and grain mustard.

After the appetizing beginning to the meal you could follow up with mains of grilled Cornish lobster, pan roast skate with capers and samphire, whole grilled crab with garlic chilli and ginger butter, beer battered haddock with pea purée and pea ravioli with mint butter and aged parmesan. The grilled selection includes a succulent Aberdeen Angus fillet steak on the bone, veal chop with lemon and marjoram, Southdown lamb cutlets and Chateaubriand for two with roasted bone marrow, all served with triple cooked chips and béarnaise or pepper sauce.

If you feel like going with the set menu then you could dine on starters of squid tempura with tartar sauce, leek and potato soup with smoked fish or salad of watercress, with endives, brae-burn apple, beetroot and grain mustard. For mains try aged rump steak with dripping chips, whole grilled Cornish plaice with clams and monks beard or house burger made with hand diced Angus beef, blue cheese or cheddar and bacon or jerk seasoning.

A children's menu offers the little ones dishes such as grilled maize fed chicken with mash potato and cooking juices, fish fingers with tartar sauce and green beans or broccoli and tomato, basil and mozzarella fettuccine.

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

In trendy Shoreditch, Viet Grill offers a delicious selection of Vietnamese cuisine in a French colonial-style setting. A 3-minute walk from Hoxton Rail Station, Viet Grill London features a sleek, contemporary dining room.
 
Exotic and eclectic, the Viet Grill menu offers starters such as Vietnamese tamarind soup, grilled Red Sea prawns and charcoal grilled beef fillet served with fermented soy dip, and salad of lobster and pomelo or lotus stem with shrimps. For the main course at Viet Grill restaurant, enjoy Dong Du lamb curry, cognac 'Luc Lac shaking beef,' wok seared with whole garlic, cloves and black pepper or banana leaf-roasted mackerel, marinated in saffron, galangal and lemongrass.

A selection of traditional Vietnamese pho dishes and noodle or rice bowls, as well as an express lunch menu are also available. Desserts like banana fritter and coconut ice cream bring the meal to a delightful end. Refresh the palate with traditional sake, beer, spirits or wine from Viet Grill Shoreditch.

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

It is not an easy task to maintain impeccable standards and uniformity of taste across a chain of over eight hundred outlets, yet that is just the distinction that The Gondola Group has achieved. Their restaurants, with the brand names of Zizzi, ASK and Pizza Express, serve authentic Italian food at reasonable prices, in a warm and friendly ambience. The chain continues to grow, with the group opening around twenty-five new outlets each year.

Another talent that the group has is converting listed buildings and in which to house their restaurants. This has helped the group maintain standards, but allows each location to keep its innate charm. Done up in light colours, with wooden floors and gleaming cutlery, Zizzi boasts of a bustling open kitchen which churns out freshly prepared, tasty fare.

Like all good Italian restaurants, the extensive carte offers four distinct sections of antipasti, salads, mains, including pasta, pizza and risottos, a meat and fish menu which changes seasonally and a vast and exciting dessert menu. The restaurant's special antipasti platter has mixed Italian meats with buffalo milk mozzarella, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, mixed olives and red onion focaccia bread. Garlic mozzarella pizza bread and caramelised balsamic onions too, set the tone for a hearty meal.

The calzones or folded pizzas are a treat and come with salads. The carne piccante calzone has marinated chicken, meatballs, Bolognese sauce, mushrooms, chillies, tomato and mozzarella while the clarissa version, has aubergine, and red pepper caponata, olives, goats' cheese, rocket, pine nuts, tomato and mozzarella. The pasta and risotto sections arouse plenty of interest, with the farfalle alla Genovese combined with marinated roasted artichoke hearts, Santos tomatoes, and pine nuts in a delicious creamy pesto sauce or the light risotto with tiger prawns, oak-roasted salmon, calamari, courgettes and baby spinach in a rich creamy base with lemon and chilli.

The pizzas are not far behind either, with funghi topped with field mushrooms, fresh tarragon, mozzarella and tomato while the popular Sophia has marinated chicken, pepperoni, over-roasted sausage, tomato, mozzarella, finished with green chilli and fresh rosemary.

The extensive wine list offers a range of red, white, sparkling and rose wines in addition to beer and spirits while the dessert menu is attractive too, with a range of tempting fare from the homemade tiramisu to the torta cioccolata with its thick hazelnut chocolate base served with vanilla mascarpone. A really hot and tasty cup of coffee, tea or chocolate rounds the meal off well.

The fact that the restaurant hires their employees very selectively is evident in the friendly, cheerful and capable manner with which the staff treat diners, lending each outlet the personalised feel of a family run restaurant.

More information can be found on their Website.

Housed in a beautiful Tudor building, formerly The Victory pub, Zizzi delivers contemporary Italian dining in warm, welcoming surroundings. The restaurant's design draws inspiration from the history of Pinner, including the work of the celebrated artist W. Heath Robinson, while making the most of the delightful historic architecture.

A short drive from Pinner Hill Golf Club, Zizzi is the perfect place for a delicious Italian meal after a round of golf.

The bustling open kitchen at Zizzi turns out freshly prepared, tasty fare. The extensive à la carte offers distinct sections of antipasti, salads, pizza and calzone, pasta, risottos and mains of seasonally changing meat and fish dishes with a variety of tempting desserts to finish.

Zizzi's special antipasti platter has mixed Italian meats with buffalo milk mozzarella, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, mixed olives and red onion focaccia bread. There's also choice of arancini, crispy risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella and peas and served with a tomato chilli sauce as well as gnocchi gorgonzola, potato dumplings in a creamy gorgonzola and spinach sauce seasoned with nutmeg and black pepper, setting the tone for a hearty meal.

For a delicious pasta or risotto choose between penne vodka, king prawns, chilli, peas and Grana Padano in a creamy tomato and vodka sauce; ravioli di capra, goat's cheese and spinach ravioli served with tomato sauce and topped with pesto and pine nuts; zucca e pancetta, pumpkin, pancetta, spinach, sage and Grana Padano topped with mascarpone and rigatoni con pollo e funghi, chicken in a tomato, onion, rosemary and mushroom sauce. Gluten-free pasta is also available on request.

If you prefer a pizza, then you could try Zizzi's speciality pizza rustica, which couples extra thin and crispy bases with a range of toppings such as bufala, buffalo mozzarella with sunblush tomatoes, basil, rocket and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or mare e monti, one half topped with tiger prawn, courgette and mozzarella and the other with spicy sausage, tomato sauce and chilli, all finished off with a rocket and crème fraîche. The carne piccante calzone has marinated chicken, meatballs, Bolognese sauce, mushrooms, chillies, tomato and mozzarella while the clarissa version, has aubergine, and red pepper caponata, olives, goats' cheese, rocket, pine nuts, tomato and mozzarella. Zizzi's calzon'pizzas, half calzone and half pizza, add an interesting twist to the meal.

Sumptuous mains include agnello con peperonata, roasted lamb shank served with basil, roasted vegetables and a little pot of potatoes with tomato, red onion and Grana Padano; duck arrosto, slow roasted whole duck leg in a balsamic, olive and pancetta reduction served with Tuscan potatoes and green beans; and sea bass al vino, sea bass pan fried with wine, garlic and baby plum tomatoes and served with herby potatoes.

The scrumptious dessert list offers torta cioccolata with its thick hazelnut chocolate base topped with rich chocolate torte and served with vanilla mascarpone; homemade tiramisu; creamy vanilla pannacotta with fruit compote and torta Zizzi, an almond-based plum and fig tart topped with pistachios and icing sugar and served with gelato.

The wine list is dominated by a range of Italian wines from regions such as Veneto, Lazio, Sicily, Tuscany and Lombardy. Also on offer is an assortment of beers, and spirits as well as a range of soft and hot drinks.

More information can be found on their Website

Housed within the iconic Blakes Hotel on Roland Gardens, Blakes Restaurant expertly combines the best of Eastern and Western cuisineenhanced by elegant service in splendid surroundings. Located in the well-heeled South Kensington area of London, it's close to well-known attractions such as Hyde Park, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Royal Albert Hall while the shops and boutiques on Brompton Road are just a short drive away.

The work of the reputed designer and London socialite Anouska Hempel, the restaurant's atmospheric setting combines classic design with luxurious furnishings and exotic artefacts to create a unique ambience in which guests cannot but relax and unwind at leisure.

Dinner could begin with starters of miso soup with silken tofu, carpaccio of beef with parmesan, tortellini of foie gras des landes or salt and peppered soft shell crabs. Add a luxurious touch to your meal with Oscietra or Royal Beluga caviar served with Balkes blini or warm potato soufflé and vanilla ice cream.

Follow with delicious mains of angel hair pasta with black truffle, black cod with miso and ginger sauce; beef fillet teriyaki with hot sake or rack of English lamb and rosemary with mint cous cous. Diners looking for a lighter bite could enjoy refreshing salad of buffalo Burrata mozzarella with tomatoes or warm chicken salad with avocado, pomelo, cashews and nam jim sauce. The lunch menu offers ginko nut curry with lime risottini, baby chicken with thyme and lemon or peppercorn fillet of beef. While the bento box selection includes miso soup with silken tofu, beef teriyaki, lobster toast and ginger rice.

The desserts menu at Blakes is a joy in itself and includes tempting gems such as the light and refreshing dessert of coconut ice cream with lime and palm sugar, a simpler tropical fruit salad or a richer dark chocolate fondant with vanilla and pistachio ice cream and finally, if you wish, coffee with cardamom or ginger tea.

The restaurant's all-day menu serves a selection of dim sums; fried prawn and yuzu sauce, soups, sandwiches and hot food; toasted poilâne sourdough chicken sandwich with avocado and ginger and Blakes burger and French fries and salads; oak smoked scotch salmon.

Breakfast is also served at Blakes with choice of a full English, continental breakfast or more exotic fare such as Changa Turkish eggs, two poached eggs served with leaf spinach, chilli oil and yoghurt; classic Scottish smoked salmon with scrambled eggs spicy Parsee eggs a dish of scrambled eggs with fresh green chilli and coriander. For a healthy alternative try Bircher muesli with Greek yoghurt and fresh berries or compôte of fruit with cornflakes and prunes.

For a delightful break during the day the afternoon tea menu at the adjoining Chinese Room or Courtyard offers finger sandwiches with fillings of beef and chilli horseradish, smoked salmon and egg and cress; fresh scones with fresh strawberries and cream; a selection of tea cakes and choice of tea from Earl Grey, Lapsang Souching and Darjeeling.

An extensive wine list with a range of whites and reds from Italy, France, Germany, Australia and South Africa complements the food perfectly.

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