Cafe Murano is under the direction of Michelin starred chef Angela Hartnett. In the heart of Covent Garden, it offers Northern Italian food with an ever changing menu. We were lucky enough to go during its opening week and opted for several of the dishes (with a discount):

Chiccetti
Broad bean and rosemary arancini (recommended to ue by the waiter)
Caponata, aubergine and green olives (I can't help but order aubergine when it is on the menu)
Antipasti
Portland crab, scorched rossa lunga onions, apple
Primi
Farfalle, rabbit, peas and girolles (by far one of our favorite dishes we tried)
Risotto, San Marzano and Basil (quite rich)
Secondi
Braised lamb shoulder, tuscan beans, celery and lemon
Stonebass, fennel and tomato (we saw others order the monkfish which would have been another good option)

Dishes are quite small, which is nice as you can order many and share (sort of like an Italian tapas). Angela was head chef that day, and I managed to ask for her autograph on the menu as we left (please see attached). For those of you familiar with the area, you may recall that this was once Ozer (part of a chain of Turkish restaurants in London). The layout is exactly the same, with an airy bright atmosphere upstairs due to the glass roof (although I can imagine it can get quite hot in summer). The only downside is that you go down several (perhaps it was only one) flight of stairs for the toilets. Staff were friendly but service was slow (might have been as it was the opening week).

Tucked away at the back of Bubbledogs in the heart of Fitzrovia through a discrete curtain, is the 19 seat Kitchen Table by James Knappett. The idea is to provide an intimate dining experience with full interaction with the chefs and a daily changing menu of "meticulously sourced" British ingredients.

We first visited during its opening few weeks in October 2012, before it had been awarded its Michelin star (in 2014). We were lucky enough that James Knappett was head chef that day. Our set menu (see picture) consisted of 13 courses. Don't worry they are quit small, but rich enough and full of flavour to fill you by the end. The set menu is the only option on offer, but they were kind enough to substitute some of the dishes on the night for me (at the time I was not that keen on mussels).

I understand that they get booked up very quickly, and so would recommend making a reservation well in advance. A good option maybe to visit Bubbledogs first and ask to have a sneak peak. Be prepared for some unusual dishes and to try things you have never had before - including duck hearts which were particularly tasty.

Of course, they have a good selection of wine, champagne and cocktails to tantalize the taste buds.

I had the pleasure of meeting Albert Roux a few years ago (see photo attached which I am very proud of) and have a particular love for the Roux family. So much so in fact, that my now husband proposed to me at the Waterside Inn.

A few years earlier we visited LE GAVROCHE, headed-up by Michel Roux Jr (I have also had a photo taken with Michel but the camera was far from flattering and took a nasal shot so I spared you the ordeal).

Le Gavroche is set in the heart of Mayfair and offers some of the most exquisite French food I have ever tasted. The decor is classic French, green walls, white Linen and heavy red upholstered chairs. The menu regularly changes and so it hard to make recommendations, but they are well known for the cheese souffle which is always on the menu. My husband had this when we went, he is a big cheese lover, and has never had a better souffle since. I opted for a mackerel dish, which comprised of mackerel presented/cooked in a number of ways (I really do think that Fresh Mackerel is under appreciated).

The occasion was to celebrate my mother in laws birthday, with the best part of the evening being that she managed to order the most expensive dishes on the menu. Yes, they do have quite an old fashioned view and give only the men menus with prices. For the mains me and my husband both went for the rack of lamb, and my mother in law opted for the veal. Everything was superbly presented and the flavours well executed. We then shared the dessert platter followed by tea/coffee.  The platter is always a good option when you feel like trying a bit of all the dessert on the menu. The staff were kind enough to package up the left over dessert for us to take home (by this point we were quite full).

Upon reading a review in the Guardian towards the end of last year, we went with my parents to a new restaurant in Fitzrovia called Piquet. It took us a while to find, located towards the end of Newman Street just off the run down part of Oxford circus. As the Guardian review says "where it meets scuzz and cheap knock-off perfume of Oxford Street’s junkier stretch" (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/29/piquet-restaurant-review-jay-rayner).

For starters, my dad went for the country terrine, I opted for the crab raviolo, and my mum, duck rillettes. Unfortunately, the wine means that my husband is struggling to recall his starter. For the mains, apart from my mum who always orders chicken or white fish, the rest of us went for the beef. Everything was nicely presented, well cooked and tasty. For dessert, my dad and husband shared the artisanal cheeses and my mum opted for the chocolate mousse. We followed this with tea and coffee and a small digestif - my favorite amaretto.

Prices are fair but as always the bill came to more than expected due to the wine and need for side dishes. I wouldn't say this is the best French food I have tasted, nor am I sure if we will go again (partially due to the slow service and difficultly hearing each other), but it is worth a try and may be very different now it is reaching its 1st year anniversary.

We recently visited Gymkhana, near Piccadilly Circus, again for a post-honeymoon pre-restarting work lunch. Gymkhana, an Indian Michelin star restaurant, is inspired by colonial Indian gymkhana clubs (where high society socialised, dinned and drank). They have a bar and dining room which offer an a la carte menu, vault menu (which I assume is for private dining in one of their separate rooms), a tasting menu, game menu, Saturday lunch menu, and weekday lunch and early evening menu (yes the list has finally ended). We went for the later, ordering two courses for £25. For starters we shared the soft shell crab and kid goat methi keema (a sort of mince meat wrap), and for the mains tandoori guinea fowl and Hariyali bream. Still being on our holidays, we accompanied this with the house punch (£9) and a 375ml bottle of the sommelier’s choice of red wine.

This has to be one of the best Indian restaurants we have eaten in, which is a high accolade given that it is one of mine and my husbands favorite cuisines. In fact, I think it tops Benares, another Michelin star Indian restaurant near by. For us, Benares was slightly too fusion, while Gymkhana offers traditional dishes with a twist. We particularly enjoyed the keema wrap (so much that I was reluctant to share and tried to sneak 2/3rds off the plate). Their tandoori guinea fowl was to die for, and I think the tandoori section of the main menu would be are go to next time. The punch was a nice addition, with self-grated nut meg provided to grate on top. This really did bring out the flavours. However, it lacked booze and tasted more like a mock tail. Again, I was unable to fit in dessert at lunch, partially as we consumed the complementary poppadoms (with mango chutney and a spicy dip) and side dishes of rice, naan and chapati type bread.

The restaurant is quite small and I would recommend booking even for lunch times (I think many local businesses were using it for lunch meetings). The staff were friendly and very helpful, even accommodating two colleagues (a guess from their overly expensive suites) who had made a booking for the wrong day. 

We currently have an urge for ramen most weekends. Today we have tried Tonkotsu in Soho, Dean Street. We both went for the Tonkotsu ramen and added an extra of nori (Japanese seaweed). The portion was good, particularly the amount of pork which is often lacking in other ramen eatery's we have been to. They provide all the condiments including fresh garlic which you squeeze yourself (must admit I would prefer if this was already prepared as I now have garlic fingers). Atmosphere is relaxed but the tables could be a bit higher to stop the ramen splashing all over our clothes (perhaps I need chopstick practice). I like the communal sitting arrangements (long tables seating up to 8 people with couples sat opposite) and the rustic decor. Green tea is unlimited, but hard to get through with the piping hot ramen. Overall, a good experience and definitely a place to compare with our other favourite ramen restaurants.

Pollen Street Social,  run by chef Jason Atherton, is a Michelin star restaurant just off Regent Street in central London, which opened in April 2011. We went for the lunch special just before our return to work after the honeymoon. Two courses came at a reasonable price of £32, which included homemade bread, whipped cream butter (I have had this a few times now and much prefer proper butter), canapes and a small taster of a mushroom broth soup (which my husband stated tasted like 'cup a soup' - not in my opinion, the flavours were executed superbly). We decided to go for the slow cooked Burford brown egg and pressed ham knuckle for starters, followed by Ribble Valley chicken breast and Cornish lamb loin. The egg was particularly good, despite not being something we would usually go for. The lamb was well cooked, but lacked the 'je ne sais quoi' expected of a Michelin star restaurant (although of a high quality and similar to other Mayfair French eatery's). The chicken was well presented, with a moreish chicken fat mash. Unfortunately, we were unable to find room for dessert, but were impressed by the selection of ice-creams and sorbets ordered by guests around us. They also offer a dessert bar which allows diners to watch the pastry chefs at work. For drink, we sampled the specially branded Pollen Street Social Selection, Clos de l'Elu, Anjou from the Loire Valley at £10.50 a glass (a  bit steep). Unlike other french restaurants in the area, Pollen Street Social has a nice airy bright atmosphere. We plan to attend again and sample the 'al la cart'.

Roka (in London pronounced Roe Ka or Rock a) is perhaps mine and my husbands favorite restaurant of all time. We have sampled three of their delightful eatery's - Canary Wharf, Aldwych and Charlotte Street - with Charlotte street being hands down our favorite.  We are slightly biased in that we live only 5 minutes away, but this place really does have 'something about it'. It does not have the pretense of many Mayfair restaurants, with the arty Fitzrovia crowd often dining in jeans and a shirt. Booking can be a problem if you want our desired area upstairs towards the back, but often room is available last minute in the Shochu Lounge down stairs or around the wooden shelf  at the main cooking station. Just a warning, Shochu Lounge can get noisy and I would be careful when balancing your wine, particularly red as we found out, on the wooden surface around the station.

So what to order? In terms of drinks, they make an excellent margarita (without the syrup which so many places now insist on). The rose petal martini or anything with lychee liquor is a good bet. They offer some very good wines in the £25-35 region. For those who would like something a bit different, the Shochu Lounge offers guests the opportunity to create their own bespoke flavored shochu. You are given a personalised jar which is stored and can be enjoyed each time you visit.

The nice thing about Roka is the varied menu. Dishes range from as little as £5 for chicken wings (which you have to try) to £20-£70 for some of the beef dishes. Their dumplings are always delicious (which over the years have changed regularly - their best has been the pork and scallop), all the sushi is good, and they do particularly nice warm fish dishes, including black miso cod. They also do an amazing range of desserts, although possibly their BEST EVER has been removed from the menu, spelt along the lines of "Chawan mushi", which was fruit based, with real honeycomb, a crumbly biscuit and the softest of cream (sorry in my own dream world now).

The Aldwych and Canary Wharf branches are ideal for those who want a boozy brunch, offering weekend specials of unlimited food and drink for a set price. I am not familiar with Canary Wharf and if you aren't either, I would recommend leaving plenty of time to locate the restaurant in the concrete and glass multilevel maze.