J. Sheekey

Seemingly purpose-built for the pre-and post-theatre crowd, J. Sheekey is actually a favourite and historical haunt of London's thespians, and is consistently name-checked as an effortlessly glamorous evening out in London.

From the outside, the maroon facades and canapes, together with segment-pane windows - almost a Dickensian-style shop-front - indicate homeliness and comfort. Once inside the door, the mingling sound of soft conversation, together with the occasional clink of knife on plate is the soundtrack to your meal. It's a fairly small, narrow space but tables are comfortably placed.

J. Sheekey specialises in seafood and fish dishes simply but expertly prepared. There's an extensive menu of options, with the likes of shellfish (prawns, shrimp, lobster), crab, oysters, caviar, and freshly-sourced market fish such as halibut, brill and Loch Duart salmon on offer.

Highlights include a shrimp and scallop burger; monkfish and tiger prawn curry and, for a proper taste of the UK as a whole, fried fillet of haddock with chips and mushy peas.

For the vegetarians, there's a separate veggie menu with choices such as spinach and goat's cheese tart, braised chick peas, and a chopped salad. Saving the best till last we've got the gorgeous desserts that J. Sheekey has on offer: sloe gin jelly with sour sherbet for a real tangy taste, blood orange meringue, sticky ginger sponge, or golden pineapple & mango with passion fruit sorbet.

Opening times: Monday - Saturday: 12:00 - 15:00, dinner: 17:30 - 24:00, Sunday: 12:00 - 15:30, dinner: 18:00 - 23:00