Number 5 in London

She says:

The special trip I'd hoped to make to continue our food odyssey outside London has been vetoed. Much like David Cameron, Matt feels we shouldn't explore what the rest of the country has to offer and stay staunchly London-centric. Humpf.

So having refined the search these restaurants now present themselves as possibilities.

No5 Cavendish Square is a central London boutique hotel & club as well as a restaurant, but their website is [sic] 'under update' so I'll link you to a Trip Adviser review instead. Described initially as "a bit poncy", the concise review continues "but good for a drink if you have your beer goggles on”. I went there once for drinks, with my boss, late, after some awards show. I fell over on the dance floor due to my beer goggles, and threw up in their lovely poncey toilets. I'm probably banned.

At least attempting to leave central London, and its uncomfortable memories, behind, The Five Bells pub in East Finchley really does seem like a good option. Part of the Flaming Grill Pub Co group, of which I've never previously heard, they do some amazing food offers - 2 meals b4 6pm for £9 or 2 Dine for £20 after 6pm! And there's a dessert called  Chocolate Mega Mountain! On closer inspection it looks like the offers were, disappointingly, just for January. Classy this is not, but as the recession draws in cheap food is at a premium. Or something.


And finally, a suggestion from one of our lovely readers! We recently met at the yearly Burn's Night I attend and I don't remember giving out our blog address, but good work tracking us down Kit! His 5 Pollen Street looks just about perfect for us middle income middle class foodie types who think we're just a little bit alternative. Situated in sophisticated Mayfair it has beautifully quirky wallpaper, very much like our own, to set it apart from the other more staid expense account lunching options in the area.

The Italian menu sounds like it knows exactly what it's doing, and there are better value lunch deals. The only problem, and it's a nice problem to have, is that we've definitely been in this zone a few times before - nice European food at just about affordable prices in stylish surroundings. I WANT ADVENTURE!