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Modern British Restaurants in London

Andrew Edmunds

46 Lexington St. W1R 3LH, Tel: 020 7437 5708, Open: noon-3pm and 6pm-11pm Mon-Fri, 1pm-3pm and 6pm-11pm Sat, Credit cards: MC, V, AE, Tube: Oxford Circus, Show Map
Highly likeable downtown eatery which, as well as offering a daily-changing menu, has an excellent (and reasonably priced) wine list. Main courses are often French inspired lamb, game and fish dishes, while comfort food desserts are rich, creamy and suitably indulgent.

The Avenue

7-9 St. James's St. SW1A 1EE, Tel: 020 7321 2111, Open: noon-3pm and 5.45pm-midnight Mon-Thu, noon-3pm and 5.45pm-12.30am Fri-Sat, noon-3.30pm and 7pm-10.30pm Sun, All major credit cards, Tube: Green Park, Show Map
While the stark, minimalist décor may not be to everyone's liking, The Avenue offers an upmarket New York style dining experience, with a pleasant, if slightly pricey English/Italian inspired menu. As a popular haunt for high-flying business types, the menu is surprisingly unfussy. Along with a good selection of pasta (ravioli, gnocchi, tortellini etc), fish is well represented, as are more traditional beefsteak, pork loin and liver dishes. If you can, opt for a table on the dais (less noisy).

Bank Aldwych

1 Kingsway, Aldwych, WC2B 6XF, Tel: 020 7379 9797, Open for Breakfast: 7am-11am Mon-Fri, Lunch: noon-3pm Mon-Fri, Brunch: 11.30am-3pm Sat, 11.30am-5pm Sun, Dinner: 5.30pm-11pm Mon-Thu, 5.30pm-11.30pm Fri/Sat
All major credit cards, Tube: Holborn, Show Map
With all the feel of a big Parisian brasserie, Bank is a centrally located restaurant that offers a good mix of both simple and more complex British/French influenced dishes. With food expertly cooked from an open kitchen, there's also a reasonably priced wine selection (ordered by style rather than region), including a number of decent reds from Australia. Having received the thumbs up from critics and punters alike, it's no wonder that the 200 seater dining area is often brimming to capacity. And, although the restaurant does get slightly noisy, the atmosphere overall is excellent. With the front bar also adding to the overall buzz of the place, it's advisable to book in advance.

Blue Print Café

Design Museum, Shad Thames, SE1 2YG, Tel: 020 7378 7031, Open: noon-3pm and 6pm-11pm Mon-Sat, noon-3pm Sun, All major credit cards, Tube: Bermondsey, Show Map
Another eatery in the Conran stable, the Blueprint Café is situated in London's Design Museum, east of Tower Bridge and among the renovated warehouses of Shad Thames. The views from the Café make this a pleasant place to eat, while the modern British menu doesn't disappoint.

Bradley's

25 Winchester Road, NW3 3NR, Tel: 020 7722 3457, Open: noon-3pm and 6pm-11.30pm Mon-Fri, 6pm-11.30pm Sat, noon-4pm and 6pm-11pm Sun, All major credit cards, Tube: Swiss Cottage, Show Map
Located just a stone's throw away from Primose Hill (and right next to Swiss Cottage Tube), Bradley's is one of North London's better kept secrets. Although not the best choice for vegetarians (with a menu comprising largely of meat and fish dishes), it nonetheless makes for a fine lunch or dinner venue. And, in an area otherwise bereft of good eateries, Bradley's' hospitable atmosphere and top-notch cooking compares favourably to more centrally located restaurants. Well executed lamb, venison, veal and oxtail dishes are matched by equally flamboyant fish dishes, while the wine selection comes from Australia and California. Attentive, friendly service rounds off a highly enjoyable experience. Recommended.

Circus

1 Upper James St. W1R 4BP, Tel: 020 7534 4000, Website: www.circusbar.co.uk, Open: noon-3pm and 6pm-midnight Mon-Fri, 6pm-midnight Sat, All major credit cards, Tube: Oxford Circus, Show Map
As younger sibling to The Avenue, Circus shares many of the same traits, namely a slightly soulless minimalist vibe and city-slicker type clientele. Arguably though, it offers better value and a more adventurous menu with starters such as oak-aged feta with aubergine and pepper terrine, sitting neatly alongside more extravagant offerings such as Iranian caviar with blinis and roast quail with poached pear in mulled wine. By and large, main courses rely upon simple, fresh ingredients (such as potato cake with spinach and oyster mushrooms, and monkfish with leeks and mussels), although exotic meats such as ostrich also appear. For afters there's an innovative selection of puddings, including white chocolate and honeycomb parfait and Amaretto cheesecake with coffee sauce. The restaurant's set three-course menu (available both pre- and post-theatre) is also extremely good value.

The Engineer

65 Gloucester Avenue, NW1 8JH, Tel: 020 7722 0950, Website: www.the-engineer.com, Open: noon-3pm and 7pm-11.00pm Mon-Fri, 12.30pm-3.30pm and 7pm-11pm Sat, 12.30pm-3.30pm and 7.00pm-10.30pm Sun, Credit cards: V, MC, Tube: Chalk Farm, Show Map
One of an increasing number of so called 'gastro pubs', which pay a great deal of attention to the culinary side of the operation, whilst still allowing you to sup a decent pint. Dishes have a decidedly Mediterranean feel, which is no bad thing, especially as a pleasant outdoor area allows you to soak up the sunshine during the summer. We believe you'll be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food here. Recommended.

The Fifth Floor

5th Floor, Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ, Tel: 020 7235 5250, Website: www.harveynichols.com, Open: noon-3pm and 6pm-11pm Mon-Fri, noon-3.30pm and 6pm-11pm Sat, noon-3.30pm Sun, Tube: Knightsbridge, Show Map
More than just an 'in-store eatery' The Fifth Floor is a favoured venue for the fashion conscious, well-heeled ladies of Knightsbridge. Along with great views, diners invariably catch up on all the latest gossip, as well as checking out what everyone else is wearing! With inventive, accomplished cooking, the menu features both à la carte classics, along with good value three-course set lunches. Mercifully, service is friendly rather than snooty, while the wine list is comprehensive and well-ordered.

The Fire Station

150 Waterloo Road, SE1 8SB, Tel: 020 7620 2226, Open: noon to 2.45pm and 5.30pm-11.00pm Mon-Sat, noon to 9.30pm Sun, Credit cards: V, MC, AE, Tube: Waterloo, Show Map
Although it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out the former use of this highly likeable London eatery, The Fire Station makes for a reasonable choice if you're after quality British cuisine followed (or even preceded) by a few drinks. Conveniently situated near to Waterloo railway station, the restaurant is fronted by a large, popular bar. And, while the boisterous, bevied up clientele of after work drinkers may be enough to put some off, work your way through the throng and you'll be treated to an innovative, daily-changing menu. What's more, prices are wallet friendly and portions generous.

Odette's

130 Regents Park Road, NW1 8XL, Tel: 020 7586 5486, midday-2.30pm and 7pm-11pm Mon-Sat, 12.30-3.00 Sun, Credit cards: MC, V, AE, Tube: Chalk Farm, Show Map
Charming North London restaurant that serves quality modern British cuisine in a relaxed, cosy setting. Great for couples, Odette's has an intimate atmosphere helped, in no small part, by the lavish display of gilded mirrors. In the evenings, gently flickering candles give the restaurant a really romantic feel, while the restaurant's conservatory is a boon during the summer. Light, delicate cooking is matched by an excellent wine list, with mains made up largely of meat, game and fish dishes. A seasonally-changing menu keeps regulars happy, while veggies are also catered for with innovative, reasonably priced dishes.

Quaglino's

16 Bury Street, St James's, SW1Y 6AL, Tel: 020 7930 6767, Website: www.conran-restaurants.co.uk, Open: noon-3pm Mon-Sun, 5.30pm-midnight Mon-Thu, 5.30pm-1am Fri- Sat, 5.30pm-11pm Sun, All major credit cards, Tube: Green Park/Piccadilly Circus, Show Map
Though the frontage of this famous name restaurant may be pretty uninspiring, inside both food and décor are first-rate. With a history dating back over 70 years, it was Giovanni Quaglino who first set up this 'society restaurant', bringing a sense of innovation and glamour to London's food scene. Revived by Sir Terence Conran, the restaurant's large dining area is a stunning achievement, with two sweeping staircases to heighten the sense of occasion. With a classy mix of traditional French and modern British cooking, the brasserie style menu works well, while the undoubted buzz you'll get from eating here only adds to the appeal.

Smiths of Smithfield

67-77 Charterhouse St, EC1, Tel: 020 7236 6666, Website: www.smithsofsmithfield.co.uk, Open: 7am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10.30am-5pm Sat-Sun (café), 11am-3pm and 6-11pm Mon-Fri, 6-11pm Sat (restaurants), All major credit cards, Tube: Farringdon, Show Map
Somewhat of an oddity, especially in these parts, Smiths is a multi-level food and drink emporium providing good basic fare, as well as more upmarket dining. Set in a Grade II listed warehouse, the culinary inspiration behind the venture is Aussie celebrity chef John Torode. Despite the tricky balancing act of combining a bar, café and two restaurants, his influence is clear to see, with the best fresh, local ingredients put to good use throughout.

On the ground floor, the bar and café offer morning coffee, along with decent sized breakfasts, light lunches and take-away service. The bar also has a well chosen selection of red and white European/New World wines, along with decent Czech and Belgian bottled beer (including the excellent Hoegaarden).

A floor up you'll find The Main Dining Room. Here, the simple menu is made up of soups, grills, lunches and meat specials. It's all good value too, with starters averaging a fiver, while main courses are around £10.

The smaller Top Floor restaurant is very much a top end London eatery, with a mix of modern British and Pacific fusion cooking. The restaurant also boasts a pleasant terrace for truly fine summer dining.

Stanley's (formerly R.K. Stanley)

6 Little Portland Street, W1W 7JE, Tel: 020 7462 0099, Open: Mon-Sat noon-11pm, All major credit cards, Tube: Oxford Circus, Show Map
If you like sausages, then Stanley's is the eatery to visit. Specialising in traditional sausages from Britain and beyond (along with some more modern recipes), your choice will be served with an appropriate accompaniment, often including mashed potato. To wash the meal down, there's a decent selection of ales and stouts, including a couple brewed exclusively for the restaurant.

Villandry

170 Great Portland Street, W1, Tel: 020 7631 3131, Open: 8.30am-10.00pm Mon-Sun, Credit cards: V, MC, AE, Tube: Great Portland Street, Show Map
Villandry is a good example of a growing trend in London, a restaurant with a food shop attached. The restaurant itself is reached by walking through the shop, so you'll also have an opportunity to look at their superb selection of imported foods, primarily from France and Italy. In the process, it's hard not to be tempted by the marvellous breads and mouthwatering cakes on offer. Be warned though, prices are fairly high.

Once passed the tempting lure of the shop, you'll find the restaurant's cooking an eclectic (and wholly satisfying) mix of British, Italian and French cuisine. With a menu changing daily - so that only the best available fresh ingredients are used - dishes tend to meat or fish based, often using lamb, rabbit, sole or sea bass. However, vegetarian tastes are catered for, with appealing salads and thick hearty soups. Better value if you eat at lunchtime, although Villandry also makes a good spot for breakfast or coffee.