The Ivy now has 15 locations in London but The Original Ivy on West Street is still known as a celebrity hang out and provides the best atmosphere. Their classics include Shepherd’s Pie with piped mash, steak tartar, Veal Holstein and Beef Wellington. Meals at the Ivy should never be rushed so be prepared to take your time to enjoy the dining experience. 

On nearby Henrietta Street you will find The Ivy Market Grill, an equally sumptuous venue with outdoor seating on the piazza. Their breakfast is as good as their heritage menu which delivers 2 courses for just £20.95 if you are not looking for the full-on experience. 

Balthazar has been known for its French food since 1997 when it first opened in New York but we have had one in London since 2013. The set menu pricing is very reasonable but you do need to book in advance. Enjoy oysters, mussels, macaroni cheese (did we say French?) and of course crème brulee. An orange and apricot spritz is waiting for you too. 

Let’s face it, you can get sushi pretty much everywhere but often it’s pretty tasteless. This is not so at Sticks n Sushi where set menu “Come for a Swim”, the Sashimi Deluxe bowl and Temaki Setto gets you super excited about your Omega 3 intake. Salads are great too. Like so many great places it’s located on Henrietta Street.

Sushi again but with a difference, Sushi Samba is fusion food combining Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine but is best known for the atmosphere. Ceviche crosses over with sashimi whilst kobe beef is cooked over Japanese coals. The cocktail menu is just even more eclectic and, being up on the first floor of the piazza itself, you get a great spot for people watching. 

Located below Sushi Samba and just inside the piazza is the Asian sharing experience Buns and Buns. Their breakfast menu is rather underwhelming but the main dishes are mouth watering. Consider a choice between lobster roll with yuzu mayo, crackling calamari salad and pork belly buns with bourbon glaze and then just order them all.

Jamie Oliver on Catherine St (between the Strand and Drury Lane) has a great outdoor terrace for summer dining and a “Proper Sunday Roasts” menu for when the month contains an 'r'. Try the black pudding scotch egg if that’s your thing or otherwise the highly sustainable chalk stream trout. 

For a quick bite and lots of choice try the indoor Seven Dials Market. Most tables are kept for walk ins but you can book and this is a great option for when everyone in your group fancies different things. Highlights include Pick n Cheese with its conveyor belt cheese and biscuits options. 

Mildreds vegetarian on St Martins Lane have been serving vegan and vegetarian food since 1988. Rather than a consolation prize, their food actually looks like the sort of thing you would actively choose even if there were meat and fish options on the menu which is no easy feat. The food is Mexican, British, Korean, Spanish and Japanese. They even have a specific onion and garlic free menu for those on a low FODMAP diet. 

Keep Chaating is an Indian vegetarian restaurant on Neal St which is fantastic value for money. With lots of choice on the menu set in a colourful yet somewhat eye bruising setting, you could do a lot worse! 

Dishoom is a small chain with 8 restaurants in London serving Indian inspired breakfast, lunch and dinner. They always have some walk in tables available although it is best to try to book in advance and despite the food being not entirely authentic, it is just delicious and the cocktails are excellent. Don’t miss their gunpowder potatoes, chicken ruby or house black daal and wash it all down with a mango lassi. Located on St Martin’s Lane. 

Flat Iron on Henrietta Street has a simple centre piece in its menu: steak. Everything else dances around that including crispy bone marrow garlic mash, chips made from beef dripping and a choice of 5 different sauces. Mouth-watering for carnivores but if you don’t eat beef then this is not for you. 

Finally, we love Barrafina on Drury Lane. You must have the Estrella Galicia on draft which is so hard to find in the UK and then remember that anything with an “x” in it, like txistorra, is from the Basque country and so is particularly good. Ditto anything Galician and remember that croquetas are always a good idea.