Here are some central London restaurants for you to look

at. Every cab driver knows these, they're deservedly famous and

we drop of at them all the time.

The Ivy

1-5 West Street

London WC2H 9NQ

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7836 4751

From its early days as a simple café, around 1917, The Ivy (named after a line in a popular song) has been one of London's favourite eating places – particularly among theatre folk. It is conveniently situated in the heart of London's theatre district.

Rules

35 Maiden Lane

London WC2E 7LB

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7836 5314

Rules was established in 1798, by Thomas Rule, making it London's oldest restaurant. It serves traditional British fare, such as oysters, game, pies and puddings.

It owns its own country estate high in the Pennines, a mountain range in northern England, where it sources its own game meats.

Being located in the heart of London's theatreland makes it a convenient venue before and after shows. Famous patrons have included King Edward VII (Queen Victoria's son), and writers Charles Dickens, Graham Greene and John Betjeman.

The Guinea

30 Bruton Place

Mayfair

London W1J 6NL

tel: +44 (0) 20 7499 1210

This is something a bit different: a high quality restaurant in a tradition British bar. Or, as we call them, "public houses" – pub, for short.

Kettners Resturant & Champagne Rooms

29 Romilly Street

Soho

London W1D 5HP

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7287 6499

e-mail: reservations@kettners.com

I can personally recommend this restaurant, as I have eaten there and found it to be very good.

The Albert

52 Victoria Street

London SW1H ONP

tel: +44 (0) 20 7222 5577

Built around 1850, this is a proper Victorian London "Pub". The first (ground) floor bar still has the original hand cut windows and gas lights. There is also a renowned carvery.

Owing to its location in the heart of Westminster, the establishment has long been patronized by royalty and government ministers.  Being so close to the houses of Parliament, it has a bell to alert members that their presence is required in Parliament to cast their vote on legislation.

Viraswarmiy's

Mezzanine Floor

Victory House

99 Regent Street

(entrance in Swallow Street)

London W1B 4RS

tel: +44 (0) 20 7734 1401

e-mail: veeraswarmy@realindianfood.com

The cuisine of the Indian sub continent – curry - has almost become the national dish of Britain and here is the restaurant that started it off.

Opening in 1926, by the great grandson of an English general and an Indian princess,it is the oldest surviving restaurant serving super Indian cuisine in the UK.  

Its famous patrons include: Pandit Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Edward – Prince of Wales, King Gustav of Sweden, King Hussein of Jordan, and movie stars Charlie Chaplin and Marlon Brando.

The décor of the restaurant reflects the luxurious palaces of the Indian Maharajas.

Poissonnerie de l'Avenue

82 Sloane Avenue

Chelsea

London SW3 3DZ

Tel:+44 (0) 20 7589 2457

One of London's leading fish and shellfish restaurants which is always full of eager patrons.

San Lorenzo

22 Beauchamp Place

Kensington

London SW3 1NH

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7584 1074

This excellent Italian restaurant was a favourite of Diana Princess of Wales.

OXO Tower

Bargehouse Street

South Bank

London SE1 9PH

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7401 2255

A first class restaurant offering spectacular views of London. When the tower was built for the OXO company, they wanted an illuminated advertisement, spelling out their company name of OXO. However permission was refused by the local authority.

The architect therefore designed windows which, when the rooms were illuminated, produced the same effect.

Manzis

1-2 Leicester Street

London WC2 7BL

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7734 0224

This is a very fine, long established, fish restaurant located in the heart of London's theatreland and with the added advantage of also being a 16 bed hotel.