Vauxhall, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

A “quirky” but “gorgeous restaurant in a listed building” surrounded by modern skyscrapers – this “Vauxhall institution” occupies a much-chandeliered showroom of architectural antiques (run by LASSCO), which adds a unique sense of occasion to chef Jackson Boxer’s “assured” and “interesting” preparation of “modern British classics”. “Quiet and serene, with a diverse and older crowd of a lunchtime – it’s buzzing and vibrant with a younger clubbier crowd on a weekend”. Top Tip – “the Dexter beef and bone marrow tartare with shallots is the best steak tartare in London”.

This quietly ambitious kitchen at Lambeth’s Garden Museum is a real magnet for diners in-the-know (“I’d happily eat here once a week if I lived locally – it’s always different!”). Former Noble Rot head chef Myles Donaldson delivers a daily changing lunch menu that’s not vegetarian or even vegan, but strong on both camps and on delivering “good, healthy food”. The interior is simple, but enhanced by floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto the street and into the garden. (There’s also coffee, cakes, etc all day).