Mayfair

Aubaine Mayfair: Scored on most – but not all – counts (June 2013)

French food in London can often be a culinary minefield, with the experience ranging from the old-fashioned and high-end (think Gavroche) to the touristy and tacky (Café Rouge). Aubaine manages to sit comfortably between these two extremes and constitutes an enjoyable and fairly priced – if not exceptional – dining option.

La Petite Maison (November 2012)

I am really surprised how polarised opinions appear to be about this restaurant. This is the third time I have been here and each time I have loved the whole experience and would undoubtedly return. One caveat, however: make sure someone else is paying, since it is not cheap! The heavy brown velvet curtain creates a sense of anticipation prior to entry and the dining room itself is lovely, beautifully light and spacious, a perfect antidote to a dull November day.

Sumosan (October 2012)

About the worst thing a restaurant could be faulted for is not being made to feel welcome and in every sense this was the impression I took away from Sumosan. The exterior of the restaurant looks forbidding with a passer-by not being in a position at all to discern what may be happening inside, the interior being hidden by full-length blinds.