Gekko Blog

Restaurant review: Napa

Dan Pilkington — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:22:55 +0000

This blog post is written by the lovely Emily Bridgewater, who writes the great blog Meet and Two Veg.

THEY say all roads lead to Rome.
Well, I say that all roads lead to Birmingham. Because no matter where I am in the world, from Norwich to New York, I am guaranteed to bump into someone from Brum.
And a recent meal at Napa restaurant at the Chiswick Moran Hotel in west London proved no exception.
On introduction, it transpired that Napa’s restaurant manager – an Italian named Mark – had arrived in Chiswick from Perry Barr, Birmingham, via a stint at the Watford Gap services. Small world, eh?
While swapping second city tales, Mark helped the boy and I select a wine to accompany our meal, recommending a light Cotes de Provence rose to compliment my cod and the boy’s steak.
Rose seemed the fitting wine too, as Napa’s interior has a funky ’70s feel, which is also reflected in the menu with dishes such as ‘open’ beef Wellington and steak Diane.
I opted for a ‘classic’ Napa starter of crayfish and prawn cocktail, which had it been served in a frilly-edged glass goblet, would have been right out of a Fanny Craddock cookbook.
Served instead in lettuce leaf shells, the seafood was succulent and Marie Rose dressing nicely spiced. Accompanying homemade breads were excellent, with a lovely open texture.
The boy’s tian of white Dorset crab with avocado and tomato dressing ‘tasted a lot better than it looked’. He also commented on the freshness of the seafood.
He was equally impressed by the ‘medium’ cooking of his steak, although his hand-cut chips were undercooked.
My fillet of cod on saffron-crushed potatoes with mussels and tomato beurre blanc exceeded expectations, while some accompanying green beans still had good crunch.
The boy’s Eton mess was packed with fruit and deliciously creamy, while my passion fruit sorbet a good palate cleanser.
Sadly, prices aren’t based in the ’70s, with main course dishes averaging about £15, but Napa is worth a try if you are in this neck of the woods.

Restaurant review: Kai, Mayfair, London

Tony Joseph — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:46:03 +0000

This blog post is written by the lovely Emily Bridgewater, who writes the great blog Meet and Two Veg.

In my experience really great meals fall into two categories.

There are those which at the time were sublime, but afterwards evaporate into the darkest confines of your memory, only to be revisited in a moment of reminiscence.

Then there are those – relatively few – dining experiences where the tastes are so incredible that they will linger on your lips forever and, no matter where you are in the world, you will hanker after a return visit.

While I know there are a million more food experiences to be had, I will always lust after one more taste of what can only be described as a crispy onion pancake that we ate in House of Nanking in San Francisco.

Food memories like that don’t discriminate; they can take place in roadside shacks or prince’s palaces.

It just so happens however, that my most recent such experience took place in the very stylish Kai in Mayfair.

Kai is one of only three Michelin star Chinese restaurants in London. So good is the food that I fear every other Chinese meal I now eat will pale into insignificance.

Unlike many such celebrated establishments, there is no stuffiness and diners seemed to delight in being able to tuck into communal dishes.

We started with Kai’s signature starter of Wasabi Prawns, which our waiter assured us was ‘not too spicy, as it was a special recipe devised by the chef’.

He also told us that during Kai’s recent participation in Taste of London festival, they traded more than 1,000 portions of this dish.

It’s easy to see why. The jumbo prawns were delicately cooked and coated in just the right amount of creamy, ‘not too spicy’ wasabi dressing, as well a tiny flecks of chopped fresh ginger. The boy and I agreed it was a taste revelation.

We also tucked into canapes of prawn toasts and aromatic crispy duck – both excellent examples of classic Chinese fare, while enjoying a bottle of Dr Loosen Riesling recommended by our sommelier.

However, the food really came into its own for our main courses of chicken and cashew nuts and aubergines stuffed with minced prawns.

The sauce coating the chicken was deep, dark and rich with a good kick from the sundried chillis – a million miles from the MSG-laden gloop you’d find in your bog standard Oriental sauce.

And the prawn-stuffed aubergines was a superbly inventive dish, combining the smokiness of the vegetable and sweetness of prime seafood in a pulse-rich black bean sauce.

Even our waiter admitted he was dubious about the dish until he tried it.

Ginger and sesame oil, and coriander fragranced rice, were subtle yet stunningly delicious side dishes.

Puddings were zingy pineapple carpaccio with lime, lychees and lemongrass syrup, and another Kai signature dish of pumpkin cream with purple rice and coconut icecream – an intelligent dessert deconstructing the elements of a pumpkin soup and turning it into a divine velvety dessert.

Some of the prices on the Kai menu may leave you breathless, but the quality of ingredients, intelligence of the cooking and -most unusually – the generosity of the portions, make them justifiable.

This is what food memories are made of.

Restaurant review: Souk Bazaar, Leicester Square, London

Dan Pilkington — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:45:39 +0000

A sense of relief prevails as you duck out of the rain-drenched streets of Leicester Square and are immediately transported into a glittering and exotic underworld. The restaurant is almost invisible, crammed next to the famed restaurant, The Ivy, and painted a charcoal grey which works as a convincing camouflage against the damp London streets.

Souk Bazaar is one of two North African themed restaurants (the other named Souk Medina) set in an excellent location in the heart of the bustling West End. Souk Bazaar has been running for 11 years and has won many awards and stunning reviews for their inspirational ambience and tasty food.

Flickering candles line the way from the narrow entrance down the stone steps to the main restaurant, which is a maze of dimly lit rooms with low ceilings and winding paths, the walls adorned with countless colourful lanterns and the floors laden with brass shisha pipes. You are coiled further still into this mysterious world by the swirling Moroccan music and smoky smell of dozens of candles and burning incense.

Our party of six were seated in a low lit corner in one of the rooms, there were no other diners present for the majority of the evening, giving us a cosy feeling of intimacy and privacy. Our seats were low sunken sofas scattered with plump cushions, and the large metal tables that our food was laid upon were surrounded by little decorated poufs, giving our dining experience a real authentic Moroccan feel.

Our menu consisted of a three course mezze feast for a price of £19.95 per person, with authentic homemade starters, main courses of sweet tender meats infused with intoxicating spices and wickedly indulgent syrupy desserts, by my book a well thought out trio and a great way to taste all the different flavours of Morocco. What was also great was that you could request as many refills of the dishes as you liked, on the conditions that your whole party ordered the mezze.

Our starter was a platter of home-made humous served with warm pitta bread, mini spicy lamb sausages with potato cubes, and stuffed vine leaves. The humous was especially sought after, it had a tasty sprinkle of Moroccan spice on top giving an extra little kick to the dish. The stuffed vine leaves were surprisingly sour and weren’t very appetising at all.

The main course of tangine of lamb was a big hit with our party, it was slow cooked so very tender and had a real melt-in-the-mouth nature to it, soaked in the juice of prunes and topped with roasted almonds, it was a very sweet dish. Another dish that was a big hit was the tangine of spinach, feta cheese and roast onion which complimented the sweetness of the lamb very well with the sharpness of the feta cheese.

We drank to our hearts content, perhaps something to do with the unwinding nature of the atmosphere, and we ordered a wide variety of the tempting beverages on offer. The cocktails were given names such as ‘Juicy Marrakesh’ , ‘Flying Carpet’ and ‘Thirsty Camel’ and were rum or vodka based, mixed mainly with fresh mango and coconut milk. One of our party sampled a Khaymer Martini, a mix of Moroccan vodka and apple juice, shaken over ice.

Our desert was a selection of baklava; it is made from pastry, chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey. The baklava was served to us with fresh mint tea, and was a lovely light accompaniment to a very sweet dish.

Although the service was far from attentive, the immaculate design and buzzing atmosphere of Souk Bazaar won us over. We had an early dinner, but from 10pm the restaurant also features live entertainment of various belly dancers which works to kick the mood up a notch. Our bill came to £35 per person, but our choice of expensive beverages made up a lot of this.

Swept so swiftly into the mystical world of Morocco and transported into a dusky tavern on the outskirts of Marrakesh, we arrived somewhat disappointed back on the grey pavements of London, looking back on the sultry and enchanting cavern we left behind. With the recession so prevalent in people’s minds, Souk Bazaar is an inspired and charming place to experience the exuberance of North African cuisine and culture without ever having to leave the country.

Anna Zuchowski-Morrison – London Gekko Spotter

Book a table at Souk Bazaar for up to 10 people here

Win a night for two at The Langham, London

Dan Pilkington — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:59:07 +0000

The Langham, London has been delighting guests with enchanting encounters since she opened in 1865 as Europe’s first ‘Grand Hotel’. Now she has completed an £80 million transformation, exuding a graceful and timeless elegance, blending a sense of the past with the style of today.

We’ve teamed up with the lovely people at The Langham to offer you your own enchanting encounter – a night’s stay in a stunning Grand Room for two including breakfast at the fine dining restaurant The Landau.

Sign up to Gekko in August and you’ll be automatically entered into the prize draw to win, as well as getting personalised hotel and restaurant recommendations, spot on for you.

Sign up to Gekko to enter the competition

The closing date for this competition is the 31st August 2009.

You can also find this competition at ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions.

Make sure you read the terms and conditions here:

Terms and Conditions:
Gekko.com Limited (”Gekko”), whose registered office is at 48 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NS, is organising this competition.
The competition is subject to the following terms and conditions:
Competition Specific Rules:
1. The competition will take place from Wednesday 19 August until midnight Monday 31 August 2009.
2. To enter the competition, entrants must sign up to Gekko.com by following the procedure outlined at www.gekko.com.
3. By entering the competition all entrants give permission to be contacted by Gekko.com via email to the email address they have joined Gekko with.
There is no charge to enter this competition.
The prize:
1. There is one prize to be won. The prize is a one night’s stay for two in a Grand Room at The Langham Hotel, London, with breakfast for two at The Landau restaurant the morning after. No other hotel services are included in the prize. The prize is subject to availability and no travel costs will be paid as part of the prize.
Drawing of the winners:
1. The prize draw will take place on 1 September 2009, with the winner being drawn randomly by Gekko. Gekko’s decision concerning the determination of the winner will be final.
2. The winners will be sent an email on 2 September 2009 providing further information about the prize he/she has won and how to redeem it. The winner will be required to confirm acceptance of the prize by replying to the email by midnight UK time on 9 September 2009. If a winner does not confirm acceptance of his/her prize by midnight on 9 September 2009, he/she will automatically forego the rights to claim for the prize and Gekko will draw a new prize winner at random.

General Terms and Limitation of Liability:

1. No purchase is necessary to take part in this competition. The competition is open to anyone resident in the UK aged 18 or over.
2. The competition is not open to employees or contractors of or any person connected with Gekko or any person directly or indirectly involved in the organisation and running of the competition or their direct family members.
3. Only one entry per person is permitted.
4. Prizes are non-transferable. There is no cash alternative to the prizes
5. The decision of Gekko is final in relation to the operation of this competition and the selection of the winners and no correspondence will be entered into.
6. Gekko reserves the right to refuse entry of, or to refuse to award the prize to, anyone in breach of these competition terms and conditions.
7. Gekko reminds you of the nature and limitations of the Internet and does not accept any responsibility for any occurrences resulting from your connection to the Internet via the Site.In particular, Gekko does not accept responsibility for any damage (whether material or non-material) caused to you, to your computer equipment or to data which are stored on them, or to your personal, professional, or commercial activities
8. Other than for death or personal injury arising from negligence of Gekko, so far as is permitted by law, Gekko hereby excludes all liability for any loss, damage, cost and expense, whether direct or indirect, howsoever caused in connection with the Competition or any aspect of the Prize
9. Further, Gekko shall not be responsible if you are unable to connect to the Gekko website or telephone service desk or to participate in this competition, due to any technical problem or any problem linked to, including in relation to congestion of, the Internet or telephone lines.
10. In the event of circumstances arising outside of Gekko’s control, which in Gekko’s opinion make it necessary to suspend, change or cancel the competition, Gekko reserves the right to suspend, change or cancel the competition at any time.
11. If for any reason Gekko is unable to provide the prize, Gekko will use reasonable endeavours to reasonably replace it with another prize of equal or greater value.
12. Gekko shall have the right, where necessary, to undertake all such action as is reasonable to protect itself against fraudulent or invalid claims including, without limitation, to require further verification as to the identity, age or other relevant details of a prize winner.
13. All Reviews entered must comply with the Gekko Terms of Use available at www.gekko.com . On submitting an entry, each entrant irrevocably and exclusively grants and assigns to Gekko the entire copyright and all other rights of whatever nature in its Review for the full duration of such rights throughout the world.
14. By entering this competition you acknowledge and agree that Gekko and its authorised agents and representatives may use the details you provide: (a) to administer the competition; (b) to contact you (including by email and/or telephone) in connection with the competition; and to publish your name and images on its website and in marketing communications. You also confirm that you have read, understood and agree to the Gekko Privacy Policy available at www.gekko.com.
15. This competition is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
16. You can also enter the prize draw by sending a postcard marked ‘Langham competition’ with your name and daytime phone number to Gekko, 48 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 2NS.

By participating in the competition, you declare that you accept these Terms and Conditions unconditionally.

Bernie Madoff’s New York restaurant tips

Dan Pilkington — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:37:55 +0000

Where do you celebrate ripping people off to the tune of $65 billion? Well, now we can see exactly what Gekko Spots monster fraudsters hang out at. This week a snapshot of Bernie Madoff’s American Express spending was released to the public, so not only can we see where he ate, but how much he spent, and more importantly, how much he tipped.

Now obviously, we know Bernie had eyes bigger than his stomach for many things, but his spending wasn’t as extravagant as one would imagine for someone who was splashing someone else’s cash for fun.

The Lure of money
His favourite eatery was Lure, a classy seafood and sushi restaurant in New York’s SoHo. We wonder whether Bernie managed to stay away from Lure’s amazing cocktails as he racked up a respectable £830 bill in eight visits. Even more revealing is the fact that he only tipped 6%. Yup, Bernie’s a bit of a tightwad.

Steak out
Thankfully there is a good example of old fashioned splurging with a $2,000 meal at Patroon, which serves modern American cuisine in Midtown. That’s a whole lot of steak.

Bernie’s hot NYC tips:

Lure, SoHo
Contemporary American Seafood featuring an extensive raw bar and first class sushi program. The striking design is reminiscent of the interior of an elegant cruise ship.
Find out more about Lure on Gekko

Patroon, Midtwon
A classic New York restaurant, owned by legendary restaurateur Ken Aretsky. Patroon offers superb contemporary American cuisine, warm, polished service and beautiful rooms.
Find out more about Patroon on Gekko

Dan Pilkington

Our ’social mojo’ is Matchmaker. That’s spot on!

Dan Pilkington — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:18:12 +0000

To tie in with the launch of their new home page, search giant Yahoo! has put together a quirky little tool to help you find what ‘your true Social Mojo‘.

What's your true social mojo?

All you need to do is drop in the username of your Twitter account, in our case GekkoHQ, and watch as you fly through its ’scientific pipe thingy’. Simple!

And now for the results….

Gekko recommends you the perfect hotels and restaurants around the world by matching you with like-minded people so we’d say they were spot on!

Our social mojo is 'Matchmaker'. Spot on!

Help us build our ’social mojo’ by following us on Twitter or become a fan of Gekko on Facebook.

Three reasons to hit London in August

Dan Pilkington — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:41:33 +0000

Here at Gekko we could give you three hundred good reasons to visit us here in the capital of good old Blighty. However, we know you’re busy people, so we’ll just stick to three fabulous August highlights:

The Proms 2009

In a nutshell:
For a century the Proms have been celebrating the very best of classical music. The season lasts from July to the end of September, so if you’re visiting London this summer there’s no excuse to miss out on the action.

The Proms 2009 is more accessible and eclectic than ever before. Old favourites are mixed up with stunningly innovative pieces and new composers, so there’s something for music buffs and newcomers alike.
The event is packed with top international orchestras and high-profile soloists. And there are also free pre-concert events to enjoy before all the Proms, at the Royal College of Music.

The nitty-gritty:
– Runs 17th July to 12th September at the Royal Albert Hall.
– Ticket prices vary.

Want to know more?
Check out the BBC Proms 2009 website.

Stay at…
The Gore Hotel, Kensington
A short walk from the Royal Albert Hall, The Gore is theatrical to its very foundations. You can sleep in Judy Garland’s bed (she had it put in her room after she took up residence at The Gore), or drink in the bar where The Rolling Stones photographed the cover for classic album Beggars Banquet, (and of course, had the obligatory messy party). These days, The Gore is rather more sedate, and a study in understated luxury. Perfect for that most English of occasions, the Last Night Of The Proms.
Book a room at The Gore on Gekko here

Kenwood House Music Festival

In a nutshell:
Kenwood House one of London’s most sumptuous venues. Its grounds have been transformed into an impressive live music venue for this summer’s celebrations. Whip out the Pimms and the picnic blankets! Musicians performing include James Morrison, Russell Watson, Simply Red and Jools Holland – to name but a few.

The nitty-gritty
– Runs 27th June to 22nd August at Kenwood House.
– Ticket prices vary.

Want to know more?
Check out the Picnic Concerts website here.

Stay at…
291 Suites, Hampstead
Situated in fashionable Hampstead, close to Kenwood House, these stylish suites are perfect for a weekend in London or a good night’s sleep after a Kenwood concert. You also get free Wi-Fi, a flatscreen TV and a modern en suite with a power shower.
Book a suite on Gekko here

Notting Hill Carnival

In a nutshell:
The Notting Hill Carnival first took place in 1964, to celebrate the traditions and music of the area’s large Caribbean community. It’s now Europe’s biggest carnival, drawing over a million people every year. Expect an energetic, boisterous extravaganza bursting with colourful floats and dancing troupes dressed up to the nines. You’ll also get a serious dose of music – everything from calypso and steel band tunes to reggae, hip-hop, funk, soul and house. Just be aware the event is packed, loud and not for the faint-hearted!

The nitty-gritty:
– Runs 30th and 31st of August in Notting Hill.
– Free.

Want to know more?
Check out the Notting Hill Carnival website.

Stay at…
Umi Hotel, Notting Hill
Great value for money stay in a perfect location for the carnival, just a few streets from the action. With perfectly acceptable rooms, a cafe bar and concierge service, it’s a great hotel to head back to after a day of hard partying.
Book a room at the Umi Hotel on Gekko here

Serena Cowdy

Restaurant review: Thai Edge, Birmingham

Dan Pilkington — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:01:33 +0000

This review is by Emily Bridgewater who writes the blog, Meet and Two Veg.

They say the true test of a relationship is your first holiday together. If you can survive that, then you can survive anything. Not ones to do things by half, when the boy and I first started dating we decided the perfect test of our blossoming relationship was a two-week trip around Thailand.

He’d never flown before, I’d only holidayed in the Med and North Africa. It was leap into the unknown. However, it was a fantastic trip; we visited golden temples, tropical beaches and trawled night markets. My only regret was that I was an unadventurous eater, ordering the ubiquitous Thai green chicken curry at every turn.

Seven years on and many adventures later, how things have changed. We are still as happy as ever, but I’d like to think I have more of a palate for the exotic. In fact, during a delightful Sunday lunch at Thai Edge, I gave the Thai green curry a wide berth. That’s not to say, it wasn’t good. The boy – an ever adventurous eater – reported that it was delicious! The tranquil Oozels Square restaurant offers a Sabbath buffet lunch for the value-for-money price of £12.90 per person.

Unlike many other buffets (and I have an extensive knowledge), the presentation of the food is not sacrificed; every dish is just as beautiful as the delicate, poised staff. I tucked into the superb salads; the seafood salad, featuring jumbo prawns and lightly-cooked squid was a particular favourite, as was the piquant papaya salad. The boy was equally impressed with the starters, raving about the light sweetcorn fritters, filo prawns and miniature spring rolls.

For main course I made a beeline for the sweet and sour fish, which was succulent and not overly sweet. The crispy bean curd with cashew nuts and stirfried vegetables was also excellent, although the delightful crispness of Wok-fried vegetables is lost when dishes sit on a buffet table. The better half tried a spoon of everything, reporting that the meat was of a high quality, and the curries well-balanced.

Puddings were irresistible – once again, impeccably presented on platters dressed in banana leaves. The mango cheesecake was sublime and the coconut tapioca refreshingly light.

For a true taste of royal Thai food – without the price tag – Sunday lunch at Thai Edge cannot be bettered.

Emily Bridgewater
Read more restaurant reviews by Emily at Meet and Two Veg.

Book a table at Thai Edge here

Will you like Thai Edge?
Sign up or log in to Gekko to see if you match Thai Edge

Win a month of fine dining! Find out more here

Below Zero restaurant and bar, by London Appetizer

Ryan Visser — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:08:21 +0000

We’re always on the look out for the best bloggers in the restaurant and hotel industry, and Piers from London Appetizer has to be up there with the very best. Piers was the first restaurant blogger in London, starting out back in 1996, so he’s a true expert in his field. Below is a restaurant review that he wrote for Below Zero, in Heddon Street in London. For more restaurant reviews and industry news, have a look a London Appetizer let us know what you think.

Below Zero, Heddon St, London. Written by London Appetizer

A subterranean secret to some, a hidden gem to others, the temperature has been raised at belowzero, London’s favourite restaurant and lounge bar. Located beneath bustling, vibrant Heddon Street, belowzero has reached new heights with the appointment of Head Chef, Sean Marshall, and the opulent transformation of the interior.

Marshall brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked at Prism, Oxo Tower, Bank and Mint Leaf. His new modern European menu showcases his excellent and varied cooking skills whilst being driven by quality, seasonal ingredients. This, shared with Marshall’s passion for innovative combinations of flavours and textures, positions belowzero as a destination restaurant.

Typical starters include pan-fried red mullet, warm blood orange and red onion salad with saffron orange oil; seared Scottish scallops with Arbroath smoky and parsnip purée; as well as lavender smoked wood pigeon with caramelised black figs, wild mushrooms and blackberry jus.
Main courses feature must-try pistachio and sage crusted lamb rack with spiced sweet potato, spring greens, morels and port and bacon marinated kidneys; line caught seabass with stuffed steamed baby cabbage, girolle and cockle butter; or pan fried fillet of venison with seared foie gras, walnut braised red cabbage, beetroot and cranberry compote and a rioja jus. Whole lemon sole, swordfish, rib-eye steak and maize-fed chicken are also available from the grill, each served with capanota and sauce vierge.

Inventive and decadent desserts include cardamom and star anise mousse with spinach genoise and lime leaf anglaise; white chocolate fondant with szechuan ice cream and crystallised fruits; or banoffee cheesecake with rich butterscotch sauce and home-made banana sorbet.
The menu is complemented with a strong and extensive international wine list, with many bins under £30. Alternatively blow the budget with stars of the show such as Shiraz, Penfolds Grange Hermitage, South Australia, 1995 or Mouton Rothschild, Aile D’Argent, Pauillac First Growth, Bordeaux 1996.
The lounge bar at belowzero takes cocktails to another level with its talented bar team, contemporary concoctions
and its comprehensive premium and super premium spirits list, which includes Absolut 100, only available at 100 bars in the world. Unique creations include ‘Ultimat Mochatini’ – Ultimat Chocolate Vanilla vodka, white cacoa liquer and coffee jelly or ‘Sagini’ -Whitley Neill gin, Pimm’s No. 1, fresh sage leaves and pomegranate juice.

For the rest of the article, please visit London Appetizer

Thanks to Piers for the review. Visit the superb London Appetizer
and see what else he has to offer. You can thank us later.

Win a month of fine dining! Find out more here

This week’s top London restaurant deals

Dan Pilkington — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:19:31 +0000

Here are Gekko’s five top restaurant deals for London town this week.

1. Babylon @ Kensington Roof Gardens
Modern British classics in a sophisticated urban oasis 100 feet above Kensington High Street.

Get 3 courses for £25 until 29 July – book here

Will you like Babylon?
Log in to Gekko to find out if you’re a match with Babylon

2. Marco Pierre White Steakhouse and Grill at Lanes
Light and stylish bar and dining room, tucked away in the City. Superior quality steakhouse from the man who trained Gordon Ramsay.

Get 3 courses for £21.50 until 30 September – book here

Will you like Marco Pierre White Steakhouse and Grill?
Log in to Gekko to find out if you’re a match

3. Katana @ The International, St Martin’s Lane
Intimate and relaxed, Katana is situated on the first floor of The International Bar & Restaurant overlooking Trafalgar Square. Imaginative pan-Asian cuisine encourages diners to share and share alike, while the lively ambience spills over into the seductive cocktail bar below.

Main and side dish for £10 until 30 August – book here

Will you like Katana @ The International?
Log in to Gekko to find out if you’re a match

4. Butler’s Wharf Chop House, nr Tower Bridge
If you’re hankering after British classics, Butler’s Wharf Chop House will satisfy cravings for fish and chips without sacrificing the kind of tacit style you’d count on from a Conran restaurant.

3 courses for £24.50 until 31 July – book here

Will you like Butler’s Wharf Chop House?
Log in to Gekko to find out if you’re a match

5. 1 Lombard Street
One of the few Michelin-starred City restaurants, 1 Lombard Street’s imaginative cuisine comprises gastronomic dishes with Gallic undercurrents.

3 courses for £19.50 until 1 September – book here

Will you like 1 Lombard Street?
Log in to Gekko to find out if you’re a match