NUALA is the new modern-Irish restaurant and bar from Niall Ferguson, a vast space on the corner of City Road and Old Street.

Mike hunts out the Middle East in Aldgate East.

Lebanese food is generous, fresh and full of flavour. Nick finds new restaurant Abd el Wahab an oasis (sic) in an area not always known for any of that.

Pickles and fermented foods have been at the heart of Asian cooking for centuries and are set to be a key trend for 2018.

Looking for proper fish and chips? Then the Clerkenwell Road is your, unlikely, destination.

Established American diner in Covent Garden Joe Allen recently moved location, not far but enough to signify a complete overhaul of the entire venue. Yet those familiar with the look and feel of the restaurant would almost not notice the change.

South of the border, the Thames border that is, there’s a place where the menu is as wide open as the pampas.

A cosy local worth shouting about, says our investigator Emma.

Some people might find the name off-putting, but the food more than makes up for any reservations. So, make a reservation.

Now over twenty years old, the Thai Square chain continues to offer value for money and a menu that varies by location.