*Last updated in October

Just thought I’d make a quick list of some places which I like, based on the past couple of years. Lists such as this are subjective though; check out their menu and style online to find out more.

Hope it works as a quick reference!

Pitt Cue Co

A small, buzzy underground spot for some of the best barbecue in London.

Think: Pulled pork with green chilli slaw

Homeslice

Wood-fired pizzas with both classic and unique flavour combinations.

Think: Caramelised onions, kalamanta olives & anchovy

Hereford Road

No-nonsense British cooking in the mould of St John’s.

Think: Whole grilled mackerel, cucumber, kohlrabi and sea dulse

Pizzaro

The second, larger site from Spanish Maestro Jose Pizzaro.

Think: Glazed monkfish, with tomato bored and jamón

Barrafina

Consistently brilliant Spanish tapas from the Hart Brothers, with exciting daily specials

Think: Grilled quail with aioli

Donostia

Marvellous Basque tapas in a quiet spot near Marble Arch.

Think: Crispy fried cod cheeks with black squid ink aioli

Copita 

Delicious spanish tapas with a twist.

Think: Sweet potato, bravas sauce, aioli & nuts

 Atari-ya 

Supplier of some of the best fish and other seafood to top Japanese restaurants in London; it serves up the produce at various locations

Think: Deluxe Chirashi (Eel, crab, fatty tuna, scallop etc)

Sushi-Say 

A traditional Japanese eatery offering a range of dishes from sashimi to yakitori.

Think: Seasoned tempura on rice

Zuma

Stylish modern Japanese dishes from the Zuma group’s London outpost.

Think: Sliced seared tuna with chilli daikon and ponzu sauce

Polpetto 

Italian-inspired plates from the star of the Polpo group.

Think: Burrata, agretti, chilli

Elliot’s 

Top ingredients from Borough Market treated simply, with some interesting combinations.

Think: Smoked cod’s roe, melon & bull’s heart tomato

Harwood Arms 

Sophisticated dishes using seasonal British ingredients in a pub setting.

Think: Loin of Herdwick lamb with black garlic, artichokes and creamed spinach

Bull & Last 

Gutsy, generous British cooking in a relaxed atmosphere.

Think: Slow cooked pigs check, ratte potato puree, roast apple and black pudding

The Dairy & The Manor 

Sister restaurants from Robin Gill, where Britain meets Scandinavia for some exciting flavour combinations

Think: Applewood smoked eel, black garlic, rooftop onion / St George’s mushrooms, baby spinach, fermented nettle & hay

Artusi 

Peckham local featuring a short menu of Italian-inspired dishes.

Think: Langoustine, purple sprouting broccoli and Ndujá

Zucca 

Light Italian menu of antipasti, home made pasta, secondi and dessert

Think: Tagliatelle, gorgonzola, cima & walnuts

St John Bread & Wine 

Nose-to-tail eating in an informal setting, with a menu that changes twice a day.

Think: Crispy pig’s cheek, dandelion & aioli

Lyle’s 

Clever, timeless cooking using seasonal British ingredients.

Think: Saddleback, anchovy & onions

Antidote 

A wine bar with contemporary cooking, where superb ingredients are allowed to shine.

Think: Goosnargh duck breast, carrot, cinnamon & basil

 Picture 

Vibrant small plates in the heart of Fitzrovia.

Think: Grilled sea bream, fennel, courgette, tomato vinaigrette

Quality Chop House 

Masterful renditions of British classics in a Grade-II listed building

Think: Morels on toast

The Ritz 

Some of the best classical French cooking in one of London’s most beautiful dining rooms.

Think: Saddles of Lamb Belle Epoque

Taberna Do Mercado 

Nuno Mendes’s new casual Portuguese eatery has been a hit with its flavoursome sharing plates of traditional dishes brought to the next level.

Think: Cuttlefish and pig trotters coentrada

Primeur 

Daily changing menu of honest cooking with mediterranean influences.

Think: Squid, capers, lemon & parsley

Brunswick House Cafe

Well-crafted dishes using wonderful British produce.

Think: Monkfish, Cockles & Sprouting Broccoli

Naughty Piglets 

Brixton wine bar with a short menu of dishes with influences from around the world

Think: BBQ pork belly, sesame, Korean spices

Rex & Mariano (closing)

The freshest seafood of the finest quality prepared simply. The raw red prawns (Gambero Rosso) are a true show stopper.

Think: Sicilian large stripe prawns with lemon, red chilli, parsley, and olive oil

Bao 

Taiwanese-style steamed buns and other small dishes at one of London’s hottest restaurants.

Think: Confit pork belly with dried shallots in a bun

Odette’s 

Classy French dishes reflecting Chef Patron Bryn Williams’s Welsh roots.

Think: Welsh lamb, spiced aubergine, artichokes & wild garlic

Bonhams

Top-of-the-line ingredients with some real classy cooking

Think:  Vendée quail breast and confit leg with smoked pomme purée, charred sweetcorn and seared foie gras

Portland

Sublime Modern European dishes with Asian influences.

Think: Pig’s head croquette, fermented chilli, radish

The Clove Club 

The best of Modern British, with innovative takes on locally-sourced ingredients

Think: Cornish turbot, morels, peas, cinnamon & curry leaf

Kitchen Table

Tasting menu-only format around a U-bar featuring superb ingredients and technical ability

Think: Onion, truffle & pear

Fera at Claridge’s 

Sophisticated, classy cooking from Simon Rogan’s London restaurant, utilizing produce from his farm in the Lake District

Think: Grilled salad smoked over embers, isle of Mull, truffle custard & sunflower seeds

Dinner By Heston Blumenthal 

Exceptional reinvented historical British dishes.

Think: Ragù of pig’s eat on toast

The Ledbury

Sensational, refined dishes using the very best of British ingredients. Game is a real treat here.

Think: Fallow doe with white beetroot, rhubarb, olive & picked wild rose

Restaurant Story

Unique, exciting cooking from one of London’s most ambitious chefs

Think: Heritage potato, turnip and coal

Typing Room

Intricate dishes with bright, vibrant flavours

Think: Sea trout, gooseberries, chard & smoked eel

Sushi Tetsu 

The ultimate sushi and sashimi experience at a 7-seater in Clerkenwell.

Think: Seared jumbo shrimp sushi

Hedone

World-class ingredients given the perfect platform to shine.

Think: Liquid parmesan ravioli, sweet onion consommé, mild horseradish, guanciale

Texture

Scandinavian-inspired dishes with a light touch.

Think: Cornish skate wing, watercress, barley, rye bread & salsify

Chez Bruce 

Assured cooking with French/Mediterranean influences from a long standing Wandsworth institution.

Think: Foie gras and chicken liver parfait with toasted brioche

Pollen Street Social

Contemporary and informal dining at Jason Atherton’s flagship restaurant.

Think: Cumbrian suckling pig, roasted apple, king cabbage and granola clusters

City Social

The very best of sky high dining in the City.

Think: Tidenham duck breast, braised leg, wild garlic polenta, morel infused consommé