South London

65 Camberwell Church Street, London SE5 8TR

This pub revamp sees it being taken over by the same people behind Waterloo's hugely popular Anchor and Hope and has Mike Davies in the kitchen, a young chef trained up in the Anchor family and also part owner of the achingly hip Franks Cafe pop up in Peckham.

36 The Cut, London SE1 8LP

One of the most longstanding places to eat around Waterloo (it opened in 2003) has also remained one of the very best. From the same people behind The Canton Arms and The Clarence Tavern, it has a regularly changing menu of seasonal British food and like all the best gastropubs, operates as both a restaurant and a proper pub. Grabbing a space on the terrace is where you want to be in the summer months.

141 Tooting High Street, London SW17 0SY

Originally a huge hit when it first opened in Kentish Town, the second Chicken Shop has gone to the other side of London. Expect marinated rotisserie chicken plus plenty of sides, desserts and takeaway too.

109 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XB

Casse-Croûte is a 20 seater French bistro and is the brainchild of Herve Durochat and Alexandre Bonnefoy. Expect tete de veau, rillettes, boudin noir, macarons, tarte aux fraises and clafoutis on the menu here.

15 The Pavement, Clapham Old Town, London SW4 0HY

The Dairy is what you get if you take a chef trained under Raymond Blanc, inspired by stages at Noma and Frantzen and then let him loose in his own space on Clapham Common. Robin Gill's set lunch is one of London's glorious bargains and while locals may happily pop in for a dish or two and a glass of wine, anyone travelling here will want to spend time working their way through the tasting menu. If it's possible for a restaurant to be both relaxed and exciting then the Dairy manages just that.