Dehesa

Spanish / Italian modern tapas

25 Ganton St, Soho, W1F 9BP
Tel: 020 7494 4170

NO BOOKING! Great if you want to squeeze in for a late or early one. Or to try pot luck.

Tapas is good. On a level with both Barrafina and Fino. Barrafina a touch more classical, Dehesa with more of a twist. Jamon lovely but expensive.

Deserts hit and miss. Recently: Rich, moist, lush choco cake. But over charred rice pudding.

Great if not too hungry as a couple of small dished with a glass of sherry would hit the spot. Would start to hit the wallet over several dishes (much like Barrafina).

Cousin to Salt Yard. If you like Barrafina, Fino and Salt Yard, you'll like Dehesa.

But if you are ever in NYC you'll love http://www.boquerianyc.com/ near Union Square.

Hereford Road

New favourite restaurant!

3 Hereford Rd, W2 4AB
Tel: 020 7727 1144
www.herefordroad.org

Seasonal British food, tends to have one small added twist rising it above good to really very tasty and very well priced too.

Lamb sweatbreads with pea and mint. Middle white roast pork. Any fish of the day. All incredible yum with an ever changing menu. Must have been almost 10 times this year already. If you order sensibly, you can have 2-3 courses for about £20 a person. Bargain for this level of cooking.

Slight tail off if Tom Pemberton the chef is not cooking, I've found. If not mega-hugry, have two starters and share a desert.

Hix Oyster and Chop House

35-37 Greenhill Rents, Cowcross Street, Farringdon, EC1M 6BN
Tel: 020 7017 1930. Mains £12-20.

Short review.

Good food in the modern seasonal tradition. You will like if you like: St John, Anchor & Hope; Hereford Rd. Expensive given some of the dishes but high quality ingredients and city location explain that.

Steaks looked good but expensive! I had hanger steak - flavour good, seared, ok. Baked bone marrow delicious. Peas in pod, pork crackling nice touches for starters. Companion's lamb chop was good (salt marsh flavour). One glass of wine, 4 dishes came to £90 at that price, I'd prefer St John's in the area or Rivington Grill but good none the less.