When Raymond Blanc declares that he’s taken a bit of a ‘shine’ to a restaurant, you figure it’s worth investigating. Artichoke, occupying a Grade-II listed 16th century building, reopened last December after a devastating fire. Lois London finds a warm welcome.

The Parlour is one of four new restaurants that are brought together in a new complex at Canada Square in Canary Wharf. It could best be described as a bar/restaurant, and has a stark, almost industrial feel about it. Delivering really good quality food at very reasonable prices, it is excellent value for money.

Following our visit to The Warrington, to sample their bar food, back in December, we decided to go along to eat in the main restaurant of this characterful west London pub, which is part of Gordon Ramsay’s empire.

Jak’s is open from early until late, a real constant presence in a very sweet street, a place where locals clearly go at all hours to meet friends, refuel and recharge. It reminds me of a New York side street deli; busy, warm but without the rather intimidating ‘hurry up’ of a NY eaterie. The staff work their socks off to keep it all moving and we could do with more places like Jak’s in London.

It has taken me a long time to finally dine at Bumpkin, having made countless bookings in the past and had to cancel them for one reason or another. Having made it here at long last, it was perfect for a pit-stop for a comfort meal on a Winter’s day.

Great wraps, honest and healthy and fresh. Could be served hotter both in cooking and spice terms, but then to be fair it was actually snowing outside when we ate them. The décor is a bit like a suburban health centre, cold and rather heartless, but then most people will be in and out before they notice that. Probably easier for the young team to clean, too.

Watching over London town, Galvin at Windows is situated on the 28^th floor of the prestigious London Hilton on Park Lane hotel. We enter through the swish, polished-marble interior of the hotel lobby and the lifts whoosh you up to in a matter of seconds to the top floor where Galvin’s is located.

Its unassuming location, in the suburban, culdesac-tastic commuter-ville that is Orpington doesn’t really prepare you for what lies inside – a West End style restaurant with chic decor, well turned out, professional staff and an impressively theatrical wine cellar.

No one is going to make the trek out to eat at the Wharf who doesn’t work there obviously, they can go to ROKA in town instead. But if you are in the area then beg a banker to buy you a meal. It’s not cheap ROKA, if you want cheap there’s Wagamama, but it’s stylish, cool, beautifully designed and with food that is catwalk chic and classy.

If you’re the kind of person who likes their restaurants to be a bit ‘hidden away’ then you’ll like Umu. As I tap, tap, tapped my way down Bruton Place, a discreet little lane just off Berkley Square, I felt that little bit of excited anticipation that comes just before you’re shown into a posh hotel bedroom. I like the idea that a restaurant has to be sought out rather than stumbled upon.