Using only the freshest ingredients, the restaurant serves a variety of seasonal dishes such as cassoulet duck and pork; Dorset crab mayonnaise with avocado and avruga caviar; and hare ravioli with celeriac purée, grelotte onions and Chanterney carrots, which can be enjoyed by a couple or the whole family in a warm and intimate setting.

The desserts offer a choice of plum clafoutis, with crème fraîche and Kerala vanilla crème brûlée, which is definitely worth giving a try.Sampling from an extensive drinks list of vintage champagnes and a good selection of white, red and rosé wines by the bottle, caraffe or glass, makes for a delightful ending to the entire dining experience.

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

The Bull stays true to its claim of being a 'humble pub' in the middle of the fashionable Westfield shopping centre in Shepherd's Bush. It's informal and welcoming with charmingly mismatched furniture, a billiards board and other games to keep the crowds busy. Weary shoppers could pop in for a coffee, sit back to enjoy a relaxed meal, or sip on some traditional English ales, lagers or wines, chosen by John Clevely, Master of Wine.

The menu changes everyday and features British classics such as fisherman's pie with cheddar mash, braised beef and carrots, and fish and chips, served with peas and tartare sauce. Lunchtime shoppers keen to grab something quick to eat could try the terrine of pork and veal, chutney and toast, wild mushrooms and duck egg on toast, or eggs Benedict. For desserts a white chocolate cheesecake is light on the tongue, or there's a chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream that's rich in flavour and taste.

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

If there is one part of rural southern England that remains relatively immune from the worst excesses of our overcrowded island it must be those tucked away areas within the Dorset Downs. In some places little changed since the days of Hardy they offer a retro view into another, kinder world. Harpers and Queen magazine recognise this quality and Summer Lodge has their accolade amongst "100 Best Places in the World" and "Top 10 in the UK".

In no small way this is due to the 3 AA Rosette award-winning restaurant, where the Relais and Châteaux code of Courtesy, Charm, Character, Calm and Cuisine is well recognised. With a menu presided over by Executive Chef, Steven Titman, formerly of the popular White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine, widely acclaimed at an international level, it is not surprising that awards tend to flow in parallel with the smoothness of the service.

The menu takes its inspiration from the ingredients so richly available in this well-blessed part of England, a fact of which the public at large become increasingly aware as Hugh Fernley Whittingstall continues to sing their praises at River Cottage HQ. Starters may include seared sea scallops with Jerusalem artichokes, a warm smoked haddock fillet with white bean and chorizo 'cassoulet', trio of quail in the form of roast breast, confit leg and consommé, or grilled red mullet with a butternut squash carpaccio.

Steve Titman's signature dish invokes the best of Dorset, with roast loin of Dorset lamb and braised shoulder 'Shepherd's Pie' with Savoy cabbage and rosemary jus. The sea is seductively near and some of the best fish in Britain is landed along the south coast. Keep a lookout for Cornish turbot, langoustine and winter truffle strudel with creamed cauliflower and Noilly prat, or a delightful lasagne of John Dory fillets and local mussels with a light curry foam and cucumber salad.

Desserts could in no way be described as puddings - rather works of culinary art, each with its own recommended wine. A glass or two of Italian Braida, Brachetto d'Acqui (DOCG) Piedmont 2004 may give the clue to an assiette of 'Valrhona' chocolate, dark chocolate fondant, white chocolate mousse and milk chocolate ice cream, surely enough to beguile the most resistant sweet-tooth.

All four of the desserts on the menu come together as a Taste of Summer Lodge for two people to share, even greater fun if you have a glass of each of the suggested wines en route.

For those able to pool their gourmet aspirations into one menu the two taster menus offer a wonderful solution, with grilled fillet of veal, local ham, Swiss cheese beignets, vanilla panna cotta and roasted blackberries, followed by Malibu jelly, coconut sorbet and mango sauce, as but one example.

On hand to assist in matters of wine is the resident Sommelier, backed by the resources of a notable list. Wine Dinners are a regular feature of the restaurant's, normally held on the first Tuesday of the month, when Eric Siebel MS, Cellar Master at Summer Lodge, offers a menu of four courses with five wines, starting at an incredibly reasonable £65.

Bistro Delicat in Northcote Road brings to discerning London diners the flavours of quintessential Viennese cuisine. Guests can relax in the cosy dining room with décor of classic black and white wall tiles, wooden floors, open fire and a zinc clad bar. Business partners Erik Ammer and Andreas Laszlo have brought their diverse experience and passion for food to bear on the venture.

A refreshing start to either brunch, lunch or dinner is provided by salad of radicchio, rocket and frisée with roasted walnuts and mild goat's cheese. Other options include a charcuterie platter or clear beef consommé. Get to the heart of the matter with classics of Wiener schnitzel or beef gulasch with homemade bread dumplings and pickled gherkin. Martini gans, oven roasted goose leg served with red cabbage and potato dumpling may interest you too. The gastronomic foray ends with familiar apple strudel with vanilla ice cream or the more exotic Kaiserschmarrn, pan fried soufflé with roasted plums. An evolving list of fine wines drawn from select, independent vineyards in France and Austria enhances the pleasure considerably.

The 28th - and top - floor of the Hilton, Galvin at Windows Restaurant and Bar is now featured in the Michelin Guide and continues to be one of the most talked about restaurants in London. With stunning views over London, normally it's only the chosen few who get the table with a view in such places, but not here, where the centre of the restaurant has been raised to give those on the inner tables a share of the scenery as well.

Whatever may be said about restaurants with views, roughly in keeping with paintings that have wonderful frames, can largely be ignored here, for what emerges just as strongly as distant views of parts of London you never knew about is the very recognisable food drummed up by Chris Galvin and André Garret, a formidable team indeed. The style is very much modern French; expect to find starters of smoked potato velouté and duxelle of ceps, and mackerel tartar, rillette of mackerel, tomato jelly and avruga.

A fillet of sea bream with ragoût of haricot Blanc and Morteau sausage, baby artichoke and bordelaise shallots is one of the high spots of the menu. An elegant conclusion to such a thoroughly genuine and satisfying spread, in the form of greengage clafoutis and marzipan ice cream could hardly be bettered.

Attractive and luxurious St. James Hotel is known to be a gentlemen's comfortable refuge for the English aristocracy. Located just off St. James's Street in London, in a stunning Victorian building, the hotel-cum-club is in itself a symbol of opulence and elegance as is the sophisticated yet relaxed William's Bar and Bistro at the hotel.

The carte is perfect for light lunches, pre and post theatre supper or a traditional English afternoon tea. Executive chef William Drabble has a distinctive cooking style brought  through graceful presentations, to the table. Seared scallops and Jerusalem artichoke purée served with aged balsamic vinegar quickly sets the appetite in motion. Whilst a grilled sea bass is always a popular dish dish, the roasted baby chicken, marinated in lemon, rosemary and garlic is not far behind. Sinful indulgences include apple tart topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate mousse.

An extensive and well travelled wine list is never far from the scene.

Masala Zone Bayswater is a relative newcomer to the multi coloured scene of Indian cooking. Owned by Masala World, who also own Amaya, Veeraswamy and Chutney Mary, three of London's top Indian restaurants, they aim to bring informal and real Indian food to London at sensible prices, and not before time.

They serve tasty Indian street snacks, together with more conventional offerings. The atmosphere is terrific, very laidback and authentic. They also do vegetarian food, to which the Indian approach is always such a success thanks to its historic foundation in the sub-continent, which is prepared in a separate kitchen manned by Brahmins - a nice touch.

The décor is striking enough before you get anywhere near the food with each Masala Zone restaurant featuring a different form of Indian art. Masala Zone Bayswater features bold, vibrant and exotic pop art collages of firecracker labels from the fire cracker town of Sivakasi in South India. This welcomes you to another world where the genuine taste of India helps to subtly fortify you for return to the one you've just left.

Starters of spiced mash cake with yoghurt and chutney (aloo tikki chaat), vie with chana dabalroti, a tangy chickpea curry, lotus root with hunks of toasted bread, a famous sindhi dish.

Indian street food is world famous and you are most likely in for some exceedingly pleasant surprises as you scan the menu. Perhaps the adage "you are what you eat" will flit through your mind as you note the sparing use of oil, the fresh ingredients and the thalis that offer a balanced combination of nutrition, flavours, textures and colours. A gujarati thali on its stainless steel platter will offer gujarati vegetarian canapés, vegetables, dals, chapattis, rice, salads and pickles.

The grand thali, the equivalent of a two course meal, is for the very hungry, and the regular version caters well for the less-challenged. Look also for curry and rice plates that embrace some of the great Indian classics, such as rogan josh, prawn malai, and butter chicken, as well as Indian grills enabling an eat light approach, with chicken tikka, lamb seekh kebab, and prawns.

Indian desserts are notable for their seductive powers with homemade ice cream (kulfi), gulab jamun, falooda (a fun Indian sundae) and various sorbets and ice creams.

Drinks include several versions of lassi, the frothy yoghurt whip, a wide range of juices, Indian squash, and wine list chosen with Indian food in mind, starting at £13.05 a bottle with nothing more than £19.25. Indian and European beers are also available, but cooking this good demands, shall we say, something a touch more sophisticated. No reservations required. Find out more about this user friendly small group on their Website.

At a time when one can't think of burning too many holes in the pocket places like Bistro 1 come to the rescue, and who would not love a bustling busy place, serving value-for-money Mediterranean food accompanied by an exciting selection of world wines anyway? There are three outlets in Soho and one in Covent Garden, each a celebration of good cooking inviting diners to explore the lighter side of dining - both on the palate and the wallet.

Turkish spicy sausages with salad and chef's dressing, char-grilled sardines with garlic mayonnaise and deep-fried spicy chicken on skewers with a garlic yogurt dip could fire up the taste buds. Then there are more delights in store and even the most picky eaters amongst us will be spoilt for choice, think mixed seafood penne pasta, Mediterranean style meat or vegetable moussaka, beef bourguignon and fillet of sea bream topped with smoked salmon and saffron cream. Finally a sweet spark to the meal could come in the form of a banoffee pie or an apple tarte tatin.