Fresh flowers, modern art, soothing burgundy walls, and candlelight serve only to enhance Philip Howard's artistically presented French cuisine at The Square. Dishes show a light, contemporary touch, and the tasting menu is the best way to experience the luscious cuisine. Among the menu's treats are lasagne of Devon crab with a shellfish cappuccino and champagne foam followed by herb-crusted saddle of lamb with shallot puree, artichokes, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. The langoustine dish is incredible too - a real must have. £32.50 for two courses or £37.50 for three courses is exceptional value for a 2 Michelin starred restaurant in Mayfair.
Recommended for Lunch because: £32.50 for two courses or £37.50 for three courses is exceptional value for a 2 Michelin starred restaurant in Mayfair.
Emyr's expert tip: Try the exquisite langoustine dish!
This wood-wrapped dining room rests a flight of stairs down from street level, a setting which lends it a dark, quiet feel. The restaurant is known for classic French cooking, impeccable service, and London's finest selection of cheeses and wines. The traditional menu is as rich as they come: think creamy souffle Suissesse, hot foie gras with crispy duck pancake, or roast rib of French veal with morel mushroom sauce and a chartreuse de legume with mash mousseline. The business set lunch menu is £54.80 for e courses, 1/2 bottle of wine & 1/2 bottle of mineral water per person.
Recommended for Lunch because: Le Gavroche is classic, old school French at its very best.
Emyr's expert tip: Visit for a traditional, old school, French experience.
Established in 1998 and still the jewel of Gordon Ramsay's restaurant empire,Chef Patron Clare Smyth holds 3 Michelin stars with her elegant modern French cuisine. An intimate restaurant, lunch or dinner here is truly special. The lunch menu is £55 for 3 courses and includes exquisite dishes such as Roasted quail with soy honey, togarashi, pickled vegetables and herbs; Asparagus 'Polonaise' with peas, chard lettuce and roast chicken sauce; Globe artichoke 'à la barigoule' with smoked pork belly and spring vegetables; and Roasted fillet of skate with razor clams, lovage, taramasalata, Jersey Royals and beurre noisette. An excellent experience every time!
Recommended for Lunch because: One of London's two three Michelin starred restaurants from super chef Gordon Ramsay.
Emyr's expert tip: Try the tasting menu - it's totally worth it!
The man who kick started the craze for small share plates at Gordon Ramsay's Maze, Jason Atherton's chic, fashionable space in Mayfair is still popular today. Look out for dishes such as Cumbrian pork belly & cheek, Mrs Brown's black pudding, almond crumb, apricot purée, fondant potatoes and stuffed loin of young rabbit, cassoulet of white beans, salt lemon, tomato & fresh herbs. Desserts are a big thing here, including Bergamot & verbena sorbet, olive oil conserve, frozen citrus & bergamot jam, and Goat's milk rice pudding, goat's cheese ice-cream, oat & milk crumb, honeycomb. The set menu offers 2 courses for £28.50 or 3 courses for £33.50
Recommended for Lunch because: Super-chef Jason Atherton's Michelin starred gem on Pollen Street in Mayfair
Emyr's expert tip: Check out the gorgeous private dining room in the basement.
The Delaunay treats breakfast with continental reverence. And it's not just breakfast either, although it's great here. They're serving from 7am onwards until 11.30. Lunch is full of things like sauerkraut, hearty sausages and stews, and you can come back in the afternoon for tea and Austrian and continental style cakes, biscuits and patisseries. If you need that little pick me up, the coffee is delicious here too, and competes with prices in other chain coffee shops all around. Brunch is also a treat here, if you've got the time, the cafe, with its black and white floor tiles and great dark wood interiors just hugs you in, so that you feel like staying all day and becoming a European flaneur, watching the world go by, as you feast on tasty morsels.
Recommended for Lunch because: Visit for the glamorous setting and the hearty European fare.
Emyr's expert tip: Right near the river and theatre land, this is the perfect place to stop off before or after a bracing walk along the river.
White leather chairs and natural stone abound in this thoroughly chic, modern Italian restaurant. The organic materials and austere geometric shapes echo chef Francesco Mazzei's incorporation of luxurious, flavorful ingredients into simple but delicious dishes. Diners can expect pastas such as wild mushroom fettuccine to be cooked to perfection, as well as succulent main courses such as a spit roast leg of lamb with cannellini beans and olives. A towering black scotch beef tagliata is served layered atop a marrowbone encased in mash potato, surrounded by a heavily reduced jus with chunks of blue di capra cheese. Thin, light and crunchy zucchini fritti are served in a hude bowl and are delicious!
Recommended for Lunch because: Excellent Italian cooking in The City - one of the best Italians in London.
Emyr's expert tip: Order the Zuchinni fritti - a huge plate of fried courgettes!
The Ledbury is considered by many to be the best restaurant in London - it has two Michelin stars and features in the San Pellegrino world's 50 best restaurant list. Australian chef Brett Graham heads the kitchen where the menu is predominantly Modern European with well-sourced British ingredients. The Ledbury is in huge demand and tables are hard to come by - a great tip, however, is to visit when the weather is nice as they have a lovely terrace that they keep for walk-ins, or if those who have booked want to dine on the terrace, you can walk-in and get a table in the restaurant. The Ledbury is definitely one of the best restaurants in Notting Hill, if not the whole of London.
Recommended for Lunch because: The Ledbury is considered by many to be the best restaurant in London.
Emyr's expert tip: Tables are hard to come by, but visit on a sunny day to try for a walk-in table on the terrace.
It's a lunchtime destination of the Knightsbridge power brokers at The Berkeley. Marcus Wareing relaunched the restaurants in February 2014 with a more modern look to match the evolution of his cooking over the last 10 years. New to their menus this year are flexible lunchtime options. They now have individually priced dishes, as well as a great value 3 course menu for £38. For a more leisurely experience they have Tasting plates to whet the appetite and the opportunity to pick and choose the number of courses you want - if you have time, make the most of a lingering lunch!
Recommended for Lunch because: Marcus Wareing is one of London's best chefs - enjoy his cooking in the recently revamped dining room at The Berkeley Hotel.
Emyr's expert tip: Visit the Blue Bar for a pre-dinner drink.
All hail Heston Blumenthal and his latest London venture Dinner by Heston at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. It's all in the details of custom made cutlery and inventive cuisine by the man himself and Chef Ashley Palmer Watts, who cooks up in the glass encased centerpiece kitchen to show off the roasting meat on a spit. Stunning dishes inspired by the world famous futuristic style of the gastronomic mastermind. he says Must try dishes here include the Meat Fruit, a perfect mandarin stuffed with an incredible chicken liver parfait and The Beef Royal (which has been cooked for 72 hours and has an anchovy and onion sauce on the side).
Recommended for Lunch because: Experience Heston Blumenthal's London restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge.
Emyr's expert tip: Try the signature 'Meat Fruit' dish - excellent!
Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester has come highly recommended. The book "Foodie Top 100 Restaurants: Worldwide" sings the restaurant's praises very highly saying that the chef 's roast chicken has an "almost frothy texture" and a "fragant" truffle sauce. That, is what the book says elevates simple comfort food to "luxurious heights". The surroundings too are simply stunning, with a huge sparkling centrepiece which comes in the form of the "Table Lumiere" "a six person table shrouded by a ceiling-to-floor veil of 4500 shimmer fiber optics". But of course, it's not just about the stunning lights, cameras and action. Ducasse says he is all about the products, and without great ingredients, he writes, the chef would be nothing. With his international team to look after you, then you shouldn't be disappointed.'The Lunch Hour' includes 3 courses, 2 glasses of wine, ½ bottle of mineral water, coffee or tea for £55.
Recommended for Lunch because: One of two 3 Michelin starred restaurants in London in one of London's grande dame hotels, The Dorchester,
Emyr's expert tip: If you can splurge, book the Table Lumiere private dining room for 6 of you